Supervisory Medical Support Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 54,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in State College, PA is seeking a Supervisory Medical Support Assistant (MSA) to lead patient support staff within Health Administration.

The role oversees MSA programs at the medical center and satellites, with full supervisory responsibilities and program development. Essential duties include assigning work, evaluating staff performance, coordinating customer service, and ensuring compliance with VA policies and regulations.

Qualifications

• One year of experience at GS-7 level leading or supervising MSAs.
• Ability to assign work and evaluate subordinate staff in a patient support setting.
• Strong collaboration and customer service to ensure quality/continuity of care.
• Ability to provide briefings, orientations, staff development, and training.
• Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and identify budget needs.

Responsibilities

• Plan and direct MSA programs at medical center and satellite outpatient clinics.
• Assign and evaluate the work of subordinate MSA staff; resolve complex problems to ensure patient services.
• Make final decisions on hiring selections; evaluate performance and disciplinary actions as needed.
• Provide briefings, orientations, and staff development in a patient support setting.

Skills

Staff supervision

Customer service

Communication

Training staff

Education

High school diploma / GED

Job description

The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center - State College, PA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) is recruiting for a Supervisory Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position. The MSA Supervisory at this level plan and direct MSA programs at medical center and will function in Health Administration service. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• English Language Proficiency: MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j.

Grade Determinations

Supervisory Medical Support Assistant, GS-8

Experience

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level leading or supervising MSAs or equivalent administrative patient support staff in a non-VA medical inpatient, outpatient, or interdisciplinary setting. Supervisory MSAs plan and direct programs at medical centers and/or satellite outpatient clinics and have full supervisory responsibility. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: assigning and evaluating the work of subordinate MSA staff; resolving complex problems to ensure patient services are met; evaluating new products, equipment, and systems to make recommendations for improved clinic operations; identifying educational or training needs; making final decisions on hiring selections; evaluating performance, and taking disciplinary action when necessary. The employee has full administrative and professional responsibility for planning and directing the MSA's activities. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Advanced knowledge of managing or leading patient support staff in a clinic. This includes independently utilizing reference sources, decision making, and 13 empowering the team to collaborate and resolve problems within a complex systems environment.
2. Ability to provide the full range of administrative and supervisory duties to at least one subordinate MSA supervisor or team leader in a patient support setting which includes assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards and/or advancements.
3. Ability to collaborate, communicate, and demonstrate customer service and interpersonal skills with internal and external customers to ensure quality/continuity of care and ensure compliance with established policies and regulations.
4. Ability to provide briefings, orientations, staff development, and training in a patient support setting.
5. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and identify budget needs.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.