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Program Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

The position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Salisbury VA Medical Center (VAMC), Salisbury, NC, within the Specialty Care Service. The primary duties of the position are to perform clinical, administrative and technical data support for Specialty Care Service.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/15/2026 to 05/26/2026
This job will close when we have received 25 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$51,585 - $82,033 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Salisbury, NC
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
9
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
CBTA-12959657-26-MB
Control number
869600800

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Duties

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Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Duties include but not limited to:

  • Manages the credentialing and privileging requirements for the Service. Maintains and updates provider notebooks with information required by Joint Commission on approximately 70 providers.
  • Works closely with the Specialty Care Service Administrative Officer (AO), Section Chiefs and the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) Specialty Care, to ensure that the provider notebooks are maintained and updated.
  • The Program Specialist monitors the completion and timeliness of the clinical pertinence reviews submitted (10 per quarter for each provider) and maintains a database of these for review.
  • Manages the service by consulting tracking data, clinic profiles, and encountering completion in order to meet or exceed Advanced Clinic Access performance measures for the VAMC.
  • Develops, establishes and manages clinic profiles for medical specialty clinics.
  • Monitors and reevaluates clinic profiles/schedules which are used in the Medical Center's Appointment Management scheduling software package.
  • Functions as liaison between clinical practitioners and patients referred to the various disciplines within Specialty Care Service.
  • Functions as the administrative support person for the purpose of facilitating and troubleshooting patient and administrative issues related to the consult process within specialty care of Specialty Care Service.
  • Monitors consult backlog and clinic wait times via consult tracking package in the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) consult tracking package.
  • Collects, compiles, analyzes and presents data to the AO and ACOS Specialty Care regarding the consult-tracking package.
  • Provides administrative support for issues/processes related to inter-facility consults to other medical centers.
  • Coordinates and develops CPRS templates, note titles and new consults with Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) and the Medical Records Committee.
  • Works with Decision Support System (DSS) staff and with clinical services to ensure the clinic stop code information corresponds with the DSS stop code identifiers on the clinic profiles.
  • Coordinates with MCCR staff to determine if clinic services are billable; verifies with Health Information Management Section (HIMS) that the appropriate International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are entered on the electronic encounter form setup and follows up on incomplete encounters entered by providers.
  • Sets up clinic profiles to indicate providers' daily schedule.
  • Collects data relevant to medical activities and workload for report preparation and submissions.
  • Responsible for closing and completion of open encounters. Reconciling encounters requires review of data in CPRS and checking with providers and clinic MSAs for patient cancellations and no-shows.
  • Reinforces the use of VISTA packages for scheduling, registration of patients, workload monitoring, retrieval of clinical information and other specialized information found in VISTA as it relates to the specific needs of the Specialty Care Service Line.
  • Provides new employee training for both administrative and clinical employees in Specialty Care Service.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4pm
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD08620A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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.
  • Physical Requirements: 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, 05/26/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement (GS-7): 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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.

Time-In-Grade Requirement (GS-9): 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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:

  • GS-7: Program Specialist
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of healthcare delivery; knowledge of Joint Commission requirements; knowledge of the electronic consult process to resolve issues with pending consults; knowledge of outpatient processing and release of information; knowledge of medical record creation, content and format, encounter forms, VISTA scheduling package; knowledge of eligibility criteria in a variety of areas such as prosthetic devices, medications, medical specialty services, outside referrals; knowledge of CPRS; knowledge of personal computer software programs; knowledge of medical terminology and usage; skill and ability to plan work, set priorities, coordinate activities; knowledge of time and attendance reporting using VA PAID system; ability to communicate in writing in order to prepare memorandum, letters, policies, procedures, and a wide variety of reports; ability to communicate orally in order to communicate effectively with employees at all levels. OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 1 full year of graduate level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of successfully completed education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position. Only education beyond a bachelors degree may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-07 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.
  • GS-9: Program Specialist
  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of healthcare delivery; knowledge of Joint Commission requirements; knowledge of the electronic consult process to resolve issues with pending consults; knowledge of outpatient processing and release of information; knowledge of medical record creation, content and format, encounter forms, VISTA scheduling package; knowledge of eligibility criteria in a variety of areas such as prosthetic devices, medications, medical specialty services, outside referrals; knowledge of CPRS; knowledge of personal computer software programs; knowledge of medical terminology and usage; skill and ability to plan work, set priorities, coordinate activities; knowledge of time and attendance reporting using VA PAID system; ability to communicate in writing in order to prepare memorandum, letters, policies, procedures, and a wide variety of reports; ability to communicate orally in order to communicate effectively with employees at all levels. OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or completed two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B or J.D., if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position. Only education in excess of a master's or equivalent graduate education may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-9 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is 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/.

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.

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?

Agency contact information

Monica Busanet
Email
Monica.Busanet@va.gov
Address
WG Bill Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center
1601 Brenner Avenue
Salisbury, NC 28144
US

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