Secretary (OA)

Major Duties include but are not limited to:

• Exercises control over supervisors 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 supervisors 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.
• Makes arrangements for travel meetings and community events.
• Maintains timecards initiates personnel actions and overtime actions and ensures appraisals standards etc. are done on a timely basis for the supervisors subordinate staff.

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.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 02/04/2026.

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-08 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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.

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to:

• Completing administrative work for executive management in a health care setting.

• Prioritizing coordinating support and completing tasks within established timeframes.

• Utilizing office automation equipment such as computers telephones conference equipment copiers and fax machines.

• Following complex administrative procedures.

• Developing and implementing office procedures policies and practices.

• Preparing reports correspondence memoranda and other forms of written communication.

• Interfacing with outside organizations.

• Referring visitors and callers to appropriate staff.

• Instructing others on procedural requirements of a job.

• Serving as a liaison to convey information.

Typing Speed Requirement: Applicants must show possession of a minimum 40 words per minute (WPM) typing speed. Applicants may meet this requirement by presenting a certificate of proficiency from a school or other organization authorized to issue such certifications by the Office of Personnel Management or by self-certifying their proficiency.

Physical Requirements: Duties are typically sedentary in nature however there may be some walking standing bending and carrying of light items like papers or books. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts requires normal safety precautions and is adequately lighted heated and ventilated.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information