Program Support Asst (OA)
Job Location:
San Antonio, TX - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
This position is located at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio Texas.
This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by AFGE. Please note that as provided for in the AFGE/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. To qualify for this position applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement 10/08/2026.
Provide general administrative support. Utilizes a variety of office automation software such as word processing spreadsheets database management and desktop publishing software. Prepares 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.
Processes incoming and outgoing mail. Duties require diplomatic contact with patrons in person and over the telephone to deliver detailed information that is easily understood. Performs forms management services for the facility. Provides technical advice and assistance to staff concerning administrative items. Serves as primary/alternate facility timekeeper. Performs duties as a records liaison for the administrative section conducting proper records management and disposition of records.
Provides statistical and historical reports to management as needed. Serves as a purchase card holder (when assigned) for the procurement of supplies and other items related to operations. The incumbent is responsible for documenting and maintaining training for employees of the National Cemetery and assists in the onboarding of new employees and volunteers. Applies conventional practices to solve a variety of problems without assistance. Requires knowledge and ability to coordinate work between departments and other offices internal and external to the organization. The incumbent identifies and resolves various problems and situations affecting workflow when dealing with stakeholders outside the organization.
Incumbent has the ability to work independently and make operational decisions using experience knowledge understanding of cemetery goals and priorities commitments and published policies. Receives guidance from the supervisor when an unusual situation arises. 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.
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 Veterans 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 Asst (OA)/PD1571288
The full performance level of this position is GS - 07.
Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
If interested in applying for this position you may preview the online application:
of employment
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 within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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 your most recent non-award 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 this instance you must provide an additional non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade.
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 as described below:
Specialized Experience: You must have 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 would typically include but are not limited to: 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 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.
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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.
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.
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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.
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.
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 CTAP eligibility is on OPMs Career Transition Resources website at 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 applicants 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.
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.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
