Secretary (OA)

This position is located at the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) in the Office of the Director. The incumbent serves as the Executive Secretary to the Director and provides a wide variety of administrative and management support for the work performed in the Office of the Director.

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Serves as the Office Manager for the Executive Leadership Office and ensures that the practices and procedures used by secretaries in subordinate offices are consistent with those of the Director's Office. Recommends changes in administrative policies. Devises and installs office procedures and practices to be used by secretaries in subordinate offices. Prepares agenda for and conducts periodic secretarial training sessions for all secretaries to department heads. Responds to inquiries and administrative problems brought to the Director by members of the staff and officials of the agency's central office. Notifies the appropriate staff officials of the need for information or recommendations, and either prepares the response or follows up to ensure a timely response by others. Exercises exclusive control over the Director's appointments, with complete authority for commitments of time. Screens all calls and visitor's answering most questions and completing most business involving established policy or routine matters without referring people to the Director. Coordinates secretarial staff coverage and effectively communicates office operations information and expectations to the entire executive leadership team. Provides public contact support services such as answering the telephone, referring visitors, or providing information about the office, its functions and standard operating procedures, as well as similar information. Refers Veterans' concerns to the Patient Advocate Office and assists services under the Director with general correspondence procedures, reports, requirements and other matters necessary to implement the Director's policies, directives and instructions. Processes incoming and outgoing materials for the Director such as correspondence, reports, memoranda and other forms of written communication. Performs the following types of duties: edits letters and reports, reviews correspondence for accuracy and completeness, prepares presentation outlines and develops form letters. Appropriately uses the computer system and other office automation equipment and processes to accomplish writing, transmitting, receiving and forwarding electronic mail; writing, editing, formatting and printing word processing and spreadsheet documents to meet established timeframes provided by the Director. Serves as a liaison for several high-level councils and committees and is required to prepare agendas, accurately takes and transcribes all taped and handwritten notes and prepares meeting minutes for the Director's signature. Material presented in final form is virtually always free of typing, format, and/or assembly errors. Provides general clerical mail and correspondence services such as preparing a variety of recurring reports, reviewing outgoing correspondence for proper attachments, or consolidating/coordinating submittals of information. Advises the Director and Supervisory Health System Specialist of important office issues arising during the Director's absence, and brings significant items in reports, files and correspondence to the Director and Supervisory Health System Specialist. Independently electronically schedules and maintains appointments, coordinates meetings, V-Tels, VANTS/SKYPE calls (tele-conferences) and/or schedules conferences for the Director. Performs electronic calendar maintenance to ensure appointments are accurate and non-conflicting. Reminds the Director of subject matter prior to the meetings and makes administrative arrangements as required. Attends meetings when required, notes commitments and advise staff of their commitments in order to track actions for compliance. Coordinates all leave with the Secretaries in the Office of the Director to avoid instances of lack of Executive Leadership Office coverage. Serves as a purchase card holder for the Director's Office for supplies and services, which includes purchases and timely reconciliation of purchases. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Supervisor's discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Secretary (OA)/PD12825O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 (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) 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 period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.