Clarification from the agency

Current and permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Agency. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The incumbent of this position serves as a Prosthetic Representative (Service Chief) for the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Services (PSAS). The incumbent supervises staff and performs both supervisory and non-supervisory programmatic assignments concerned with rendering prosthetic and sensory aids services to Veterans throughout the VHA. The incumbent manages and provides local-level oversight to facility PSAS programs to achieve mission goals.

Duties for the position may include but are not limited to:

• Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates and assigns work based on priorities. Provides direction and guidance in accomplishing major milestones, goals, and objectives. Evaluates work performed by employees; interviews candidates for positions and makes selections; hears and resolves employee complaints and grievances; counsels employees and initiates disciplinary actions.
• Plans, develops, organizes, directs, manages, controls, implements, and evaluates programs for the Service. Manages and provides oversight for multiple programs at the local level and interacts with other government agencies and standards organizations.
• Ensures proper coordination between care delivered by PSAS and the overall delivery of healthcare within the facility.
• Oversees the operation of the Prosthetic, Orthotic, and Optical Laboratories including restorations.
• Responsibility for the professional practice of all facility PSAS staff.
• Establishes short and long-term strategic plans to ensure that programs are managed in a manner that enhances the achievement of goals and objectives. Develops proposals, business plans, and action plans to improve effectiveness. Ensures the effective utilization of resources to include space, equipment, supplies, and personnel.
• Plans and prepares budget estimates. Manages special purpose prosthetics funding and ensures proper cost controls and spending procedures throughout the service.
• Represents VA with other agencies on issues regarding prosthetic and sensory aids services. Responds to Congressional inquiries and other correspondence dealing with the assigned program area.
• Serves as a technical advisor and subject matter expert in prosthetic and sensory aids.
• Provides advice and guidance to clinicians regarding the selection, prescription, and acquisition of prosthetic devices.
• Interprets prescriptions of clinicians to make certain that medically indicated prosthetic devices and/or services are prescribed for, patients. Authorizes the purchase, fabrication, or repair of prosthetic devices.
• Coordinates Facility level reviews and monitoring of specialty programs that include Clothing Allowance, Home Oxygen, Automobile Adaptive Equipment, and Home and Structural Alterations to assure all program activities are carried out in accordance with eligibility requirements and VHA regulations.
• Conducts home and vendor visits to authorize benefit payments, reimbursement and contract compliance. Processes and authorizes service and payment of monthly Home O₂ program. Reviews, monitors, analyzes, and evaluates the results of various databases' prosthetics data referring to staff for guidance.
• Determines eligibility for prosthetic services/items for veterans.
• Develops Statement of Work or performance work statements for contracts.
• Coordinates and participates in team and clinic discussions with the Major Medical Equipment Committee (MMEC), the Preventive Amputee Care Team (PACT), and Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA) to ensure the most appropriate items are issued and to ensure cost effectiveness.
• Responds to a variety of correspondence to include contractor concerns, and Specialty program issues, and equipment needs.
• Serves as a Chairperson of local committees, workgroups, and teams. Participates in team discussions and represents the Department in public relations activities such as lectures, Town Hall Meetings, and in-service meetings. Participates in national initiatives, intra-agency workgroups and non-VA forums.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency
Telework: Available; Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for eligible highly qualified candidates
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• Experience and Education: Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • 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
  • 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
  • Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determination:

Prosthetic Representative (Service Chief)

• Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • 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.
  • Ability to manage specialty prosthetic services. This includes the ability to provide specialty services based on the unique needs of the patient.
  • Skill and ability to effectively advise senior management officials.
  • 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.
  • Ability to supervise/manage through subordinate supervisors the activities of prosthetic representatives that have diverse functions.
  • Ability to establish and monitor productivity standards and production and performance priorities.

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 such as those described in paragraph 2.g 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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.