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Program Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

The Program Specialist serves as the principal administrative and program management advisor supporting the physician component of Emergency Medicine Service (EMS) at the Salt Lake City VA Health Care System. The position provides comprehensive administrative, analytical, evaluative, and operational support to the Chief of Emergency Medicine Service and physician leadership in the planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of programs.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 07/31/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 31, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$61,722 - $97,087 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 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
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
CBSU-13016257-26-JW
Control number
877590100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), Family of overseas employees, Federal employees - Competitive service, Federal employees - Excepted service, Individuals with disabilities, Land & base management, Military spouses, Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista, and Veterans.

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Duties

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The duties of the Program Specialist may include but are not limited to the following:

  • The incumbent coordinates and facilitates multidisciplinary initiatives affecting Emergency Medicine Service operations.
  • Responsibilities include tracking organizational priorities and deliverables; supporting quality, accreditation, and compliance activities; coordinating provider credentialing and professional practice evaluation processes; developing and monitoring reports and performance metrics; facilitating the development and implementation of Medical Center Policies (MCPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); and coordinating workgroups and special projects involving clinical and administrative stakeholders throughout the medical center.
  • The Program Specialist serves as a liaison between Emergency Medicine Service leadership, clinical staff, administrative offices, and other services across the health care system to ensure effective communication, collaboration, and execution of organizational initiatives.
  • Coordinates and manages administrative processes, administrative management and oversight a wide range of functional areas including personnel administration/coordination, organizational priorities, and program initiatives for the Chief of Emergency Medicine Service and physician leadership.
  • Tracks assignments, deliverables, suspense actions, and program requirements to ensure timely completion and compliance with established organizational deadlines.
  • The incumbent applies established analytical methods, policies, procedures, and guidelines to identify and resolve recurring administrative and program issues. Assignments are developmental in nature and are performed with increasing independence as knowledge, skills, and abilities are demonstrated.
  • The work requires effective oral and written communication skills to prepare reports, exchange information, coordinate with clinical and administrative personnel, and support the accomplishment of Emergency Medicine Service program objectives
  • Serves as a liaison between Emergency Medicine Service and internal stakeholders including clinical services, administrative offices, executive leadership, and support organizations to facilitate communication, coordination, and implementation of program initiatives
  • Develops, prepares, and distributes recurring and ad hoc reports, briefings, dashboards, and data summaries for Emergency Medicine leadership. Provides productivity reports, workload analyses, performance metrics, and operational reports used to support decision-making, resource planning, program evaluation, and performance improvement initiatives.
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: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Compressed/Flexible: no
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD148470

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.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. 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 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, 07/31/2026.

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. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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-09: 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: Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative analytical methods and techniques is applied to collect, validate, organize, and analyze operational and performance data from a variety of sources. The incumbent assists in preparing productivity reports, monitoring Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) measures and other performance metrics, compiling information for physician performance reviews, and supporting leadership with recurring analytical and reporting requirements. Working knowledge of quality management, compliance requirements, credentialing and privileging processes, professional practice evaluation activities, and policy implementation is applied to support Emergency Medicine Service initiatives. The incumbent assists with coordinating projects, monitoring action items and organizational deliverables, facilitating multidisciplinary workgroups, and supporting the development and implementation of Medical Center Policies (MCPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and other organizational guidance. The incumbent applies established analytical methods, policies, procedures, and guidelines to identify and resolve recurring administrative and program issues. Assignments are developmental in nature and are performed with increasing independence as knowledge, skills, and abilities are demonstrated. The work requires effective oral and written communication skills to prepare reports, exchange information, coordinate with clinical and administrative personnel, and support the accomplishment of Emergency Medicine Service program objective.
OR,
Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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 the requirements of the GS-07.

GS-11: 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 The Program Specialist serves as the principal administrative and program management support resource for the physician component of Emergency Medicine Service (EMS). The incumbent independently plans, coordinates, implements, and monitors a variety of administrative and programmatic activities that support the effective operation of Emergency Medicine programs and services. Coordinates and manages administrative processes, administrative management and oversight a wide range of functional areas including personnel administration/coordination, organizational priorities, and program initiatives for the Chief of Emergency Medicine Service and physician leadership. Tracks assignments, deliverables, suspense actions, and program requirements to ensure timely completion and compliance with established organizational deadlines. Monitors and coordinates actions received through Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL), enterprise tracking systems, and other organizational suspense mechanisms and ensures appropriate follow-up, resolution, and completion of assigned actions. Facilitates the development, implementation, revision, and maintenance of Medical Center Policies (MCPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), standards of practice, and other program guidance impacting Emergency Medicine operations. Reviews regulatory and organizational requirements from VA, VHA, VISN, Medical Center leadership, and other governing authorities to identify actions required by the service. Coordinates multidisciplinary workgroups and recurring meetings necessary to develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and operational guidance affecting Emergency Medicine Service programs and operations. Coordinates multidisciplinary workgroups, committees, and project teams established to address operational, administrative, clinical, and regulatory initiatives. Schedules and facilitates meetings; develops agendas; tracks action items; monitors project milestones; follows up on assigned tasks; and provides status updates to leadership regarding progress, barriers, and completion of deliverables. Independently manages and coordinates special projects and program initiatives involving multiple stakeholders across the medical center. Identifies project requirements, establishes timelines, monitors progress toward objectives, and recommends corrective actions when project milestones or organizational goals are at risk.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. (Only graduate education in excess of 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education may be used to qualify in combination of experience). (Transcripts are required for proof of qualifying education).

Preferred Experience: Knowledge of healthcare administration principles. Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative analytical methods and techniques. Able to manage and coordinate a broad range of administrative and programmatic activities involving program operations, administrative management and oversight of a wide range of functional areas. Ability to independently manage actions including personnel administration/coordination, performance improvement, quality management, compliance monitoring, credentialing and privileging support, policy development, project management, data analysis, and organizational effectiveness.

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.

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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.

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.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

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

VISN 19 HR Contact Center
Phone
719-227-4600
Email
V19USAJOBS@VA.GOV
Address
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System
500 Foothill Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84148
US

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