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Program Specialist - Controlled Substance Coordinator

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Kansas City VA Medical Center - Quality and Patient Safety

Summary

The Controlled Substance Coordinator (CSC) provides leadership and oversight for the facility's Controlled Substance Inspection Program. The CSC functions as the medical center's subject matter expert on controlled substance inspections, managing and training a team of 35-40 inspectors from diverse clinical and administrative areas ensures ongoing compliance with VHA Handbooks and directives to maintain effective and compliant controlled substance operations across the medical center.

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 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$60,905 - $95,794 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Kansas City, MO
1 vacancy
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
11
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
No
Announcement number
CBSS-12951279-26-LTR
Control number
869630000

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Duties

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Duties are include but not limited to:

  • Oversees all initiatives for the Kansas City Veteran's Affairs Medical Center (KCVAMC) as it relates to the Controlled Substance Inspection Program (CSIP).
  • Supports the Director through a fully developed, comprehensive, and administratively sound controlled substance management program.
  • Contributes to the development of policies and procedures, and educational training as it relates to narcotic inspections,
    unresolved discrepancies, and performance measures for the controlled substance program.
  • Manages the Controlled Substance Inspection Program (CSIP) ensuring that the facility meets mandated requirements.
  • Develops, implements, and oversees a Controlled Substance Program that aligns with VHA Handbooks and Directives, VISN Policies, SOARS Assessments/Recommendations, and Joint Commission (TJC) Standards/Recommendations.
  • Implement processes and procedures to resolve any identified inappropriate access to controlled substances without negatively affecting patient care.

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.

Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday
Telework: This position is not authorized for Telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist - Controlled Substance Coordinator/PD10463-0 and PD10464-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): 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
  • 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 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 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, 05/26/2026.

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-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-9:
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:

  • Applies basic qualitative and quantitative techniques to collect, compile, and review data related to inspections, discrepancies, and compliance trends.
  • Applies established methods and procedures to support program operations, identify issues, and assist in developing recommendations.
OR

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Mater's or equivalent degree or 2 full years if progressively higher level graduate education leading to such degree; or LL.B or J.D.. in the related field of the position to be filled. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Transcripts must be provided.

OR

Combination: Possess a combination of successfully completed graduate education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet 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.

GS-11:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level. Specialized Experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Creates written policies, procedures and educational material regarding narcotic inspections, unresolved discrepancies and performance
    measures. Provides formal program recommendations for all aspects of the Controlled Substance Program.
  • Working knowledge of Drug Enforcement Administration compliance mandates.
  • Develop and deploy a system of internal monitoring at the Medical Center level to identify potential organization risks.
  • Utilizes flow charts, staff interviews, and auditing tools to identify weaknesses within the program and makes formal program recommendations where changes are needed.
  • Makes formal program recommendations to Senior Leadership.
  • Ensures that all monthly controlled substance inspections are assigned and completed in accordance with VHA Handbooks, Directives, VISN Policies, SOARS Assessment/Recommendations, TJC Standards and OIG Recommendations.

OR

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher lever graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in the related field of the position to be filled. Transcripts must be provided.

OR

Combination of education and experience: Possess a combination of successfully completed graduate education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet 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.

Preferred Experience: Program Management. Chart review and auditing.

Physical Requirements: See Directive and HANDBOOK 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.


You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Attention to Detail
  • Compliance Inspection
  • Customer Service
  • Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


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.


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

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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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.

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.

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.

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

Lameka Rose
Phone
816-922-2008
Email
lameka.rose@va.gov
Address
Kansas City VA Medical Center
4801 Linwood Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64128
US

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