Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current, permanent Federal employees, including those of Department of Veterans Affairs VA Title 38, Title 38 Hybrid, and Canteen employees serving on excepted appointments covered by the interchange agreement and CTAP/ICTAP eligible.

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• Serves as liaison between Specialty Care (Medical Service) and Clinical Operations. Maintains the Automated Data Processing (ADP) functions, core software packages and provides training on packages.
• Serves as liaison to Human Resources to ensure recruitment packets are forwarded to potential hires. Prepares LEAF and Management Self Service requests for recruitment.
• Prepares and/or assists in preparing contracts, sharing agreements, and equipment obligations for Medical Services.
• Prepares drafts and guidance for the development/ implementation of service policies, procedures, and credentialing.
• Equipment procurement.
• Reviews Physician pay, via HR Market Pay and Time & Leave approval.
• Assists Veterans with their concerns through Patient Advocate Tracking System.
• Is the Records Control Liaison for the service.
• Completes Physicians part time provider contracts.

NOTE: This is a career-ladder position. The major duties listed above represent the level of GS-09. At the GS-07 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-09. The selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade DOES NOT guarantee promotion to the GS-09 level.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Ad-hoc: Not Authorized
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD70881-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
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
• 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 trial 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 trial period or trial 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 by the closing date of this announcement, 03/10/2026.

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 by the closing date of this announcement.

• For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05.
• For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07.

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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS-07 Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Program Specialist. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as: Extensive and practical knowledge and skill in applying basic analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of the Service area. Knowledge of an array specialized duties and responsibilities involving a wide variety of problems or situations, including developing information, identifying interrelationships, and taking action consistent with program objectives. The work requires knowledge of the mission and functions of the service. The employee understands how the office's various administrative services relate to one another and how they relate to the Service's mission. The work also requires broad understanding and detailed procedural knowledge of budget, data management, personnel, and information processing functions of the office.

OR,

Education: Successfully completed one (1) year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

OR,

Combination: Combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above, to meet the total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume.

GS-09 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as Knowledge and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations; (2) Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents which affect the use of program and related support resources in the area studied; (3) Knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of the organization; (4) Knowledge and skill in adapting analytical techniques and evaluation criteria to the measurement and improvement of program effectiveness and/or organizational productivity; (5) Skill in conducting detailed analyses of complex functions and work processes; and (6) Interpersonal skills in presenting staffing recommendations and negotiating solutions to disputed recommendations.

OR,

Education: Successfully completed two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D., in a related field of the position to be filled. Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

OR,

COMBINATION: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience as described above, to meet the total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Knowledge Management
• Technical Competence

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.

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.

Note: 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.

Physical Requirements: Work is in a combination of sedentary and non-sedentary, with some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items, such as papers and books. Typically, the Program Specialist/Analyst may sit and do the work. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

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/.

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 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.

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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the 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.