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Program Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The VISN 20 Network Office systematically provides coordination and oversight of the Informatics Programs in VISN 20. The incumbent is responsible for conducting systematic reviews of the VISN 20 informatic programs, as well as providing oversight and reporting to the Chief Medical Informatics Officer and VISN 20 leadership. This position is organizationally located at the VISN 20 offices in Vancouver, Washington.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/07/2025 to 11/03/2025
Salary
$65,846 to - $85,598 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Vancouver, WA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBSV-12810689-26-EH
Control number
847619800

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Duties

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Program Administrative Responsibilities

The incumbent will be responsible for overall planning, organizing, coordinating, implementing, directing, integrating, controlling, and evaluating the VISN 20 Legacy and FEHRM within the region of VISN 20, supporting the electronic medical record at all facilities in the Network. The incumbent will act as a resource person in planning, reviewing, or revising policies and procedures that impact Legacy and the FEHR Programs and its related applications. Works collaboratively with the Health Care System's managers and specific programs and processes in the federal electronic health record. The incumbent will develop strategies for program development and implementation whenever new processes are introduced. Report shortfalls and provide suggestions for improving the program to health care system leadership at the VISN. The incumbent will oversee processes and procedures regarding the electronic health record and make recommendations to senior leadership.

The incumbent will collaborate with other program content experts as needed. The incumbent will keep him or herself informed of changes in processes and procedures regarding the delivery of health care as it relates to the electronic health record. In addition, the incumbent will promote collaborative working relationships, creative problem solving, and flexibility; will recognize and encourage growth in others and will motivate others in a positive manner. The incumbent will assess the impact of change on the health care delivery system as it relates to the informatics.

The incumbent will aid in development and maintenance of the VISN 20 Informatics Program SharePoint site. The incumbent will develop local practices to monitor workload capture, documentation and other processes for the Informatics Program. Analyze trends issues that hinder the use of electronic health record in VISN 20.The incumbent may perform work in support of purchasing and/or procurement of services, products, supplies, and equipment requiring a practical knowledge of applicable operations, procedures, programs, policies, and regulations, to meet the needs of the organization. The incumbent will use different solicitation methods, ordering or reporting procedures, purchasing methods, or clauses and provisions depending on the type, quality, dollar value or urgency of the requirement.

Program Operational Responsibilities

The incumbent will use sound judgment in decision-making that focuses on meeting the goals and improving the program. The incumbent will be expected to complete the following responsibilities:

  • Establish relationships with professional and/or other health-related groups within VISN 20
  • Provide programmatic advice, support, and assistance regarding the electronic health care system with a view towards accomplishing the accuracy of health care delivery in the presence of the new electronic system of documentation.
  • Interact with a wide variety of staff and customers, demonstrating sensitivity to and an understanding of their needs by taking ownership of the problem and adopting the customer's needs as their own.
  • Monitor quality improvement measures related to or impacted by the health care system.
  • Ensure patient's safety and the continued delivery of high-quality health care.
  • Seek opportunities for program expansion by performing routine analysis of electronic health record implementation processes.
  • Participate and facilitate multi-site coordination and problem resolution.
  • Perform administrative tasks to support workflow of the informatics team.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm PST
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD10484-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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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.
  • Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
  • 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.
  • 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 or 2-year trial 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 period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 10/16/2025.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: responsible for overall planning, organizing, coordinating, implementing, directing, integrating, controlling and evaluating a program; working collaboratively with managers; developing strategies for program development and implementation; promoting collaborative working relationships, creative problem solving and flexibility; assessing the impact of change on the health care delivery system as it relates to the implementation of a new program; conducting reviews to identify and resolve staff concerns regarding technology and patient encounter issues; using sound judgement in decision making that focuses on meeting the goals and improving the assigned program; monitoring quality improvement measures. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week. OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 1 full year of graduate level education.
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

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

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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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

TheCareer Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Computer Skills
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Information Management
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Oral Communication
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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