Program Support Assistant (Mail Clerk)
Department of Veterans Affairs
Summary
This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Columbia Regional Office (VARO), Support Services Division (SSD) Mailroom, where the incumbent provides program, technical and administrative assistance to the SSD Chief and other subordinate management within the division.
Duties
- Major Duties: This position is located in the Support Services Division of the Regional Office (RO), where the incumbent's primary duties are to process incoming and outgoing mail while actively assisting the supervisors and management of the Support Services Division (SSD) in performing administrative work.
- Sets up, operates, adjusts, maintains, and monitors the operation of single- or multiple function equipment typical of mail, duplicating and reproduction functions. 2.
- Process all priority mail by routing to the appropriate action elements, input data for shipments, tracking shipments and costs, and ensuring responses with proper reporting. 3.
- Executes control and preparation of reports by utilizing applicable computer programs. 4.
- Operates office automation equipment for the preparation of correspondence and reports, receiving and transmittal of electronic mail, and applications used. 5.
- Acts as liaison between Division Chief/1st Line Supervisors and other divisions' staff by providing guidance/assistance on procedures, and related matter for compliance. 6.
- Executes processing of incoming/outgoing mail, ensuring it is properly opened, logged, read, date stamped and sorted by established categories for distribution. 7.
- Review and research returned mail to determine the reason(s) for its return and routes mail to the appropriate unit for action.
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am- 4:30 pm.
- Compressed / Flexible: Not Available.
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
- Position Description Program Support Assistant, GS-303-06/PD#37329A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
- Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying.
VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages.
We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans.
Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started. 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.
Education
Education Substitution: No education for the GS-06.
How You Will Be Evaluated
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.
Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire.
Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:
Benefits
Receiving Service Credit or 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee’s credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Required Documents
- To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume, limited to 2 pages.
- The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
- Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
- You will not be contacted for additional information.
- Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Proof of Marriage Status Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
- You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
- If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
- Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
- Documentation is required to award preference.
- For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
About this role
The Program Support Assistant (Mail Clerk) position with the Department of Veterans Affairs is based in Columbia, South Carolina. This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Columbia Regional Office (VARO), Support Services Division (SSD) Mailroom, where the incumbent provides program, technical and administrative assistance to the SSD Chief and other subordinate management within the division. The role pays $45,409 to $59,031 per year.
Day to day, the work involves sets up, operates, adjusts, maintains, and monitors the operation of single- or multiple function equipment typical of mail, duplicating and reproduction functions. 2. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.
Who should apply
This role calls for the relevant certifications named in the posting. It is graded at GS-06, which sets both the pay band and the experience reviewers expect you to document. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Program Support Assistant (Mail Clerk) position with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Columbia, South Carolina, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.
How competitive it is
The posted pay of $45,409 to $59,031 per year places this in a competitive but attainable range for qualified applicants. As an entry or assistant-level position, it is a realistic starting point, and gaining federal status here can open doors to higher-graded roles later. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on June 26, 2026, and federal postings can close early once enough applications arrive, so applying promptly is wise.
This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.
