Veterans Health Administration
Supervisory Medical Support Assistant
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Summary
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. ***KSA Recommendation - All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) in your application may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA (found below) to demonstrate how you have gained each one in your application package or on a supplemental document ***Creditable Experience: Knowledge of MSA Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities [or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting]. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as [an] MSA or [an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic setting]. 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. Experience: None 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grandfathering Provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and registration/certification where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of the candidates: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 level. (Creating daily workload assessments, assigning work, and assuring proper staffing coverage; evaluating training records; determining training needs of MSAs to provide support across interdisciplinary settings; assisting with complex and non-standard procedures, including clinical flow processes related to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources; ensuring accurate and timely scheduling of appointments; providing guidance to staff members, to include changes in policies and procedures; creating and maintaining employee work schedules; and acting as a liaison among Advanced MSA level staff, patients, and other interdisciplinary staff to resolve day-to-day conflicts.) AND In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Advanced knowledge of managing or leading patient support staff in a clinic. This includes independently utilizing reference sources, decision making, and empowering the team to collaborate and resolve problems within a complex systems environment. Ability to provide the full range of administrative and supervisory duties to at least one subordinate MSA supervisor or team leader in patient support setting which includes assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards and/or advancements. 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. Ability to provide briefings, orientations, staff development, and training in a patient support setting. Ability to manage fiscal matters, forecast resource and equipment needs, and identify budget needs. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: The position involves work that is mainly sedentary but requires some bending, walking, standing and lifting/carrying (under 15 LB) of supplies, patient records, staff and patient mail. Some assignments may involve more frequent walking, but these assignments require no unusual physical demands to perform work.
Major Duties
The Supervisory MSA collaborates with and has an extensive knowledge of all clinical services and programs, to include services under the Surgical Department. The Supervisory MSA is flexible, multi-skilled and creative in solving everyday challenges unique to a remote site. Assigns work and daily priorities to all Lead and Advanced MSAs and ensures the goals and mission of the Clinic and Health Care System are being met. Responsible for all performance management functions related to Lead and Advanced MSAs, as well as work study students and volunteers providing support within the Supervisory MSA program. Applies principles, methods and guidelines to evaluate administrative operations in order to determine best practices for organizing administrative work and flow of patients throughout the clinic. The Supervisory MSA must take into consideration the staff ratios and skill mixes needed to accomplish the work. Analysis results in recommendations for improvement and implementation of new systems and processes that are discussed with the rest of the management team for decisions regarding the efficiency of clinic operations. Performs duties related to the receipt, intake and indexing of health and administrative information. The Supervisory MSA will interface with personal computer (PC) applications as well as numerous VISTA applications. Serves as a backup for time and leave processing. Plans and directs programs in the surgical services. Responsible for implementing and enforcing clinic changes. Advises supervisor strategies to manage clinic access and ensure compliant appointment management practices per VA scheduling directive guidelines. Manages CPRS view alerts from providers for action involving patient care follow-up. Ensures subordinate Lead and Advanced MSAs appropriately manage new consults for specialty and/or primary care clinics in CPRS to ensure consults are scheduled timely and within VA guidelines. Ensures surgical scheduling staff have the appropriate equipment, supplies and space to safely accomplish work. Monitors and analyzes Automated Call Distribution (ACD) data to ensure timely phone access for patients and provides feedback and training to staff; identifies developmental and training needs for all staff operating on the ACD system. Disseminates new VA Directives and procedures that impact/relate to front desk and clinic operations and provides training to staff. Anticipates problems and develops systems and processes to ensure the goals and mission of the VA are able to be met. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 662-12024F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Resumes must include the following information for each job listed: Contact Information: Your name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number. Job Title/Employer Name: For each relevant work experience, be sure to include the Job Title and Employer/Company name. Pay Plan and Grades/Step Held: (for Federal positions) Duties: Please be as detailed as possible. We recommend that you include information directly related to the position you are applying to. Good examples of specific information can be found in the Duties and Qualifications sections of the announcement. Brief descriptions of job duties should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement - If you have performed any of those duties or have any of that experience, we are looking for that detail on your resume. We make no assumptions about prior work experience based on job title. We make no assumptions about prior work experience if you don't include the types of duties or tasks which would qualify you for the position. Experience must be listed on the resume under the position in which the duties were performed. For Federal applicants, this experience must be listed under the proper grade level to count towards qualifications. Month & year start/end dates: Include both month and year for each position start and end dates (example: June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time status: Include the average number of hours you worked per week (example: 40 hours per week; 32 hours per week, 20 hours per week, etc.). SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action: Your most current SF-50, if you are a current or former Federal employee (VA or any other Federal Agency) must be provided. Please note the following; SF 50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility/length of experience/tenure must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year of specialized experience, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year of specialized experience. Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. Examples of additional/appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old. Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/20/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13087654. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.