Program Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Orlando, FL

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Program Support Assistant supports health care management officials by analyzing, evaluating, advising on, and coordinating health care delivery systems and operations related to activities that support high-quality SAMS processes and products.

With minimal supervisory oversight, the position advises Veterans and their next of kin (NOK) about burial benefits and helps arrange burial, interment, or cremation. The assistant reviews eligibility and entitlement for burial and death allowances, explains application processes, and refers surviving relatives with specific benefit questions to a VBA point of contact. The role also informs Veterans, caregivers, and NOK about supportive services available at the medical facility, including Chaplaincy and Social Work.

The position reviews daily death notifications; submits completed death certificates to the designated funeral director and County Registrar’s Office; and completes VA authorizations to release personal effects and remaining patient-account funds. It records and transcribes providers’ requests for autopsy permission, coordinates obtaining signed consent from the legal NOK or other lawful designee, and coordinates the release of remains when an autopsy or organ, tissue, or body donation is involved. It establishes or follows local procedures for whole-body donation.

In collaboration with the Fiscal office, the assistant supports SAMS operations financially by assessing past budget requirements, projecting future needs, submitting budget requests, and managing the program budget. The role serves as fund control point clerk, purchase card official, and Contracting Officer Representative for SAMS contracts. It conducts quarterly audits of patient fund accounts, initiates disposition of funds in deceased patient accounts, develops monthly and fiscal-year variance reports, and uses IFCAP and Fund Control Point processes with delegated responsibility to resolve funding needs.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• For current or former federal employees subject to the requirement, one year of time in grade at GS-5 for a GS-6 position.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-5), including relevant administrative experience such as filing, typing, data entry, recordkeeping, shorthand, and completing forms.
• Knowledge of database management systems and software used to organize, store, retrieve, secure, and maintain data integrity.
• Ability to work with clients and customers.
• Skill in organizing work, meeting deadlines, setting priorities, and determining resources needed to accomplish goals.
• Ability to produce written information, including technical material, appropriate for the intended audience.
• Complete the required application, questionnaire, and online assessment.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding process.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel employee.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Education cannot be substituted for the experience requirement at this grade level.

Responsibilities

• Advise Veterans and their next of kin about burial benefits and assist with prearranging burial, interment, or cremation.
• Review eligibility and entitlement for burial and death allowances and explain how to apply.
• Refer surviving relatives with specific benefit inquiries to a VBA point of contact.
• Inform Veterans, caregivers, and next of kin about available supportive services, including Chaplaincy and Social Work.
• Review daily death notifications and submit completed death certificates to the designated Funeral Director and County Registrar’s Office.
• Complete VA authorizations to release personal effects and remaining funds in patient accounts to the next of kin or designated party.
• Record and transcribe providers’ requests for autopsy permission from the legal next of kin or other lawful designee.
• Coordinate obtaining signed autopsy consent with VA physicians and the legal next of kin or designee, including when family is absent or a death occurs outside normal business hours.
• Coordinate release of remains with appropriate services and outside agencies in cases involving autopsy or organ, tissue, or body donation.
• Establish and/or follow local procedures for whole-body donation.
• Collaborate with the Fiscal office to support SAMS operations financially.
• Assess past budget requirements, project future needs, submit budget requests, and manage the program budget.
• Serve as fund control point clerk, purchase card official, and Contracting Officer Representative for SAMS contracts.
• Conduct quarterly audits of patient fund accounts to identify deceased patients’ accounts in accordance with VA policies and local procedures.
• Initiate disposition of funds when a deceased patient fund account balance is identified.
• Develop and maintain monthly and fiscal-year variance reports.
• Use IFCAP and Fund Control Point processes, with delegated responsibility, to resolve funding needs.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed