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Program Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Connecticut

Summary

This Program Specialist Resident Coordinator position is located in Medicine and Dermatology Service at the VA Connecticut , West Haven campus. The purpose of the position is to perform administrative functions that include technical support, human resource management, analytical and evaluative techniques, logistics and a variety of related administrative matters in support of the residency program. This position functions as the first point of contact for 400 health trainees annually.

Overview

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Accepting applications
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
$72,737 - $94,563 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
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
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
CBTD-13104022-27-KLT
Control number
892684300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current permanent VA employees, All Federal employees serving on a Career or Career-Conditional appointment, Former Federal employees eligible for reinstatement, current Permanent full-time Hybrid Title 38 OR full-time Title 38 employees, 30% Disabled Veterans, Veterans eligible under a Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA) or Veterans Employment Opportunities Act? (VEOA), People with Disabilities, Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), and certain military spouses.

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Duties

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The duties of this occupation include but are not limited to:

  • Serves as primary Resident Coordinator for Medicine and Dermatology residency programs (~400 trainees across 10 subspecialty programs), interpreting QGENDA and MedHub schedules to ensure 24-hour VA inpatient coverage.
  • Coordinates incoming trainee rotation schedules, call schedules, clinic schedules, conferences, and journal clubs throughout the academic year; liaises with Yale-affiliated program coordinators.
  • Reviews TQCVL letters and trainee applications, determines visa status where applicable, and ensures proper appointment of residents and trainees in hospital computer systems.
  • Assigns, tracks, and reviews mandatory training compliance for trainees; coordinates person class/user class assignment and system access via APDS; monitors expiring resident privileges.
  • Organizes new intern and faculty orientation at the start of each academic year, including appointment processing for new trainees and faculty.
  • Provides technical support and troubleshooting for hardware, software, and systems issues for Medicine and Dermatology Services, resolving the most difficult requests before escalating to OIT.
  • Assists in development and modification of automation projects; designs methods for collecting and retrieving computer data to enhance program-related data analysis.
  • Helps staff register for and troubleshoot VPN/remote access; conducts quarterly reviews of active VPN accounts; enters and follows up on ePAS tickets.
  • Plans, designs, and conducts computer training on VistA, CPRS, and related network applications; serves as TMS administrator arranging mandatory hospital training (fire/safety, Info Security, ACLS/BLS, PIV).
  • Conducts regular VistA access reviews, ensures proper menus/keys/access are issued and monitors for information security violations; trains users on security policy and procedures.
  • Performs special projects including MPR submissions, P4P oversight/tracking, and PPE backup support; serves as System Redesign expert, analyzing data and proposing process improvements to VA leadership.
  • Functions as backup purchasing agent preparing purchase orders and assisting with Equipment Inventory Listings (EILs); develops and coordinates local IT technical standards and the computer failure action plan.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: Not Authorized
Telework: May be authorized as determined by the agency policy.
Position Description/PD#:Program Specialist/PD0042640
Relocation or Travel Incentives: Not Authorized
Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Promotion Potential: This vacancy is being announced at the full performance level GS-09.

Notifications:

  • This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
  • Selectee may be required to work at any VA Connecticut Healthcare System campus, as needed.
  • May be required to attend conference at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion.
  • The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.
  • Selectee may be required to work at any VISN 1 Healthcare System campus, as needed.
  • Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
  • This position is in the Competitive Service.
  • Time-in-Grade Restriction: 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. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service.
  • Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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, 11/16/2026.

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.

Minimum Qualification Program Specialist GS-09:
You must qualify based on your specialized experience and/or education as described below:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service that has given the applicant the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Program Specialist - Resident Coordinator, experience that demonstrated a knowledge of the function(s) of the position and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: Performing administrative functions that include technical support, human resource management, analytical and evaluative techniques, logistics and a variety of related administrative matters in support of a residency program ; perform administrative work with one or more of the following areas: personnel management/administration, budgeting and financial management, procurement and contracting, property management, and/or supply; performs analytical and evaluative work related to the service line and program activities,
    including quantitative and qualitative assessments of how effectively programs or operations meet established goals and objectives; tracks and analyzes program performance data to identify slippage and determine trends. Acts as a liaison and handles communications with persons and/or groups within and outside of the organization. NOTE: 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. 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 (Transcripts Required). OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and specialized experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience as described above and graduate education (beyond the second year) as described above which totals at least one year. Only education in excess of the first two graduate years or 36 credits can be used for the combination of education and specialized experience. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of the position such as program coordinating, interpreting and adapting guidelines to ensure 24 hour hour patient coverage, tracking and analyzing program performance . (Transcripts Required)
Selective Placement Factor: Experience onboarding medical providers and/or trainees into a clinical or healthcare setting, including credentialing support and systems access provisioning knowledge.


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. Travel will be required on a periodic basis. Work Environment: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office within a VA Medical Center. 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

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.
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:

  • Technical Problem Solving
  • Administration and Management
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Problem Solving
  • Identity Management

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?

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE").

As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.gov.

Agency contact information

Karen Terebesi
Phone
(203) 932-5711 X13677
Email
Karen.Terebesi@va.gov
Address
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven, CT 65160
US

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