Program Support Assistant

About the role

This position is located at the Hampton National Cemetery in Hampton, Virginia.

What you will do

• This is a bargaining unit position.
• This position is represented by NAGE.
• Please note that as provided for in the NAGE/VA Master Agreement the FIRST area of consideration for this position will be permanent employees of the local facility in which this position is being filled, the SECOND area of consideration will be employees at other VA facilities, and the THIRD area of consideration will be all other eligibles.
• This position is located at the Hampton National Cemetery Complex at Hampton VA.
• The incumbent frequently will act as the initial and primary contact with veterans, visitors, funeral directors, and family members and confirm the eligibility for interment by evaluating discharge information, accessing agency computer records, or pursuing other verification resources This is a multi-tasking position whose primary duties include assisting in the administrative management of the national cemetery.
• Primary duties will include responsibilities pertaining to Cemetery Representative duties, administration of VATAS, and budget responsibilities of a government purchase card.
• Correspondence, reports, public relations, and outreach.
• Incumbent will check in funeral and obtain necessary papers, such as burial transit permit, military escort orders or other special forms as required, checks forms for completeness and accuracy.
• He/she may need to make on the spot changes to cemetery representative's funeral assignment as necessary to expedite interments.
• Meet with the deceased's next of kin to explain the various regulations pertaining to the burial benefit program and to confirm information for the marker.
• Coordinate movement of military ceremonial detachment and clergy to various committal service locations as required.
• Escorts funeral corteges to committal shelter and controls parking of funeral cortege and traffic control by assisting and giving instruction to the funeral Supervisor.
• If needed, may assist in moving the casket in and out of the committal sites for services.
• Attends funeral services held in the National Cemetery to eliminate mishaps or confusion, aid next of kin and family of deceased and to answer questions about National Cemetery programs and operations.
• Prepare funeral attendees for the military honors tribute to prevent startling the attendees who may be in a highly emotional state.
• Assures the flag is properly folded and presented to the next of kin.
• Handle various funeral cortege activities at the same time.
• ADMINISTRATIVE Incumbent will serve in an administrative capacity during non-interment hours.
• Using a personal computer, enters information for burial of deceased veterans and dependents into the Burial Operations Support System (BOSS), reviews interment requests for completeness of information and correct scheduling, and assures that verification of veteran's military service is obtained from appropriate records center to determine eligibility for national cemetery burial benefits.
• Uses personal computer with State and Municipal Agency telecommunications software to access veterans' records to determine burial benefit entitlement.
• Assists in assuring that cases are authorized prior to interment, monitors unverified cases nearing scheduled interment time and advises supervisor of verification status.
• Upon verification of service, notified funeral Supervisor or next of kin, as appropriate, and confirms interment schedule and finalizes any remaining arrangements or special desires made by the next of kin.
• Maintain telephone contact with VA National Cemetery Administration, National Scheduling Office and other governmental agencies as required when resolving problem cases in an expeditious manner.
• Incumbent will screen cases when identification is not conclusive and uses ingenuity in obtaining facts which may substantiate identification of decedent as a person who performed honorable military service.
• Performs public outreach as needed.
• Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• May include occasional weekends.
• Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time.
• Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday.
• All staff is required to work Memorial Day and Veteran's Day each year.
• Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery.
• Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work.
• Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD1641556 Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: No Required If interested in applying for this position you ay preview the online application: ***

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level. PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement).

Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: *** All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Narrative responses are not required at this time.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully.

Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Documents you must provide

• Resume Please note that resumes must be provided in English to be considered.
• If your resume includes photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, or personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., you will not be considered for this vacancy.
• Please limit your resume to 2 pages with the font size no smaller than 10 points.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
• You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) References Other (2) Performance Appraisal Proof of Marriage Status Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility): You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50(s) that verify your eligibility for consideration as a current or former federal applicant; and Your SF-50 must verify your highest competitive grade, time-in-grade, your current promotion potential or full performance level and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement.
• DO NOT submit an award SF-50 or pay adjustment SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility.
• For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing.
• Recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50.
• Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled Veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit ***

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

Additional information

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at *** Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion.

The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.