Lead Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Walla Walla, WA

18d • Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a Lead Medical Support Assistant for the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center. Duties may be performed in a Clinic Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), Outpatient Clinic, Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model, or a specialty care setting involved in a PACT model. The position is aligned in Health Administration Service and reports to the Supervisory Medical Support Assistant.

The Lead MSA monitors and assigns work, provides input on staff performance, resolves daily workplace issues, and maintains efficient workflow. The role supports coverage and quality across assigned areas, ensures timely and accurate appointment scheduling, guides staff on policy and procedure changes, balances workload, creates employee schedules, and provides orientation and on-the-job training. The Lead MSA also ensures staff training requirements are met, organizes the work structure of assigned areas, and serves as a liaison between MSAs and staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts.

This is a full-time position with a work schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station relocation assistance are not authorized. The position is at the GS-7 full-performance level.

Requirements

• United States citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• High school diploma, GED equivalency certificate, or a proficiency certificate from a state or territorial-level Board or Department of Education, unless qualifying under the stated grandfathering provision.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-6).
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community settings.
• Skill communicating to achieve desired effects and coordinating with interdisciplinary care team staff.
• Ability to use numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks or responsibilities to meet deadlines.
• Ability to provide staff development and training.
• Ability to manage staffing requirements and workflow priorities, adjust work to meet team and patient needs, follow up on pending issues, and understand the impact of incomplete work across multiple clinics.
• Complete the required application steps, including an online assessment.
• Meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete online onboarding.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for VA health care personnel.
• Serve a 1- or 2-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and certification requirements.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and assign work and provide input on employee performance.
• Resolve daily workplace issues and maintain efficient workflow.
• Ensure coverage across all areas of responsibility.
• Conduct ongoing reviews to ensure quality of work.
• Ensure appointments are scheduled accurately and in a timely manner.
• Provide staff guidance, including communicating changes in policies and procedures.
• Distribute and balance workload.
• Create and maintain employee work schedules.
• Orient and provide on-the-job training for new and current employees.
• Ensure all training requirements are met.
• Organize the work structure of assigned areas.
• Act as a liaison between MSAs and staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts.
• Manage staffing requirements and workflow priorities, adjust workflow to meet team and patient needs, and follow up on pending issues.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Potential child care subsidy after 60 days of employment for eligible full-time employees and families, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED