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Program Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
San Francisco VA Health Care System

Summary

The Program Specialist provides administrative support to the designated Polytrauma Support Clinic Team Director and Neurology Rehabilitation Service. They provide administrative support to the Polytrauma Support Clinic Team (PSCT), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), the Acute Stroke Program and the Neurology Quality Improvement Program managed by the Neurology and Rehabilitation Service at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$77,161 - $100,315 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 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
No
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
CBSW-13105310-27-FB
Control number
891304100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current permanent employees of the San Francisco VA only. This includes employees of the San Francisco VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics and CTAP eligibles.

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Duties

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The primary responsibility of the incumbent is to function as a Program Coordinator for the PSCT, a multi-service program supporting Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi (OEF/OIF) veterans and Department of Veterans Affairs' traumatic brain injury (TBI) iniatives.

Duties:

  • Will meet VISN and VHA reporting requirements.
  • Will acquire knowledge of the National Polytrauma Network Program and VISN 21 Polytrauma Network Activities and liaison with OEF/OIF integrated clinics and other SFVA and VISN 21 programs.
  • Attends virtual and on-site meetings: clinic, administrative, program, project and ensure agreements, action-steps, and outcome are recorded in Program minutes.
  • Attends VISN conferences related to Polytrauma Network functions.
  • Represents SFVA, provides data input, reviews data as to the findings and provides suggestions/recommendations after analyzing data collected, troubleshoot any problems.
  • Arranges Polytrauma Interdisciplinary Team conferences twice a month.
  • Presents the coordination of care, regarding any issues in their appointments and care coordination.
  • Takes notes and enters information in a TBI Instrument database, the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Plan of each patient discussed, completing information regarding each patient's assessment, interdisciplinary treatment evaluations, treatment goals, follow up plan and other information needed.
  • Conducts special studies to improve customer service.
  • Conducts customer service rounds; identifies systemic difficulties and corrects them.
  • Reports such data collected with recommendations presented in applicable formats: word documents, excel spreadsheets, power point presentation, or on designated formats as directed by the Director of PSCT.
  • Regularly attends TBI clinic reviews.
  • Identifies potential problem areas, makes recommendations to correct and improve coordination and communication between clinical providers, nursing, medical administration, and business office.
  • Works proactively with Director of PSCT and Administrative Officer to familiarize them with data available for analysis, to present trends for program performance measures, to propose changes in program scheduling to enhance efficiency and to propose mechanisms for collecting data as requested by Director of PSCT, Administrative Officer, Neurology and Rehabilitation Service Chief and leadership.
  • Coordinates the schedules of PSCT patients in several TBI Clinics, using VISTA/CPRS as source of information, tracking metrics and trends, analyzing activities surrounding the input processing and output of data, and monitoring them for quality improvement.
  • Performs trends and analysis of the scheduling process, maintains FTEE, Clinic slots or scheduling arrangements.
  • Ensures that TBI algorithm for locating, scheduling and evaluating patients meets performance measure guidelines.
  • Maintains database for TBI activities which are monitored by ACO.
  • Advises the Director of Polytrauma Support Clinic on cumulative performance of SFVA OEF/OIF polytrauma activity.
  • Collects data pertaining to patient waiting time, scheduling issues, no show, cancellations, etc., to analyze this information as needed for performance measures, providing recommendations to action plan to the PSCT Director.
  • Maintains a supply of educational materials regarding TBI.
  • Organizes VTEL TBI evaluations for patients who are unable to come to SFVA for their assessment, evaluations or treatments.
  • Assists with travel associated with the PSCT Program.
Other related duties may be assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD087430
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, 11/09/2026.

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.

Program Specialist

GS-09 Minimum Requirements:

Experience:
1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level

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:

  • Experience in qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques including literature search; oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills to communicate findings and recommendations to a complex and diverse research organization at both leadership and operational/committee levels; comprehensive record-keeping, and files maintenance and dispositions strategies; record keeping; maintaining complex databases and statistical analysis; developing spreadsheets and manipulating for collecting and analyzing; overseeing and efficiently distributing workload assignments; works in team and individual settings.
OR,

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or masters or equivalent graduate degree, or LL.B. or J.D., in a related field of the position to be filled. Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate 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: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first year (18 semester hours) of graduate school may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level.You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Customer Service
  • Computer Skills
  • Attention to Detail
  • Administrative Management
  • Self-Management
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.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Accountability
  • Administration and Management
  • Attention to Detail
  • Computer Skills
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Manages and Organizes Information
  • 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: The work requires no special physical demands. It may involve some walking, standing, bending, or carrying of light items.

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.

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?

Established in 1934, the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System (SFVAHCS) has a long history of conducting cutting edge research, establishing innovative medical programs, and providing compassionate care to Veterans. SFVAHCS has 104 operating beds and a 120-bed Community Living Center. Primary and mental health care is provided at outpatient clinics in: Clearlake, Santa Rosa, Eureka, Ukiah, and San Bruno. There is a specialized homeless veteran's clinic in downtown San Francisco.

More History can be found here: http://www.sanfrancisco.va.gov/about/history.asp

Agency contact information

Fatima Bennett
Phone
415-221-4810 X23142
Email
Fatima.Bennett@va.gov
Address
San Francisco VA Medical Center
4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121
US

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