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Program Specialist - Controlled Substance Coordinator

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS)

Summary

The Controlled Substance Coordinator (CSC) provides operational oversight, manages the Controlled Substance Inspection Program (CSIP), and ensures the Healthcare system is following VA regulations and mandates. The CSC recommends the appointment and release of Controlled substance inspectors (CSIs) into the Controlled Substance Inspection Program. The CSC serves as the medical center expert on controlled substance inspections and trains, manages and leads controlled substance inspectors.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/18/2026 to 03/23/2026
Salary
$62,629 to - $81,423 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
San Antonio, TX
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Ad-hoc only, as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CAZM-12910791-26-YM
Control number
861426400

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Duties

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Major Duties Include:

  • Serves as the principal advisor on issues of organizational compliance related to controlled substances.
  • Provides timely and accurate reports to the Medical Center Director, Chief of Corporate Compliance, Chief of Police, Chief of Pharmacy Service, ACOS of Research, Associate Director of Patient Care Services, and the Chief of Staff
  • Provides guidance and direction on the implementation and incorporation of the unannounced controlled substance inspections and compliance with related activities at the healthcare system.
  • Reviews and tracks any major discrepancies found during inspections.
  • Provides leadership, advice and recommendations to the Medical Center director through the Corporate Compliance Office relative to the controlled substance program operations and current analysis of the program.
  • Ensures that the health care system is compliant with the Office of Inspector General guidelines throughout the healthcare system.
  • Distributes written policies and procedures and or memorandum that promote commitment to Corporate Compliance and addresses specific areas of risk associated with noncompliance with controlled substance inspections and accountability in accordance with VHA directives.
  • Maintains collaborative working relationships with other VHA CSCs, STVHCS CSIs, STVHCS medical staff, the Executive leadership team (ELT), and other key STVHCS stakeholders.
  • Utilizes staff interviews, inspection reports, and auditing tools to identify risks or weaknesses within the CSI program.
  • Maintains awareness of applicable laws and regulations, keeping apprised on current changes that may affect the Medical Center Controlled substance program through seminars, training programs, conferences, and personal contacts. The incumbent is familiar with the pharmacy medication automation system (i.e., Omnicell System).
  • Establishes procedures for data validation to ensure accurate, timely, and consistent submissions of monthly inspection reports and quarterly trending and statistical data.
  • Provides quarterly trends reports to the Medical Center Director, Chief of Corporate Compliance, Chief of Police, Chief of Pharmacy Service, ACOS of Research, Associate Director of Patient Care Services, and the Chief of Staff summarizing any identified discrepancies, problematic trends, and potential areas for improvement.
  • Participates in external reviews of the organization including Joint Commission, Office of Inspector General, National VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management Committee, and VISN site visit reviews.
  • Develops and updates training materials for CSIs on the responsibilities, duties, and documents related to CS Inspection. Updates additional resources and online reference materials for CSI use.
  • Reviews and analyzes the inspection rotation schedule to ensure compliance with consecutive inspection restrictions and patterns of inspections requirements.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telework: This position is authorized for ad-hoc telework only. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist - Controlled Substance Coordinator/PD02807A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Physical Demands: The work is generally sedentary with some visits to worksites requiring walking and standing, especially when conducting an inspection. Some bending, stooping, and carrying light items such as paper, binders and medical charts is required. Work involves manual dexterity using a keyboard and personal computer. Communication is either by telephone, email, TEAMs, or in person. Filing and record keeping is a principal activity.

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.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • 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, 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, 03/23/2026.

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-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. 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-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: extract and analyze data using basic evaluation techniques; developing and completing reports; review, understand, and apply VHA Directive, policy memorandum, and established procedures; ensure local compliance issues are addressed; develop and deploy a system of internal monitoring; identify potential organization risks and vulnerabilities; complete ongoing review of current literature and regulations, analysis of relevant external oversight reviews; develop new methods and approaches to strengthen programs; reviewing and approving the substance of reports and corrective action plans for accurate reflection of policies; knowledge of the principles, concepts, methods, understanding of medical terminology; knowledge of generic/brand names of pharmaceuticals; knowledge of research pharmaceuticals; knowledge of techniques of compliance auditing as well as knowledge of the principles, methods, applications, and technologies related to the use and control of controlled substances; Knowledge of accessing, reading and deciphering facility electronic and paper health records. 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). 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 the first year of graduate education (18 semester hours) to qualify under the combination requirements. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
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/.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career 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 ICTAP and 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:

  • Analysis and Problem Solving
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Education and Training
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Performance Measurement
  • Project Management
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Strategic Thinking
  • 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.

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.

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