Secretary (OA)

This position is located in the Veterans Administration (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), VA Medical Center Richmond Virginia Executive office. Major duties: Major Duties include but are not limited to: Excellent communication skills and exemplary organizational skills strongly preferred Exercises control over supervisor's appointments with complete authority for commitments of time Makes appointments; cancels and accepts invitations; checks requirements for engagements. Maintains a calendar of future events for up to the next 12 months Scheduling conferences involving a large number of staff. Receives and processes all correspondence and documents transmitted through the Executive Office for review, approval, and signature, establishing controls on certain items. Ensures correspondence conforms to regulations and special policies of the Medical Center, is in proper formant, contains correct grammar, and if applicable, that staff coordination has been completed. Composes and types, in final form, official correspondence based on a knowledge of supervisor's views, desires, and past precedent cases; and form verbal instructions, prepares special reports, data, or correspondence using a personal computer with a wide variety of software. Assumes responsibility for ensuring requests for action or information from the Executive Office are made known to the responsible personnel on order to satisfy the request. Monitors resulting activities for the purpose of briefing the supervisor, and decides whether matters should be brought to the supervisor by providing accurate, timely information and advice on procedures, reports, requirements, and other matters necessary to implement policies, directives, and instructions for the VAMC. Reviews communications and develops standard paragraph and form letters Provides coverage for other executive level administrative supports staff as needed. Maintains a historical file of the names and background information of civilian dignitaries in the surrounding communities with whom supervisor communicates. Received telephone calls and greets visitors to the office. Maintains timecards, initiates personnel actions and overtime actions, and ensures appraisals, standards, etc., are done on a timely basis for the supervisor's subordinate staff. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (hours may vary depending on department need). Telework: NO Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Secretary (OA)/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: NO Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/29/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6 level. For a GS-8 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility 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 time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience GS-7: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of the substantive programs of the Medical Center as they relate to the hospital's clerical and administrative support functions, ability to make all travel arrangements, knowledge of the goals, priorities, policies, and commitments of the supervisor to perform such tasks as assembling information to be used for reports or responses to inquiries and to compose correspondence not requiring technical knowledge. knowledge of Medical Terminology, knowledge and ability to utilize a personal computer with a wide variety of hardware and software, knowledge of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and required formats, knowledge to use general office equipment, knowledge of timekeeping. Specialized Experience GS-8: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of the substantive programs of the Medical Center as they relate to the hospital's clerical and administrative support functions, ability to make all travel arrangements, knowledge of the goals, priorities, policies, and commitments of the supervisor to perform such tasks as assembling information to be used for reports or responses to inquiries and to compose correspondence not requiring technical knowledge. knowledge of Medical Terminology, knowledge and ability to utilize a personal computer with a wide variety of hardware and software, knowledge of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and required formats, knowledge to use general office equipment, knowledge of timekeeping. Typing proficiency: A qualified typist is required. This position requires Office Automation (OA). Candidates must have the ability to type a minimum of 40 words per minute. In addition to meeting experience or education requirements, applicants for these positions must show possession of the following skills, as appropriate. Applicants may meet these requirements by passing the appropriate performance test, presenting a certificate of proficiency from a school or other organization authorized to issue such certificates by the Office of Personnel Management local office, or by self-certifying their proficiency. Performance test results and certificates of proficiency are acceptable for 3 years. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Physical Demands. The work is basically sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, and carrying of light items like papers or books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.