Information Receptionist
: Job Details :

Summary The incumbent serves as an Information Receptionist for the Office of Veteran Experience section Under the Office of the Director with primary duties and responsibilities supporting the Office of Veteran Experience and Service Chief. The incumbent is physically located at or near the main entrance of the campus or the inpatient transport office. Responsibilities Major Duties and Responsibilities Guest Relations and Patient Transport : The incumbent carries out required performance of this position as transportation program support assistant Guest Relations Program to the Office of Veteran Experience. The program is designed to provide Veterans/patients, their families and visitors with staff who can respond quickly to inquiries, identify problems, and improve the experience of those visiting the campus. The services are designed to respond to customer immediate needs including navigation, direction, and information assistance. As a key challenge of patients, navigating the campus will be a primary focus along with providing a positive first impression. For those who do not know how to access medical center programs and/or services, personal assistance will be provided by the staff. The incumbent serves as the initial, as well as the final point of contact for guests entering and leaving the facility and is a key influence toward patient/public perception. In this role, the incumbent performs these responsibilities using skills that will foster a culture of care at the VA facility. The incumbent is assigned to the Office of Veteran Experience and Employee Engagement. The incumbent performs customer service guest relations, shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, politeness respect and dignity to others; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations. He/She receives, greets and direct callers over the telephone and in person with precise clear instructions. He/She provides a variety of information about the organization, its functions, and activities and is able to meet the needs of the individual and explain in general terms the information in a way that is understandable to the target audience. or to resolve confusion surrounding the inquiry. He/She provides the assistance requested to ease the experience of the customer. He/She directs Veterans, visitors, and callers to appropriate staff member and/or department based on specific request or by determining the nature of the need and initiates service recovery when needed. The incumbent takes accurate messages and ensures their delivery to support a responsive culture to the customer. He/She provides personal wayfinding assistance and often take Veterans and visitors to locations when they have difficulties with instructions provided. He/she provides excellent customer service via the telephone and face to face simultaneously. He/She ensures customers are greeted with respect and dignity. Direct Patient Care: The incumbent must maintain a good rapport and good public relations using judgment, tact, and sensitivity with internal and external customers. Concern for the patient's total needs-physical, emotional and social-must be evident in every interaction. Provides basic transport of patients to and from departments. Utilizes sound judgment and critical thinking skills to prioritize actions and meet urgent/emergent patient needs in an unpredictable, rapidly changing environment of care. Recognizes that establishing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship with patients will promote trust. Consistently transfers, and transports patients (traveling by golf cart, wheelchair) for appointments or tests in a safe and efficient manner. Indirect Patient Care : Demonstrates knowledge of VA Policies and Procedures and assists with orientation of new personnel in appropriate areas of expertise. Maintains confidentiality and integrity of all materials containing patient's identifiable and sensitive information. Recognizes and reports safety hazards in the environment that can contribute to falls or other injuries to patients and takes appropriate action. Knowledge of National Safety Goals. Consistently practices good hand hygiene and other Standard Precaution principles. Practices proper sanitation by disinfecting/wiping down transport equipment with approved cleaning product prior to each patient transport Demonstrates basic knowledge of equipment safety, i.e., wheelchair, stretcher, and other lift equipment. Consistently practices proper body mechanics to prevent injury to self, other staff, and patients. Maintains positive interaction with the patient and significant others Work Schedule: Tour to be discussed during the interview process Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Information Receptionist/PD92171A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See Additional Information below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/16/2024. 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-04 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-03. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your most recent personnel action/SF50. Additionally, 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. Interchange Agreement: Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement. For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-03 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 various options/menus is required in daily work requirements. Knowledge of providing appropriate information to visitors, including how to address intimidating persons. Technical understanding of computer equipment is required and the process to request specialized support when equipment does not function. He/She must have knowledge and demonstrate appropriate communication, customer service, and personal interaction foundational principles. The incumbent must have knowledge of communication processes for volunteers and visitors and must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 2 years education above the high school level (i.e., 60 semester hours) in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. NOTE: 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, or technical school. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond GS-3 education requirement (i.e., successfully completed 1-year education above high school). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Agility Computer Skills Customer Service Manages and Organizes Information 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. Physical Requirements: The incumbent is required to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time along with sitting at computer for extended periods of time to perform work. The incumbent may be required to push a wheelchair, bend, or kneel to obtain information or assist patients. The incumbent is required to carry light objects such as files, clipboards, medical records, etc. Heavy lifting of 45 pounds or more Moderate carrying of 15-44 pounds Straight pulling for up to 2 hours Pushing up to 4 hours Use of fingers, both hands and legs required Walking and standing for 4 hours Repeated bending for up to 4 hours Ability for rapid, simultaneous mental and muscular coordination For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: 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. For further information, visit: Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. 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.