The purpose of the Transportation Assistant is to provide support for the Veteran Transportation Program (VTP).The Incumbent will be the Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) dispatcher for the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) VTP. VTS is responsible for providing transportation support to the 100K Veteran enrollees within the VAPORHCS' 27 county catchment area in Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 06/16/2025. 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 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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 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. You may qualify based on your experience and as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Patient transportation support functions, dispatching and/or transportation coordination; Entering and tracking data related to transport workload; Scheduling transportation to ensure timely arrival for appointments; Ability to independently plan and carry out successive step to complete transportation support duties; Knowledge of various software such as word processing, spreadsheets, patient scheduling programs, transportation service program packages, etc. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accountability Computer Skills Cost Benefit Analysis Customer Service 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 work is sedentary in nature. No unusual physical demands are placed on the employee. Work Environment: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. There may be some walking; standing; bending; and carrying of light items such as papers, books, or small parts. Incumbent may be susceptible to eyestrain from working long hours on the computer. 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/.
The Incumbent will be the first line of contact with the Veteran and must be knowledgeable on a wide variety of subjects regarding the VA. They must at all times, remain friendly and courteous, regardless of the patient's or visitor's attitude or behavior. The dispatcher position is critical to increasing Veterans access to medical care and the success of the program. The major duties include but are not limited to: Communicating with all involved, to include Veterans, caretakers, clinical and voluntary staffs, as well as the Senior Management Team, to ensure the program's success. Providing the VTS supervisor with all required data necessary for all reports concerning this function. Uses software such as Route Match, Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VISTA) or other systems/programs initiated by the national program office for establishing and managing VTS workload requirements. Collecting/compiling and entering all required data at the time the VTS support requirement is established. Managing work assignments for up to eight Motor Vehicle Operators (WG-5703- 6) in accomplishing the 1,100 plus monthly VTS Veteran transports. Independently manage the dispatch services for the Medical Center's VTS program. The VTS program provides transportation at Government expense to Veterans and their attendants traveling to and from VA facilities and other places for the purpose of examination, treatment and care. Correctly determining if the Veterans are eligible to use the VTP services. Arranging transportation for Veterans using the VTS vehicles and other available transportation resources. Corresponds with physicians, Veterans, and VTS drivers to determine the transportation plan that best meets the Veterans needs. Prepares appropriate documentation and /or scheduling for Veterans according to VTP guidelines. Makes special arrangements for Veterans per physician documentation according to Veterans' medical condition and/or needs and is also responsible to secure reservations for a seat on one of the VTS vehicles. Responsible for forwarding all correspondence to the appropriate department via itinerary or stated preferences with destination and time. Keeps in touch with VTS drivers in route to Medical facilities to resolve potential problems and will maintain communications with VTS drivers regarding Veterans return travel arrangements. Point of contact for the VTS drivers in the event of emergencies and thus responsible to ensure appropriate response to safeguard everyone on the vehicle in the event of an accident or other emergency. Acts as liaison between transportation services and Veterans to insure that the VTS vehicles are being used properly. He/she assures that the Veteran is given appropriate instruction for reaching the exam site and for recording the special needs that the VTS staff must be prepared to accommodate. Calculates VTS driver routing, once patient's requiring transportation are identified and provides anticipated pick up times to the patients. Documents and prepares monthly synopsis of the program for the VTP Board of Directors. When required, prepares reports for VTS service to the Mobility Manager or designee to determine annual, local mobility usage. Documents and prepares statistical reports to supervisor upon request for fiscal year review and/or other needs. Maintains and controls filing system in accordance with VA regulations. Ensures proper directions are available as the VTS driver arrives at the facility to deliver patient to clinics for each appointment, picked up after the appointment, and returned home. 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. Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 10:00 am- 6:30 pm PST Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Transportation Assistant -Dispatcher/PD21199A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized