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Program Specialist (Nursing Operations)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

The Durham VA Medical Center is seeking (1) highly skilled/experienced Program Specialist to serve within Nursing Operations.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 07/30/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 30, 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 11
Promotion potential
11
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
CBTA-13005983-26-JB
Control number
877226700

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Duties

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Responsible for providing continued oversight of a broad-based Patient Care Service program that supports the organizational driver "Employer of Choice" and operates in support of improving access to timely and highly specialized care needs for a complex (level 1a) healthcare system that is constantly evolving within a highly complex and competitive geographic area.

Collaborates with nursing leaders and administration to create an innovative program for recruitment, retention, and recognition. One primary focus is on the administrative day to day operations, to reduce employee turnover, to improve staff satisfaction, and to enhance recruitment efforts. Will develop strategic plans to address employment recruitment, retention, and recognition, benchmarks key performance measures and monitors employee feedback regarding hiring, orientation, and career development processes. Organizes and collaborates with management in implementing hiring guidelines and structures in congruence with HR policies and procedures. Coordinates and collaborates with community agencies, vendors, and health care organization to meet the recruitment, retention and recognition needs of the organization. Position will also support the Care Coordination Center/Transfer Center with administrative tasks to ensure Veteran care is registered in the system when presenting to Community Emergency Departments for care.

Duties included, but are not limited to:

  • Staying informed of new technologies and learning environments for evaluation and training opportunities.
  • Research issues impacting nurse retention and share findings with leadership.
  • Attend professional conferences and identifying sources of marketing opportunities.
  • Designing and implementing media advertising campaigns, job fairs, and presentations.
  • Source applicants through various methods including advertising, recruiters, job sites, career fairs, resume mining, etc.
  • Develop working relationships to assist in recruiting and retention efforts. Increase community awareness and branding of the organization.
  • Keep current with sourcing strategies and industry trends and data. Articulate work environment options, opportunities, mentoring and promotion.
  • Maintains systems to track, trend and forecast nursing personnel needs based on trend in the VA and in the community.
  • Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with affiliated schools, profession organizations, certifying bodies and program directors of nursing programs in the local region.
  • Required to travel to affiliated schools, Community Based Clinics (CBOC), and other sites to provide outreach and for nurse RR projects, as well as for education and training opportunities/requirements.
  • Anticipates the recruiting needs of the Nursing Service and Medical Center and assesses quantitative and qualitative objectives for the purpose of recruiting and retaining top candidates.
  • Creates and maintains databases related to recruitment and retention (such as turnover rates, exit interview, new hires, and reassignments.
  • Facilitates recommendations for systems and/or resource changes that will serve to improve the work force and resource utilization.
  • Serves as a consultant to Nursing Service Leadership on recruitment, retention, selection, hiring, on-boarding, and transfers.
  • Monitors, analyzes, and reports on hiring processes and nurse retention.
  • Performs all other duties as required.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized
Telework: Not authorized.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (Nursing Operations)/PD068630
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 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, 07/30/2026.

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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: research, marketing, staff recognition; recruitment and hiring process; ability to apply analytical and evaluative methods and techniques; knowledge of specific health care delivery systems; experience with human capital regulations and standards of regulatory and credentialing groups; budget; recruitment and retention issues; knowledge of advanced functions in a variety of office automation software to include Access, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Visio, etc., and web based programs such as HR Smart, Leaf, VetPro, state licensing databases, and academic affiliation websites. 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 Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related (Transcripts required) OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-11. (Transcripts Required).
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Analysis and Problem Solving
  • Attention to Detail
  • Communications
  • Customer Service
  • Data Management
  • Decision Making
  • Financial Management
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Recruitment/Placement
  • 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: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. Adequate vision to use a computer, read printed material and charts as required. Must be able to hear normal voices and able to speak to an audience effectively. The incumbent will be subject to stressful situations due to short timeframes for completion of assignments and potential conflicts. 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/.

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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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

Jazmine Bonilla
Email
Jazmine.Bonilla@va.gov
Address
Durham VA Medical Center
508 Fulton Street
Durham, NC 27705
US

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