Summary The Program Specialist performs a wide variety of procedural, technical, and administrative work in support of the Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) Mail Program Office. The incumbent assists and provides full and complete staff support which involves the contribution, integration, and coordination of administrative and professional services in carrying out the VA CMOP program mission. Responsibilities Major Duties Include (but are not limited to): Reconciles conflicts between basic policies and program goals; Accomplishes, evaluates, and/or monitors audits, inspections, management, or internal control reviews and resolves audit/inspection activities for organizations agency-wide. Develops procedures and systems for establishing, operating, and assessing the effectiveness of administrative control systems, line, or operating programs. Reads, analyzes, develops interpretations on new station policies for compliance and discusses directives, manuals, and other instructional materials as received. Handles resource methodology, planning issues, program staffing requirements, space management, and program policy issues; Performs administrative and office support activities for the mail program office. Stays abreast of the latest technology, management processes, and legislative changes that impact the operations of the program of national scope. Performs qualitative and or quantitative methods for assessment and improvement of the agencies efficiency and effectiveness program. Provides interpretative, analytical, and judgmental decisions that determine the outcome of many management studies and/or reports, and submit the findings and/or recommendations to the management decision process. Promotion Potential: This position is announced at the GS-9 full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8 hour shift between 6am to 6pm (TBD by Supervisor) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD050150 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: Most work performed in office environment. Position may require visits to various CMOPs for the purpose of meetings, program observations/reviews and/or for the purpose of disseminating information or gathering data. 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 dentification 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. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/10/2025. 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. 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: . Examples of Specialized Experience includes (but are not limited to): 1) Performs a wide range of qualitative and or quantitative methods for assessment and improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness in mail processing. 2) Researches and/or analyzes problems issues or program requirements. 3) Provides analysis and recommendations on mail program issues and their impact on programs throughout the mail program network using written reports and/or correspondence of sufficient quality, accuracy, and completeness. 4) Provides extensive software skills, Internet research abilities, and strong communication skills. 5) Provides mail processing, shipping practice guidance, and assistance to the Quality Management Officer and Quality Assurance Pharmacists at each facility. 6) Applies many advanced techniques to interpret meaning and evaluate findings reflected in and concluded from available data. 7) Provides support on the specialized principles and practices related to healthcare systems management and package delivery management in order to evaluate and make recommendations for improving the operations and delivery of the agencies programs. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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 . 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 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. 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.
