Transportation Assistant

Veteran Transportation Program (VTP) Beneficiary Travel and (VTS) Veterans Transportation Services will operate within the VA Medical Center/Health Care System (VAMC/HCS) with several Community Based Outpatient Clinics. The incumbent reports directly to the Supervisor Mobility Manager at the VA Medical Center. Staffing within the Veteran Transportation Program includes: Supervisory Mobility Manager VTS Drivers (Motor Vehicle Operators WG) Beneficiary Travel (Transportation Assistants GS); VTS Transportation Coordinators (Transportation Assistants GS); Lead Transportation Assistant (Transportation Assistant GS); and other possible support staff. This position is a Transportation Assistant at the facility level and acts as primary contact to Veterans needing assistance with transportation services and navigating various locations within the Medical Center.

The incumbent in this position will be required to have an overall knowledge of the organization its mission goals and impact on patients personnel community and the nation. Incumbent will serve as a primary contact for Veterans doctors nurses and administrative staff to arrange assistance with transportation services and navigating various locations within the Medical Center for eligible Veterans when appropriate using laws and regulations to distinguish/ensure reimbursements are legitimate or if fraudulent activity is being conducted by the beneficiary. The incumbent must have some knowledge of clinical locations and services related software and programs as they relate to computing and office automation.

Major Duties:

• Investigates authorizations orders and/or utilizes the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) to review medical record.
• Assist fellow team members during peak workload times and when there are staffing shortages regardless of the cause.
• Assigned to different work areas to maximize customer service and the incumbents knowledge skills and abilities.
• Correctly determining eligibility for the program and processing requests.

• Regular and recurring contact with personnel external to the agency for the obtainment of services sharing of information and authorization clarification or denial of payment.
• Responsible for explaining the regulatory guidelines to beneficiaries submitting any unauthorized ambulance claims to the VAMC/HCS for consideration of payment.
• Communicates and interacts with patients in a manner which is appropriate to cognitive emotional and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient.
• Responds to client requests and seeks resolution of family/patient/employee complaints.
• Forward unresolved complaints to supervisor when appropriate.
• Responsible for determining method of payment for authorized and unauthorized ambulance claims submitted for consideration.
• Writes or selects appropriate letters explaining disposition of unauthorized travel claims
• Receives invoices for payment of transportation services
• Greets patients and visitors on a pleasant and courteous manner
• Provides information and directions to patients and visitors including assisting with physical transportation of Veterans within the hospital and clinics.
• Answers calls politely and courteously providing what is being requested in a timely manner.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification 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)

• 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 02/03/2026.

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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 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 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:

GS-4 LEVEL GRADE REQUIREMENTS:

• GENERAL EXPERIENCE: One year of general experience related to the position of transportation assistant. This can include Progressively responsible clerical office or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled. This includes the ability to use computers and computer programs.
• OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Must have successfully completed 2 years of education above high school. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business secretarial or technical school junior college college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours 45 quarter hours or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business secretarial and technical school. (Transcripts Required)
• OR COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Must have successfully completed an equivalent combination of experience and education that is qualifying for entry level as described above. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

• Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-4) in Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Working with patient eligibility rules and regulations and travel. Experience organizing and maintaining documentation and records. Knowing the review process to make determination on ambulance bills and if the request for payment is legitimate or not. Having office automation abilities. Using Internet/Intranet resources. Working with beneficiary travel reimbursements. Ability to identify problems analyze issues develop solutions/resolutions and follow-up.

• OR Education: You must have successfully completed 4 years of education above the high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business secretarial or technical school junior college college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours 45 quarter hours or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business secretarial and technical school. (Transcripts Required)

• OR Combination: Must have successfully completed an equivalent combination of experience and education that is qualifying for entry level as described above. Such education and experience must demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

• Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-5) in Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Extensive knowledge of VA laws regulations directives policies procedures performance measures and guidelines relating to VA medical benefits administration organizational structure VA mission and goals; Knowledge to deal effectively with problems issues and situations which occur in the daily activities of the VTS program to establish and maintain effective working relationships which contribute to the attainment of organizational and service goals; knowledgeable in consult management scheduling admissions discharge transfer and administration with patient processing including diagnostic tests and studies availability of these within the medical center Knowledge of validation control and maintaining accounting records for many travel accounts and make frequent dollar among adjustments of those accounts. knowledge of medical terminology regulations and manuals related to the administration of this program is essential Knowledge of beneficiary travel reimbursements.

• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Teamwork

Required Experience:

Junior IC