Program Support Asst (OA)

National Cemetery Administration • San Antonio, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. The Program Support Assistant provides general administrative support, utilizing various office automation software such as word processing, spreadsheets, database management, and desktop publishing. The role involves preparing diverse documents including newsletters, administrative correspondence, personnel action requests, reports with complex charts and graphics, records of interment, administrative forms, and public handouts. The position also handles incoming and outgoing mail, interacts diplomatically with patrons in person and over the telephone to deliver clear information, and performs forms management services for the facility. Additionally, the incumbent provides technical advice and assistance to staff on administrative matters, serves as a primary/alternate facility timekeeper, and acts as a records liaison for the administrative section, ensuring proper records management and disposition. The role includes providing statistical and historical reports to management, and potentially serving as a purchase card holder for procurement of supplies. The incumbent is responsible for documenting and maintaining employee training, assisting with the onboarding of new employees and volunteers, and applying conventional practices to solve problems independently. This role requires coordinating work between departments and other offices, identifying and resolving workflow issues with external stakeholders, and making operational decisions based on experience, knowledge, and established policies, with guidance from the supervisor for unusual situations. The ability to interpret and apply published guidelines, VA policies, regulations, and precedents is essential, as is the 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. Public outreach is also part of the duties.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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 include: 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 skills
• Critical Thinking skills
• Self-Management skills
• Computer Skills
• Writing skills
• U.S. citizen
• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge and ability to coordinate work between departments and other offices internal and external to the organization.
• 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.
• 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.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Responsibilities

• Provide general administrative support.
• Utilize a variety of office automation software such as word processing, spreadsheets, database management and desktop publishing software.
• Prepare 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.
• Process incoming and outgoing mail.
• Deliver detailed information that is easily understood to patrons in person and over the telephone.
• Perform forms management services for the facility.
• Provide technical advice and assistance to staff concerning administrative items.
• Serve as primary/alternate facility timekeeper.
• Serve as a records liaison for the administrative section, conducting proper records management and disposition of records.
• Provide statistical and historical reports to management as needed.
• Serve as a purchase card holder (when assigned) for the procurement of supplies and other items related to operations.
• Document and maintain training for employees of the National Cemetery.
• Assist in the onboarding of new employees and volunteers.
• Apply conventional practices to solve a variety of problems without assistance.
• Coordinate work between departments and other offices internal and external to the organization.
• Identify and resolve various problems and situations affecting workflow when dealing with stakeholders outside the organization.
• Make operational decisions using experience, knowledge, understanding of cemetery goals and priorities, commitments, and published policies.
• Interpret and apply published guidelines, VA policies, regulations, and precedents to solve specific problems.
• Build relationships with external contacts, agency employees, next of kin, funeral directors, veterans organizations, and military organizations to coordinate work and resolve issues.
• Perform public outreach as needed.
• Work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery.
• Perform emergency overtime work when called back to the facility.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

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