Job Details

Telephone Operator

The Telephone Operator serves as the switchboard operator in the Patient Services Section of the Business Office at the Providence VA Medical Center and performs work of a general office support nature. Responsibilities include:

Operating agency telephone system/switchboard to receive and connect incoming and outgoing calls.

Routing calls to their proper destination and providing telephone and organizational information to callers.

Answering/placing non-routine telephone calls.

Interviewing incoming calls to determine the proper routing of the call.

Routing callers to the appropriate department and/or services.

Operating the installed paging system.

Handling a variety of difficult calls requiring personal involvement on the part of the employee, such as threatening, abusive, or distraught callers.

Operating a two-way radio, short/long range pagers, IP telephony and WEBEX telephone systems, cellular telephone, using a computer to look up information, educating callers on use of their telephone equipment, and maintaining a repair log for telephones, two-way radios, short/long range pagers and IP telephones.

Performing a wide variety of administrative tasks associated with maintaining and supporting the work performed within the organization.

Acting as the primary liaison between the program office and administrative offices outside the organization.

Serving as the organization's liaison to the purchasing/procurement office to arrange for, monitor, and secure equipment services, and products.

Maintaining the organization's procurement/purchasing records and reports.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 12:00pm-8:00pm

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

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.

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.

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.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, you must meet the following qualifications:

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of the position.

AND:

You may qualify at the GS-04 level if you fulfill one of the following qualifications:

General Experience: One (1) year of general experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of a Telephone Operator position.

OR:

Education: Two (2) years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

OR:

Combination: Equivalent combinations of education and specialized experience (as described above) to meet the requirements at the GS-4 level.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

Attention to Detail

Clerical

Customer Service

Physical Requirements: The work is usually sedentary but may involve some standing and walking to consult directories and manuals.

Additional Information:

Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.