Program Support Assistant (OA)

Veterans Health Administration; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 46,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration is seeking a Program Support Assistant (OA) to manage timekeeping, leave tracking and reporting for SWS staff. The role requires strong familiarity with VISTA and payroll audit readiness.

The incumbent provides guidance to junior staff, ensures accurate time and attendance, and supports management with time-related data and compliance with federal regulations.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6.
• Knowledge of patient privacy regulations and release procedures.
• Proficient in timekeeping and payroll-related reporting using VISTA.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for guidance to staff.

Responsibilities

• Timekeeper and documents staff time and leave per policy and regulation.
• Track, monitor and provide time and leave reports to management.
• Provide guidance on timekeeping to lower-level administrative staff.
• Use VISTA to access and compile information for payroll audits.

Skills

Timekeeping

MS Word

MS Outlook

MS Excel

VISTA familiarity

Privacy regulations

Medical terminology

Oral and written communication

Job description

The Program Support Assistant (OA) functions as a timekeeper and documents SWS staff time and leave as required following STVHCS policy and national regulation. The incumbent tracks, monitors and provides time and leave reports, as requested by SWS Management. The incumbent provides support and timekeeper related guidance to lower-level administrative support staff to ensure accurate time and attendance to meet Payroll audits. The incumbent uses VISTA to access and compile information.

Time-In-Grade Requirement:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/09/2026. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

• Knowledge and ability to apply patient privacy regulations and release of information procedures;
• knowledge of medical terminology and usages;
• ability to plan effectively, set priorities, coordinate activities, have a high degree of skill in oral and written communications;
• skill in use of Microsoft Work, Outlook, and Excel programs, scheduling, and other VISTA packages;
• knowledge to perform accurate and appropriate timekeeping functions;
• skill in applying basic data gathering methods, such as standard interviewing or surveying techniques, to collect various types of factual information..

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

Analytical Reasoning Communication Managing Human Resources Managing Resources 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. 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/.