Program Specialist

Summary

The incumbent serves as a focal resource person responsible for providing administrative coordination in the development, implementation, evaluation, interpretation, revision, and necessary corrective action of all applicable administrative policies.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Research and/or analyzes problems, issues, or program requirements. Research and/or analyzes stable issues which may be simple or complex in nature. Determines pertinent issues and collects relevant information from a variety of sources. Reviews information and applies standard analytical techniques. Develops recommendations and proposals based on research. Incumbent conducts special projects as assigned. Special projects generally involve fact-finding, data analysis, benchmarking, networking within and outside of the facility and presenting formalized suggestions for problem resolution as well as assisting with the development and implementation of new or reviewed policies or program changes. Independently researches, collects, organizes, and displays data related to assigned initiatives and projects, preparing reports in various formats such as word, PowerPoint and excel that enable users to identify potential issues, needs and opportunities for improvement related to initiatives. Serves as the Contract Officer Representative for clinical personnel contracts, sharing agreements, intergovernmental personnel act (IPA) agreements, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), and works with respective services in the management of said clinical contracts, sharing agreements, MOUs and IPAs. Incumbent works collaboratively with a point of contact from the respective clinical service to write and implement agreements/contracts to ensure the clinical needs are fully met. Evaluates contracts for compliance with VA policies and ensures contract specifications are accurate; initiates cost proposals for change orders; develops a government cost estimate for the change and negotiates such changes with the Contractor's Representative, reviews and examines submittals for compliance; verifies daily logs; evaluates and makes recommendations concerning the release and payment of funds to contractors based upon exams and for procedures satisfactorily completed. Develops and implements processes and procedures as changes are made to the VHA Procurement Manual. VA may enter into health care resources contracts (agreements) for the acquisition of health care resources with any health care provider or other entity, group of individuals, corporation, association, partnership, State or local Governments or individuals. Ensures that all per procedure contracts meet VHA standards of resident supervision in terms of qualifications of the contract physician to supervise residents during their physical presence in clinical settings and procedural involvement, including preoperative evaluation and post-operative care as specified by VA policy. Incumbent is responsible for working with the respective Clinical Service, Human Resources and Credentialing and Privileging to on-board personnel timely and efficiently. Independently drafts documents (memos, policies, spreadsheets) for the Service Chief as needed with limited input from the AO and/or Chief of Service. Writes professionally and, when needed, technically; proofreads documents prior to submission. Electronically scans hard copy documents and converts documents to desired formats as needed. Maintains all required Human Resources (HR) documentation (e.g., competency folders, organizational charts, etc.) for the Service. Submits mandated reports to HR as required. Initiates HR actions as needed. Serves as a customer service liaison for the service providing service recovery to Veterans, their family members, and employees as the situations arise. Serves as alternate as timekeeper, Records Management Liaison, Automated Data Processing Application Coordinator (ADPAC) and PIV Manager/Sponsor for the Service. Assists, when needed, in coordinating/planning meetings, interviews, recurring events, conferences, etc. Attends meetings as the alternate or designee for the Chief of Service in order to ensure continuity, obtain information and provide feedback. When appropriate, arranges for representation by interdisciplinary staff members at important administrative meetings, committees, and functions by determining the nature and scope of the event versus functional team needs. 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 Through Friday 8:00 am- 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: This position is not eligible for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD50485A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/25/2026. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 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. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 and for the 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: To qualify for this position at the GS-9 level, you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have (1) full year of specialized experience, You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation which equips you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties, typically in or related to secretarial or clerical related. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed graduate level education in an accredited college or university that leads to a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcript Required) . OR, Combination: Combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, to meet the total requirements. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work? (Transcript Required) To qualify for this position at the GS-11 level, you must meet one of the following: 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: Knowledge require skill in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature. Knowledge of the theory and principles of management and organization including administrative practices and procedures common to organizations. Knowledge of the methods and techniques to issue concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations. Knowledge of VHA and VA policies and regulations that apply to the service and/or ability to locate, comprehend, and apply necessary policies and regulations. Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents which affect the use of program and related support resources in the area studied. Skill in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature. Skill in conducting interviews with supervisors and employees to obtain information about organizational missions, functions, and work procedures. Ability to use qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed doctoral degree in an accredited college or university that leads to Ph. D or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such degree or LL.M in accredited college or university. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcript Required) OR, Combination: Combination of successfully completed a doctoral degree and specialized experience, as described above, to meet the total requirements. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work? (Transcript Required) Preferred Experience: Two years experience in data analysis preparing reports, spreadsheets, and presentations. Analyzing data using Power BI and VSSC to support programmatic goals and initiatives. 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/.

Requirements

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. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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/.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13065108. The application process is as follows: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date, 09/25/2026. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. NOTE: Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started. Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume: Prioritize most relevant and recent experience Use concise, results focused language Align language from the job announcement Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies Remove outdated or unrelated experience Use the USAJOBS resume builder Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit