Clarification from the agency

Only current, permanent employees of the Augusta VA Health Care System (Charlie Norwood DVAMC, Station 509D) are eligible to apply.

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Develops and administers comprehensive HAS training programs covering scheduling, VetLink/ICB, eligibility/enrollment, beneficiary travel, admissions/discharges/transfers, and other key administrative functions.
• Conducts training needs assessments, creates annual training plans, drafts the monthly training calendar, and prepares training materials including web-based modules.
• Performs analytical and evaluative reviews of HAS programs; develops criteria, sampling methods, and measurement tools to assess administrative quality and effectiveness.
• Conducts scheduling audits to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with VHA scheduling directives; collaborates with the Group Practice Manager and other stakeholders.
• Serves as a HAS program resource for VetLink and ICB, coordinating implementation, monitoring performance measures, and ensuring compliance with HIPAA and VHA program requirements.
• Tracks and maintains employee training records using the Talent Management System (TMS) and prepares related compliance reports.
• Provides administrative guidance, policy interpretation, and process improvement recommendations to HAS leadership and facility management.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Administrative Specialist(Trainer/Auditor)/PD16359A

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 may 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, 08/24/2026.

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.

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

• Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level performing administrative and analytical work in a healthcare setting. Qualifying experience includes developing and delivering training for Health Administration Service functions; conducting scheduling audits; analyzing administrative processes; preparing reports and recommending improvements; and using systems such as VistA, Consult Tracking Manager, Integrated Scheduling System, VetLink, Insurance Card Buffer, and Talent Management System. Experience must also demonstrate the ability to interpret VHA policies, resolve workflow issues, and maintain confidentiality while supporting daily HAS operations.... OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess 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, obtained in an accredited college or university which may be substituted for specialized experience to qualify for this grade (GS-11), Medical Administration Specialist. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.... 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 equivalent combinations of education at the Ph.D. level directly related to the work of the Medical Administration Specialist position, as described above, to meet the experience required for this GS-11 position.

Preferred experience: Highly proficient in VHA scheduling practices, including accurately managing Return to Clinic Orders, Consults, Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB), Consult Tracking Manager, and Integrated Scheduling Solutions. Demonstrated experience conducting administrative audits, documenting findings, and recommending corrective actions. Skilled in applying VHA directives, policies, laws, and regulations to daily operations. Proficient in using the Talent Management System (TMS) to track and report training compliance. Strong communication, problem-solving abilities, and a consistent record of maintaining confidentiality and integrity in all activities.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management
• Auditing
• Education and Training
• Organizational Stewardship
• Technical Competence

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 light physical effort may be required. There may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items including training paperwork or manuals, or small equipment such as laptop computers, mobile LCD projectors; or driving an automobile. Incumbent may be susceptible to eyestrain from working long hours on the computer.

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/.

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.