Telephone Operator

The Telephone Operator position is location within the Health Administration Service at the lowa City VA Health Care System (Medical Center). The work involves operating telephone switchboard equipment to connect incoming and outgoing calls; routing calls to their proper destinations; and providing telephone and organizational information to callers.

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** NOTE: This announcement has been extended to close on August 18, 2026. Applicant(s) who previously applied, do not need to re-apply. Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Operates Cisco Business console in conjunction with the station automatic exchange, establishing communications between our Medical Center and the public. Receives and places local, long distance, Federal Telephone Service and international calls. Operates Paging Systems to contact medical and administrative personnel, Public Address System, and RCA Radio Communication System. Screens incoming calls to determine proper routing of the call. Places outgoing toll calls charged to the Medical Center, and accurately record time, charges, and other pertinent information. Deals with threatening telephone calls, bomb threats, fire alarms, tornado warnings, or other unexpected emergencies, such as Code Blue. Maintains a log of all commercial long-distance and collect calls charged to the Medical Center. Assists in keeping all information regarding telephone numbers current and maintains current list of pager numbers assigned to employees authorized pagers. Monitors several emergency alarms: fire, pharmacy, boiler plant, Intensive Care Unit, humidistat, phone system and elevators. Converses with all callers, directing them to the appropriate department and visitors to the appropriate location/or service. Sorts all incoming mail on weekends and holidays for distribution to patients. Maintains all lost and found items and makes proper recordings of items received and returned in the logbook. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Friday - Monday, 12:00 pm - 12:00 am or 4:00 pm - 12:00 am Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

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 (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.