Skip to main content
U.S. flag
 

Program Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

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?

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 07/10/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 10, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$52,770 - $83,918 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Promotion potential
9
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
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
Other
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
CAZP-12999529-26-AR
Control number
875317300

Videos

Duties

Help

This position is located at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI. (695)- a level 1a complexity VHA facility and is organizationally aligned under the Dental Service. The primary purpose of this position is to render day-to-day support to the Chief, permitting the Chief
to attend to and concentrate on the major and various significant aspects of the Dental Service.

Major Duties:

  • Assists the service chief in the formulation of service goals and objectives and in the initiation of new policies and procedures as they relate to the effectiveness and efficiency of the administrative and clerical aspects of the service.
  • Identifies program weaknesses and/or flaws and develops new local standard operating procedures to enhance results and remedy deficiencies, submitting the new ideas to the supervisor for approval and implementation.
  • Support the dental residency education programs including The Milwaukee VA Advanced Education in General Dentistry program as well as the graduate specialty residency program in the field of prosthodontics.
  • Work directly with the chief of the dental service and the program director to ensure all accreditation standards are met and documentation is in place for residency site visit evaluations.
  • Support mechanisms for procuring data for surveys as well as evaluations of dental residents on an ongoing basis.
  • Conducts research and perform special studies covering activities which are in need of reevaluation or have become problem areas.
  • Assistance on the application of qualitative or quantitative analytical methods to be used in problem solving.
  • Delegate specific assignments by the Chief.
  • Investigates, reviews, and prepares replies to memoranda and correspondence received in the service.
  • Provides in depth advice, assistance, and courses of action to service supervisors and staff on matters such as staffing, recruitment, placement, and training.
  • Serve to support staffing management and initiatives related to recruitment, promotions, and
    position management (i.e. MSS).
  • Coordinate duties in the areas of clerical, administration, and personnel. This encompasses researching information, planning, advising, assigning, and supervising clerical matters involving the Dental Service.
  • Serve as local point of contact for clinical questions for Community Care administrative staff to ensure care is directed according to urgency and specific care requirements appropriate to the consult request.
  • Track and monitor network concerns utilizing appropriate community care/ TPA databases i.e. PPMS and DST.
  • Analyzes dental metrics, data, and productivity reports for the Dental Service.
  • Run reports to ensure that all metrics are properly tracked and meeting national indicators and may run reports related to productivity and ongoing focused professional performance evaluations (OPPE/FPPE).

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: Full-time, Monday- Friday, 7am-3:30pm
Telework: This position is not authorized for telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD21128A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Requirements

Help

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: Work performed in this position is sedentary, and in an office setting where only light physical exertion is required. There may be some instances that involve lifting, bending, stooping, stretching, pushing, reaching, and walking long distances to other offices.
  • 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, 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, 07/10/2026.

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-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. 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 Level Experience

  • 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes: following applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computer files, release of access codes. Manage information security within areas of responsibility to assure that computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained. Help motivate, train, and work effectively with the staff, and be able to design new procedures towards improvement of work output, using analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of problems or issues of a procedural or factual nature. Working with theory and principles of management and organization including administrative practices and procedures, organizations, such as those pertaining to the Dental Service, channels of communication, delegation of authority, routing of correspondence, filing systems, and storage of files and records. NOTE: 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.
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 or superior academic achievement. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
OR,
  • Combination: Equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position.

GS-9 Level Experience
  • 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes: following applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computer files, release of access codes. Manage information security within areas of responsibility to assure that computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained. Help motivate, train, and work effectively with the staff, and be able to design new procedures towards improvement of work output, using analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of problems or issues of a procedural or factual nature. Working with theory and principles of management and organization including administrative practices and procedures, organizations, such as those pertaining to the Dental Service, channels of communication, delegation of authority, routing of correspondence, filing systems, and storage of files and records. Using qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques such as literature search, work measurement, task analysis, job structing, productivity charting, determining staff to workload ratios, development and administration questionnaires, flowchart of work processes, graphing. Working with people at all levels, both within the VA organization and outside sources. Working independently and to be able to identify and recommend solutions to problems. NOTE: 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.
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. of 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: 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 graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.

*Preferred Experience*
-Evidence of completion of an accredited Masters of Health Administration program, Masters of Business Administration program, or other Post- Baccalaureate professional program.
-Experience with CPRS Consultation Management related to dental eligibility, consult routing, consult scheduling, VISTA Scheduling Packages and appointment scheduling.


You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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 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

Agency contact information

Audriana Rosas
Email
AUDRIANA.ROSAS@VA.GOV
Address
Clement J Zablocki Veterans Administration Medical Center
5000 West National Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53295
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Veterans Health Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.va.gov/jobs/

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.