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Summary OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans? Responsibilities Veteran Transportation Program (VTP), Beneficiary Travel and (VTS) Veterans Transportation Services will operate within the VA Medical Center/Health Care System (VAMC/HCS) with several Community Based Outpatient Clinics. The incumbent reports directly to the Supervisor, Mobility Manager at the VA Medical Center. Staffing within the Veteran Transportation Program includes: Supervisory Mobility Manager, VTS Drivers (Motor Vehicle Operators WG-5703-06), Beneficiary Travel (Transportation Assistants GS-2102-4-6); VTS Transportation Coordinators (Transportation Assistants GS-2102-06); Lead Transportation Assistant (Transportation Assistant GS-2102-07); and other possible support staff. This position is a Transportation Assistant at the facility level and acts as primary contact to Veterans needing assistance with transportation services and navigating various locations within the Medical Center. The incumbent in this position will be required to have an overall knowledge of the organization, its mission, goals and impact on patients, personnel, community and the nation. Incumbent will serve as a primary contact for Veterans, doctors, nurses and administrative staff to arrange assistance with transportation services and navigating various locations within the Medical Center for eligible Veterans when appropriate, using laws and regulations to distinguish/ensure reimbursements are legitimate or if fraudulent activity is being conducted by the beneficiary. The incumbent must have some knowledge of clinical locations and services, related software and programs as they relate to computing and office automation. Major Duties: Investigates authorizations, orders, and/or utilizes the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) to review medical record. Assist fellow team members during peak workload times and when there are staffing shortages, regardless of the cause. Assigned to different work areas to maximize customer service and the incumbent's knowledge, skills and abilities. Correctly determining eligibility for the program, and processing requests. Regular and recurring contact with personnel external to the agency for the obtainment of services, sharing of information and authorization, clarification or denial of payment. Responsible for explaining the regulatory guidelines to beneficiaries submitting any unauthorized ambulance claims to the VAMC/HCS for consideration of payment. Communicates and interacts with patients in a manner which is appropriate to cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient. Responds to client requests and seeks resolution of family/patient/employee complaints. Forward unresolved complaints to supervisor, when appropriate. Responsible for determining method of payment for authorized and unauthorized ambulance claims submitted for consideration. Writes or selects appropriate letters explaining disposition of unauthorized travel claims Receives invoices for payment of transportation services Greets patients and visitors on a pleasant and courteous manner Provides information and directions to patients and visitors including assisting with physical transportation of Veterans within the hospital and clinics. Answers calls politely and courteously, providing what is being requested in a timely manner. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Transportation Assistant/PD23374A, PD23379A, and PD23390A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary/trial period 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) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/25/2025. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 level. 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 and/or education as described below: GS-4 LEVEL GRADE REQUIREMENTS: GENERAL EXPERIENCE: One year of general experience related to the position of transportation assistant. This can include Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled. This includes the ability to use computers and computer programs. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Must have successfully completed 2 years of education above high school. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial, or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial and technical school. (Transcripts Required) OR COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Must have successfully completed an equivalent combination of experience and education that is qualifying for entry level as described above. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) GS-5 LEVEL GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-4) in Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Working with patient eligibility rules and regulations and travel. Experience organizing and maintaining documentation and records. Knowing the review process to make determination on ambulance bills, and if the request for payment is legitimate or not. Having office automation abilities. Using Internet/Intranet resources. Working with beneficiary travel reimbursements. Ability to identify problems, analyze issues, develop solutions/resolutions and follow-up. OR, Education: You must have successfully completed 4 years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial, or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial and technical school. (Transcripts Required) OR, Combination: Must have successfully completed an equivalent combination of experience and education that is qualifying for entry level as described above. Such education and experience must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) GS-6 LEVEL GRADE REQUIREMENTS Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-5) in Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Extensive knowledge of VA laws, regulations, directives, policies, procedures, performance measures, and guidelines relating to VA medical benefits administration, organizational structure, VA mission and goals; Knowledge to deal effectively with problems, issues, and situations which occur in the daily activities of the VTS program to establish and maintain effective working relationships which contribute to the attainment of organizational and service goals; knowledgeable in consult management, scheduling, admissions, discharge, transfer, and administration with patient processing including diagnostic tests and studies, availability of these within the medical center Knowledge of validation, control, and maintaining accounting records for many travel accounts and make frequent dollar among adjustments of those accounts. knowledge of medical terminology, regulations and manuals related to the administration of this program is essential Knowledge of beneficiary travel reimbursements. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Clerical Customer Service Oral Communication Problem Solving Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The duties and responsibilities of the position is generally sedentary with some standing, stooping, reaching and lifting up to 20 pounds. The employee is required to work with computer equipment at least 75% of the time which impacts on hand and wrist motions. 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/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under 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.