Transportation Assistant at Veterans Health Administration

About the role

This position is located at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hospital in Montrose, New York. The Transportation Assistant arranges travel for veteran beneficiaries and both employee and non-employee attendants in accordance with existing VA regulations. ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** ***NOTE: Intermittent employment is defined as non-fulltime employment in which employees serve under an excepted or competitive service appointment without a regularly scheduled tour of duty. A position with an intermittent work schedule is sporadic and unpredictable so that a tour of duty cannot be regularly scheduled in advance. Intermittent positions offer health insurance only if the employee is expected to work at least 130 hours per month for at least 90 days. Duties include but may not be limited to the following: Arranges transportation for veterans and authorized attendants using appropriate travel services. Determines eligibility for VA beneficiary travel under applicable rules and policies. Reviews records and authorizes travel, including the appropriate mode of transportation. Schedules and coordinates trips with veterans, hospital staff, and transportation providers. Coordinates patient transfers between hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities. Prepares travel authorizations, trip tickets, logs, and related documentation. Coordinates with ambulance companies and other transportation vendors to resolve service issues. Maintains transportation information such as fares, schedules, mileage rates, and available services. Controls beneficiary travel costs and seeks cost-effective transportation options. Reviews vendor vouchers and invoices for authorization, mileage, fees, and accuracy. Investigates questionable travel claims, billing issues, and unauthorized transportation services. Monitors beneficiary travel funds, expenditures, control points, and budget requirements. Provides travel information and customer service to veterans, families, staff, and outside organizations. Utilizes computer systems and software to execute office automation functions. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Intermittent Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-05 GRADE LEVEL, YOU MUST MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Transportation Assistant. Qualifying specialized experience includes arranging transportation for individuals; reviewing documents to verify eligibility for transportation services; calculating mileage and travel costs; scheduling trips with customers and staff; and using computer systems and software to maintain records. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. ~OR~ SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: You must have successfully completed 4 years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. 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, or technical school. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: You must possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (beyond the second year) and specialized experience as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. 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 may require some physical effort, such as standing, walking, bending, or sitting. The employee works primarily in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts. Normal safety precautions are adequate. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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) - See "Required Documents" below for details. 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 interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: 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. Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.