Summary The Program Specialist is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, at the Eastern Colorado Health Care System in the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS). The primary purpose of the Program Specialist is to proactively plan, coordinate, and administrate program activities(e.g., Orthotic and Prosthetic clinics, wheelchair clinics, Mobile Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinic, PSAS benefits) in collaboration with clinical and administrative staff and entities. Responsibilities Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides support, guidance, and assistance to clinicians in coordination of travel, training, and data collection. Manages complex scheduling of clinical staff in the coordination of care between community-based, homebased, telephone-based, and telehealth-based clinics for traveling clinicians, using appropriate geo-mapping software to maximize efficiencies in route-planning. Build and manage clinics electronically using existing administrative software tools, as well as coordinate the availability and management of clinical space, home visits and other off-site patient visits as needed (e.g., assisted living facility, Department of Defense- partnerships, etc.). Implement accreditation standards of care, establishing guidelines and procedures to assure safe work environment and use of safety equipment. Coordinate, monitor, and perform tracer activities in accordance with The Joint Commission accreditation standards. Assists with data analysis and reports, monitoring compliance with mandated contracting and procurement regulations (e.g., Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), Network Contracting Office (NCO), etc.), preparing applicable acquisition packages for various contracting mechanisms, participating in the technical review of contract awards, and maintaining procurement and contracting records in support of Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Utilize various monitors, tools, and databases to analyze, evaluate, monitor, and report results for tracking and improve outcomes in data accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with national and local policies and performance measures and implement develop and implement cost containment measures, and respond to a variety of formal and informal inquiries. Maintain oversight and of inventory management system and control inventories on behalf of EIL Custodian. Supports contracting activities, as a liaison between the vendor and contracting officer, to follow-up on open transactions, conferring with supervisor, procurement team members, contractors, and other entities as applicable. Communicate and respond orally or in writing with management and/or stakeholders. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 08:00 AM -04:30PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD13903A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements 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 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/19/2024. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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 the range of administrative principles or business practices related to health care delivery systems, operations management concepts, and the unique complexity of PSAS programs and services; Skill in identifying, compiling, and evaluating data sources to identify gaps and development recommendations; Ability to demonstrate a high level of analytical skill to provide comprehensive evaluation of the productivity and key performance indicators within the service; Skill in meticulous organization of management and administration of clinic schedules; Skill in receipt of information from varied sources, making decisions based on information received, and acting without direct supervision. The incumbent will provide superb customer service as a representative of the program. 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 a Bachelors Degree. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Contracting/Procurement Customer Service Teaching Others 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: Position is primarily sedentary in which work is conducted at a desk setting. Some walking and standing throughout the day from desk to other areas of the clinic. Duties are performed in health care areas and incumbent must be able to travel to treatment areas with ease. It involves the frequent use of office equipment including the telephone, copier, personal computer, printer, and similar automated equipment. There is potential for extended periods of sitting and standing. Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.); Moderate carrying (15-44 lbs.); reaching above shoulder. The incumbent is expected to use proper preventive ergonomic techniques to perform duties. Must be able to deal with individuals and groups and be able to adjust to difficult or stressful situations. 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 or 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. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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/. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.