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Program Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) - San Juan VA Medical Center

Summary

The Controlled Substance Coordinator (CSC) is aligned to the Center Director's Office and is under the direct supervision of the Chief of Staff's Office. The CSC reports directly to the Center Director and the Exec Team in monthly and quarterly reports. The CSC works independently and is the program's authority to manage and audit all aspects of the Controlled Substance Inspection Program (CSIP).

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 06/10/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 10, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$61,722 - $80,243 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel up to 25% for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBTC-12971582-26-LB
Control number
871277300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent San Juan VA Medical Center VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) employees and CTAP eligible applicants only.

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Duties

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Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Collects, analyzes, interprets, classifies and documents daily discrepancies and overrides generated by different healthcare staff (i.e. physicians, nurse staff and pharmacy staff).
  • Evaluates the monthly and quarterly reports for corrective actions taken or required to ensure compliance with program requirements in VHA and correction plans.
  • Recognizes the different functions and motivations of various employees and groups in health care delivery systems, and ability to communicate effectively with each in order to gather information present recommendation and/or coordinate services.
  • Communicates mandates and regulations through written guidelines policies, and procedures and through oral communication with Medical center Director and including and other higher level management.
  • Provides instruction and/or direction and/or making recommendations that may be new or controversial in regards to controlled substances.
  • Conducts telephone and written notifications of all discrepancy findings to healthcare staff managers and requests replies and actions. These replies are included in the reports prepared for the Center Director.
  • Studies, analyzes and develops methods to ensure compliance with complex regulations for the inspection of controlled substances.
  • Uses computer software as EXCEL, WORDS, Vista, CPRS, PICIS and databases to develop graphics and trends that are utilized to prepare reports.
  • Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures.
Work Schedule: 8:00am- 4:30pm Monday- Friday
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD129830
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
  • 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 identification 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, 06/10/2026.

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: Experience in Inspection of Controlled Substances.
Selective Placement Factor: Fluent in English and Spanish language written and spoken.

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:

  • Uses discretion and judgment in planning and carrying out special functions, special assignments and oversight responsibilities.
  • Communicates mandates and regulations through written guidelines policies, and procedures and through oral communication with staff, including and other higher level management.
  • Provides instruction and/or direction and/or making recommendations that may be new or controversial in regards to controlled substances.
  • Collects, analyzes, interprets, classifies and documents daily discrepancies and overrides generated by different healthcare staff (i.e. physicians, nurse staff and pharmacy staff).
  • Studies, analyzes and develops methods to ensure compliance with complex regulations for the inspection of controlled substances.
  • Uses computer software as EXCEL, WORDS, Vista, CPRS, PICIS and databases to develop graphics and trends that are utilized to prepare reports.
  • Analyzes the issues in the assignment, then selects and applies accepted analytical techniques such as task analysis, work simplification, work-flow charts, workload measurement, and trend analysis to the resolution of procedural problems affecting the efficiency, effectiveness, or productivity of the organization. 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 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. 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.

You will be rated 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


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.

Physical Requirements: There are no unusual physical demands. Work is sedentary with some periods of more physical activity with the outreach events.

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

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

Lori Brese
Phone
785-350-3932
Email
lori.brese@va.gov
Address
San Juan VA Medical Center
10 Calle Casia
San Juan, PR 921
US

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