Information Receptionist - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Summary This position is located at the VA Medical Center in Bedford, Massachusetts. The Information Receptionist serves as the first point of contact for customers by serving where patients and visitors would seek information or standing in strategic locations where patients and visitors need wayfinding assistance and may include inclement outdoor weather screening visitors before entering the facility. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION The major duties include but are not limited to: Provides a positive, welcoming message and courteous, helpful service to arriving and departing patients, visitors, and staff; Works effectively as part of the transformational team dedicated to enhancing the Veteran Experience and Patient Centered Care; Responds to all telephone calls and face-to-face inquiries; Assists with locating staff, bus information, taxi information, and other general information; Provides accurate and timely responses to request for information and directions; Directs Veterans, family members and other visitors to the appropriate office or service within the facility; Provides follow-up to Veterans and visitors leaving the facility by inquiring if their questions and needs have been addressed during their appointment or other business at the facility; Locates appointment information for patients; Initiates appropriate action as needed (i.e., wiping off chairs, wheelchairs, etc.) to maintain a safe and sanitary environment within the facility; and Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Telework: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Requirements 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. 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) - See "Required Documents" below for details. 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 The following are minimum requirements for appointment as an Information Receptionist in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which all applicants must met. To qualify for this position at the GS-3 level, you must meet one of the following: General Experience: You must have six (6) months of general experience performing progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled. Experience should include communicating with a wide variety of people with different backgrounds. Clear details of experience required, your resume must show complete information for each job entry, such as beginning and ending dates of employment, duties performed, and/or total hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: you must have one (1) year 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. NOTE: One year of full-time undergraduate 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 or technical school. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Communications Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Veteran and Customer Focus IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements: Most duties are performed will be while sitting as a desk. However, incumbent may be required to push a wheelchair, bend, or kneel to obtain information or walking to assist patients. Incumbent may also need to assist patients in ambulation, carrying of packages, ect. Work Environment: Work is performed in a medical center responsible for treating patients with a wide variety of medical problems including psychiatric diagnoses. Work is generally performed in an indoor setting at the Information Desk. 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/. Education IMPORTANT: 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. ursuant 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. 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.