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Program Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Orlando VA Healthcare System

Summary

The Program Specialist provides critical administrative and program support for Social Work Service at the Orlando VA Healthcare System, assisting with coordination, personnel actions, budget, and quality improvement. The position uses independent judgment and analytical skills to ensure compliance and program efficiency, supporting care for over 110,000 veterans across a large healthcare system.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/30/2026 to 05/08/2026
Salary
$61,722 - $80,243 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Orlando, FL
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
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
Yes
Announcement number
CBTC-12945880-26-EKS
Control number
867276000

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Duties

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Duties consist of the following, but are not limited to:

  • Develops and implements data collection protocols to ensure accuracy and compliance with VA standards.
  • Designs and maintains databases and complex data systems for monitoring program performance.
  • Conducts advanced statistical analysis to inform strategic decisions and improve operational efficiency.
  • Reviews and interprets program documents such as strategic plans, budget proposals, and compliance reports.
  • Advises leadership on systemic issues and recommends corrective actions based on data-driven insights.
  • Develops dashboards and performance metrics to track progress on national and local initiatives.
  • Serves as the primary analyst for special projects initiated by VACO, VHA, VISN, and facility leadership.
  • Conducts comprehensive research and impact analysis to support project design, funding, and implementation.
  • Provides consultative guidance on policy development, compliance strategies, and resource allocation.
  • Leads the creation of annual strategic and succession plans for Social Work Service.
  • Develops and administers training programs to address emerging needs and ensure compliance with VA directives.
  • Coordinates cross-functional initiatives, acting as a liaison with other administrative and clinical departments.
  • Oversees operational compliance for Social Work programs, ensuring adherence to VA, VHA, and facility regulations.
  • Monitors program performance metrics and prepares analytical reports for leadership review.
  • Evaluates resource utilization and recommends strategies to optimize efficiency and return on investment.
  • Develops communication materials such as fact sheets, reports, and presentations to inform stakeholders.
  • Advises supervisors and staff on regulatory requirements, policy interpretation, and best practices.
  • Conducts audits and prepares compliance documentation for internal and external review.
  • Applies analytical and evaluative techniques to plan, conduct, and independently perform studies of program operations.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD07940
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
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.
  • 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, 05/08/2026.

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.

Preferred Experience:

  • Communicates effectively both in writing and orally.
  • Prepares presentations, reviews data, and utilizes Excel and other data management tools.
  • Organizes daily tasks and meets deadlines consistently.
  • Collaborates with administrative and clinical staff to support Social Work Service goals and organizational performance measures.
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: Assisting with the collection, organization, and analysis of program data to monitor performance and identify trends; Preparing and maintaining records, files, and basic databases for tracking program activities and operational metrics; Supporting the development of reports, dashboards, presentations, and communication materials for management or stakeholders; Applying basic analytical methods to evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness, or compliance of program operations; Coordinating or providing administrative support for meetings, training sessions, or special projects; Gathering and preparing documentation for compliance reviews, audits, or policy updates; Communicating findings and recommendations to supervisors or team members and providing routine administrative guidance.
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 NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
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.

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:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • 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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

The Orlando VA Healthcare System, officially established in October 2006, was designated as a 1a facility in 2021, serving more than 131,000 Veterans in Central Florida and includes a 120-bed Community Living Center, two Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs/Domiciliary (60-beds located at the Lake Nona Campus and 58-beds at the Lake Baldwin Campus), one Health Care Center in Viera, a medical center in Orlando (Lake Baldwin campus), a Multispecialty Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Daytona Beach, and five Community-Based Outpatient Clinics located in Clermont, Kissimmee, Deltona, Palm Bay and Tavares. The Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona provides outpatient, inpatient and emergency services. Orlando's 65-acre medical campus encompasses 134 acute inpatient beds, providing complex Medical/Surgical/Mental Health specialty care, advanced diagnostic services, and a large multispecialty outpatient clinic.

Agency contact information

Edie Sedgwick
Phone
407-631-7503 X17503
Email
Edit.Sedgwick@va.gov
Address
Orlando VA Medical Center
13800 Veterans Way
Orlando, FL 32827
US

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