SummaryThe Primary Purpose of the Position is: The incumbent functions as the secretary to the Operations Administrator for the Garland Health Care Center for the VA North Texas Health Care System.
The Organizational Location of the Position is: The position is located within the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) at the Garland Health Care Center in Garland, TX. The position is organizationally aligned under the Office of the Associate Director for Operations.
DutiesHelp
Duties include but are not limited to:Health Care System Policy ManagementThe incumbent manages the Health Care System's policies by conducting system-wide policy reviews for update and renewal as required in the management of the VANTHCS policy program to ensure regulatory compliance. Incumbent is accountable for reviewing all systems policies in collaboration with system staff to ensure compliance with VHA Directives, Office of the Inspector General (OIG), The Joint Commission (T JC) and all other regulatory requirements.
Incumbent drafts policy statements, analyzes effects of existing and proposed policies, and makes recommendations for policy changes as needed. Makes recommendations for any related organizational policy changes. Audit reports and dashboard are to be compiled and submitted to Chief, QM at least once a month.
Personal ContactsThe incumbent receives, refers, schedules, and contacts members of the staff, agency, and persons outside the agency ranging from other government agencies to the general public. The incumbent is regularly involved in high level contacts with visitors and callers from such organizations as: congressional offices, members of the news media, state and local officials, high ranking officials in the field of industry, public action groups, attorneys, presidents of major national or international firms or organizations, and/or leading representatives of federal government.
Incumbent must demonstrate tactfulness, diplomacy, and politeness to all individuals seeking assistance or information from the Garland Administrative Office. Acts as a resource person for staff in administrative matters dealing with correct office procedures, proper formats for various letters and reports, timekeeping regulations, locating specific health care system directives, and agency policies and procedures. Communicates the Operations Adminstrator's assignments, messages, and information to his/her subordinates.
Office Operation and OversightThe incumbent screens and monitors the flow of written communication through the Garland Administrative Office. Responsible for ensuring timely completion, review and final preparation of all outgoing correspondence and reports. Documents prepared in other areas are reviewed to ensure correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, format and style. The incumbent discusses unsatisfactory correspondence directly with originator and arranges for rewriting or personally revises and furnishes informational copies to initiating office.
Maintains a calendar of appointments, meetings, conferences, and deadlines for the Operations Administrator. Schedules appointments and meetings based upon personal knowledge of the Operation Administrator's workload and commitments. Reminds the Operation Administrator of his/her appointments and assembles/provides necessary files or other information required before scheduled meetings. Reschedules meetings when conflicts arise. Ensures the Operation Administrator is informed of deadlines, follow-up actions, and appointments.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm or 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for adhoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Secretary (OA)/PD004650
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Approved
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
RequirementsHelp
Conditions of employment- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/06/2026.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-08 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.
Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
You may qualify based on your experience as described below:
Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: INTERPERSONAL SKILLS - Assist in all types of correspondence to different customers in a professional manner ; SELF-MANAGEMENT - Such as: personally review and responding to requests for information and preparing reports within established time frames ; TECHINICAL COMPETENCE - Such as: uses various functions of several types of office automation systems, reviewing correspondence, utilizing computer systems, thoroughly screening materials, and reviewing data for accuracy.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
EducationThere is no educational substitution at this grade level.
Additional informationUnder the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
The
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
BenefitsHelp
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
