Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all US citizens and Current permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration including permanent Veterans Canteen Service employees, current permanent full-time Hybrid Title 38 and permanent full-time Title 38 employees.

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Duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Serving as a Prosthetic Representative (Service Chief) for the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Services (PSAS).
• Supervising staff and performing both supervisory and non-supervisory programmatic assignments concerned with rendering prosthetic and sensory aids services to Veterans throughout the VHA.
• Managing and providing local-level oversight to facility PSAS programs to achieve mission goals.
• Providing comprehensive support to optimize the health and independence of the Veteran services within various settings, including; Veterans Integrated Services (VISNs), Inpatient Clinics, Outpatient Clinics and domiciliaries throughout the United States.
• Planning work to be accomplished by subordinates and assigns work based on priorities.
• Providing direction and guidance in accomplish major milestones, goals and objectives.
• Evaluating work performed by employees; interviewing candidates for positions and making selections; hearing and resolving employee complaints and grievances; councils employees and initiates disciplinary actions.
• Identifying developmental and training needs to ensure organizational proficiency.
• Plans, develops, organizes, directs, manages, controls, implements and evaluates programs for the Service.
• Ensuring all supervisory functions are carried out in accordance with VA Human Resources rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Overseeing the operation of Prosthetic, Orthotic and Optical Laboratories, including restorations.
• Advising the VA Central Office and VISN in the development of PSAS policies.
• Planning and preparing budget estimates.
• Serving as a technical advisor and subject matter expert in prosthetic and sensory aids.
• Providing advice and guidance to clinicians regarding the selections, prescription and acquisition of prosthetic devices.
• Developing Statement of Work or performance work statements for contracts.
• Determining eligibility for prosthetic services/items for veterans.

Work Schedule: Full time Monday-Friday 8;00am-430pm, or alternate.
Telework: AdHoc Authorized.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PDF03176
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

NOTIFICATIONS:

• This Position is covered by a locality-based comparability pay.
• Travel and relocation expenses are authorized.
• Selectee may be required to work at any Boston Healthcare System campus, as needed.
• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• Permanent appointment and salary in this position is subject to review by the Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• Selectee will be required to complete additional forms to proceed with employment process.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for current permanent Federal employees.

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States.

b. Experience and Education. Individual must meet either requirements below.

• (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience that demonstrates: Knowledge of basic anatomy and medical terminology; knowledge of accounting methods; ability to research, analyze, comprehend, and apply decisions; basic knowledge of inventory management procedures; ability to use computer software packages for word processing, spreadsheet development, and database management; and ability to work independently and as a member of a team;

OR

• (2) Education. A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution AND at least 24 semester hours in course work related to health care, public administration, or business. The 24 semester hours could include but is not limited to any combination from the following fields: occupational therapy, physical therapy, kinesiotherapy, social work, psychology, prosthetics, orthotics, respiratory therapy, assistive technology, business law, leadership, healthcare, public administration, or business management. This course work may have been completed within the degree or in addition to the degree;

OR

• (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

c. English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English.

Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a Prosthetic Representative on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

Employees grandfathered into the GS-0672 occupational series as prosthetic representatives may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

Prosthetic Representatives who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees who are retained as a Prosthetic Representative under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a prosthetic representative.

English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Grade Determinations.
In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

GS-13 Prosthetic Representative (Service Chief)
(a) Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• i. Knowledge of directives, handbooks, clinical practice guidelines, and regulations that apply to Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service to resolve complex, controversial, or precedent-setting matters.
• ii. Ability to manage specialty prosthetic services. This includes the ability to provide specialty services based on the unique needs of the patient.
• iii. Skill and ability to effectively advise senior management officials.
• iv. Ability to manage a health care program that provides home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, orthotics, or prosthetics.
• v. Ability to supervise/manage through subordinate supervisors the activities of prosthetic representatives that have diverse functions.
• vi. Ability to establish and monitor productivity standards and production and performance priorities.

(c) Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Service chiefs have full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service operations. This is the highest level professional position, at the facility, with responsibility for the professional practice of all facility PSAS staff. Individuals at the GS-13 level are typically assigned as Chiefs at a complex facility that provide multiple specialty services and may manage more than one facility through subordinate supervisors. The chief has full management and supervisory responsibility for the PSAS program. Service Chiefs plan, develop, organize, direct, manage, control, implement and evaluate programs for the Service. They have overall responsibility to ensure proper coordination between care delivered by PSAS and the overall delivery of healthcare within the facility. They are responsible for all supervisory functions, including recruitment and hiring, administering employee leave requests and ensuring all requests for hiring, promotions, awards and disciplinary actions are justified and carried out according to appropriate VA Human Resources policies and procedures. The Chief is a member of the senior leadership team providing advice for integrated care programs for a diverse Veteran population with multiple diagnoses, and other needs. The Chief is involved in management planning to achieve medical center, VISN, and national goals.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/94, PART II, APPENDIX G34, dated January 18, 2018

Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued sitting, with intermittent bending, pulling, and pushing. Movement between work areas within the health care system is expected. Lifting and carrying of objects up to 25 pounds may be required.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for 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; religions; 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.