Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current, permanent federal employees of the Veterans Health Administration. First are of consideration will be current, permanent federal employees of the facility. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

VA Careers - Prosthetics: https://youtube.com/embed/3NUvF5jjErQ

Supervisory Prosthetic Representative (Chief, Prosthetics) serves as a recognized expert and provides authoritative consultative services to management at all levels of the organization as well as supervision of the operation and staff members of the service. The Service Chief serves as a recognized expert and provides authoritative consultative services to management at all levels of the organization as well as supervision of the operation and staff members of the service.
Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Develops short, and long term, program goals, as well as workload and performance measures.
• Coordinates, oversees and adheres to contractors and those contracts.
• Manages the development and implementation of policies, plans, guidelines and proposals for the service.
• Implements Joint Commission standards of care.
• Plans, develops and prepares annual budgets and assure adherence.
• Establishes and maintains quality assurance programs related to the service.
• Serves as an authority on laboratory informatics technology platforms.
• Serve as a consultant to local, network, and national program officials.
• Authorizes benefit payment and reimbursement.
• Develops tools that allow monitoring of quality assurance.
• Provides direction and guidance to staff.
• Administers personnel management rules, regulations and procedures.
• Maintains, manages and controls inventory.
• Participates on national, inter-agency and medical center workgroups and/or committees
• Responsible for hiring, training and ensuring ongoing support, to staff members to ensure adherence to policy and delivery of services.
• Responsible for interviewing and evaluating staff and adhering to promotional and disciplinary measures as indicated by the position.
• Provides authority over the Prosthetics Service for the medical center and is directly accountable to the Associate Director.
• Works independently; supervision is primarily consultative in nature.
• Resolves conflicts, supervise employees, develop functional statements, performance standards and competencies.
• Manages time and leave programs.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30.p.m.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 61378F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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

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. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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-Transcripts Submitted. 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.

Grade Determinations for Prosthetics Representative (Service Chief), GS-13. 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.

Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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.

Note: Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim.

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.

Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job including their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 for additional information.

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.