Program Support Asst (OA)

Summary

This position is located at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

Duties

This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by AFGE. Please note that as provided for in the AFGE/VA Master Agreement the FIRST area of consideration for this position will be permanent employees of the local facility in which this position is being filled, the SECOND area of consideration will be employees at other VA facilities, and the THIRD area of consideration will be all other eligibles. Provide general administrative support. Utilizes a variety of office automation software such as word processing, spreadsheets, database management and desktop publishing software. Prepares a variety of documents such as newsletters, administrative correspondence, personnel action requests, reports (which may contain complex charts and graphics), records of interment, administrative forms, and other hand-outs for public distribution. Processes incoming and outgoing mail. Duties require diplomatic contact with patrons in person and over the telephone to deliver detailed information that is easily understood. Performs forms management services for the facility. Provides technical advice and assistance to staff concerning administrative items. Serves as primary/alternate facility timekeeper. Performs duties as a records liaison for the administrative section, conducting proper records management and disposition of records. Provides statistical and historical reports to management as needed. Serves as a purchase card holder (when assigned) for the procurement of supplies and other items related to operations. The incumbent is responsible for documenting and maintaining training for employees of the National Cemetery and assists in the onboarding of new employees and volunteers. Applies conventional practices to solve a variety of problems without assistance. Requires knowledge and ability to coordinate work between departments and other offices internal and external to the organization. The incumbent identifies and resolves various problems and situations affecting workflow when dealing with stakeholders outside the organization. Incumbent has the ability to work independently and make operational decisions using experience, knowledge, understanding of cemetery goals and priorities, commitments, and published policies. Receives guidance from the supervisor when an unusual situation arises. Ability to interpret and apply published guidelines, VA policies, regulations, and precedents to solve specific problems. Ability to build relationships with external contacts, agency employees, next of kin, funeral directors, veterans organizations, and military organizations to coordinate work and resolve issues. Performs public outreach as needed. Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. May include occasional weekends. Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time. Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day and Veteran's Day each year. Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#: Program Support Asst (OA)/PD1571288 The full performance level of this position is GS - 07. Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required If interested in applying for this position you may preview the online application: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13078850

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 10/08/2026. 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 within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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 your most recent non-award 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 non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. 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. Must have the ability to type at least 40 words per minute. Must possess and maintain a REAL ID compliant valid state driver's license. 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-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: interacting with customers and staff, analyzing data; preparing graphs, charts, presentations, maintaining a database system; tracking and logging expense items; scheduling appointments; coordinating meetings and scheduling conferences; establishing and maintaining an efficient filing and reference system for all files; using automated data processing equipment to generate a variety of reports; typing letters, memos, reports, etc. in final form; processing incoming and outgoing materials such as correspondence, reports, memoranda, and other forms of written communication; establishing priorities and setting deadlines; providing an interpretation of policies; gathering data; preparing reports, and making recommendations; develop findings, recommendations, and justifications, coordinating budgets, performing work as a Contracting Officer representative, etc. Communication Critical Thinking Self-Management Computer Skills Writing 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. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 effici