Secretary (OA)

Veterans Health Administration • North Chicago, IL

12d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Facility Support Directorate at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois. The facility is a 1c complexity health care system serving U.S. military Veterans, Recruits, Active Duty personnel, and eligible beneficiaries across Northeastern Illinois and Wisconsin. The Secretary manages office operations for a service whose mission affects a wide range of agency activities and whose work encompasses responsibilities beyond those normally expected of many secretaries.

The position is onsite and follows a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The work is sedentary, with occasional walking, standing, bending, and carrying light items. No special physical demands are required. The position is not virtual.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Meet applicable time-in-grade requirements: for GS-7, 52 weeks at GS-6 in Federal service, if applicable.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-6, such as independently reviewing and controlling action items; customer service; qualified typist skills; using office administrative equipment; timekeeper duties; calendar maintenance; scheduling appointments; conducting travel procedures; answering phones, referring visitors, and providing information; researching files; and processing incoming/outgoing materials and correspondence.
• 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.
• Provide an SF-50 demonstrating time-in-grade eligibility when applicable.
• Education cannot substitute for experience at this grade level.

Responsibilities

• Oversee management and distribution of keys to FHCC users.
• Manage office operations for a service with a broad agency mission and varied administrative responsibilities.
• Liaise directly with assigned personnel to ensure due dates are enforced.
• Process incoming and outgoing materials.
• Independently schedule the supervisor's and staff members' time based on preferences and current commitments.
• Ensure files contain documentation needed for daily office routines, historical background, and future projections.
• Assist the supervisor by ensuring leave is properly accounted for and complies with applicable policies and regulations.
• Plan and carry out office work, resolving problems and deviations in accordance with established instructions, priorities, policies, commitments, program goals, and occupational practices.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position status and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may approve credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining the annual-leave accrual rate; approval is not guaranteed and must be requested before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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