Summary This position location is Loch Raven VAMC Baltimore in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) of the VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) which includes Maryland, the District of Columbia, and portions of Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) provides a variety of rehabilitation services. Responsibilities Major duties include but not limited to: The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) provides rehabilitation services in a variety of inpatient, residential, and outpatient settings and employs physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, speech pathologists, recreational therapists, creative arts therapist, music therapists, adaptive sports therapists, rehabilitation technicians, clinical trainees/students, and administrative personnel. The service receives more consultations for services than any other service in the VAMHCS and is largest rehabilitation clinical service in VISN 5 with approximately 90 FTEE and 8 different clinical specialties. The incumbent is a member of the PMRS Administrative Team and reports to the Administrative Officer, responsible for the management of all PM&RS HR activities and the success of four PM&RS program segments: Employee Engagement, Knowledge Management, Equipment Inventory, and Administrative Process Improvement. The incumbent performs administrative program management and analysis of human resources functions and processes involved in staffing, development, classification, position management, labor and employee relations, performance, benefits, onboarding, compensation, awards, incentives, and employee engagement. Manages recruitment and staffing plans, reports, and actions. Oversees PM&RS HR Calendar and Operational Tempo, ensuring timely processing of personnel actions for fee-basis staff working in the PM&RS. Manages the service-level incentive awards program, quality increases, superior performance awards for both Title 5 and Title 38 employees. Coordinates and consults with Human Resources Specialists to ensure proper formatting, submission requirements, and compliance in HR requests. Advises on and troubleshoots requests for personnel actions(including position description revisions, grievance procedures, techniques for counseling personnel, performance standards revisions, procedures for disciplinary actions, use of techniques to control the abuse of sick leave and the proper scheduling of annual leave). Maintains the PMRS organizational chart. Ensures FTEE are fairly allocated to different sections within the PM&RS. Writes, edits, and updates Functional Statements, Position Descriptions, crediting plans, and interview processes and questions. Assists clinical staff and provides input on ethical issues, such as addressing staffing shortages and its impact on patient care; privacy issues; and the appropriate use of care in the community services. The incumbent manages all administrative functions and processes associated with the PM&RS Academic Affiliation program. Collects, categorizes, and files information in the PM&RS SharePoint KM library. Evaluates categories and knowledge organization structure to identify and implement more efficient or effective ways to present, store, and find information. Maintains the PM&RS Equipment Inventory List (ElL) and accurate equipment inventory records that state the location and condition of the inventory items (CMR). Tracks staff and clinical equipment inventory. Performs equipment inspections. Initiates work orders for broken equipment. Coordinates with the Program Analyst to track equipment lifecycles, add new equipment to the inventory, and dispose of equipment. Liaises with logistic management services/SPD personnel to ensure supply ordering activities follow their guidelines/established protocols. Coordinates with the Director, PM&RS and Quality, Safety, Improvement (QSI) Coordinator to develop, establish, implement, evaluate, and maintain the PMRS Process Improvement (Pl) Plan. Identifies PM&RS problems that involve new or revised policies or procedures and brings to the attention of the Senior PM&RS Management for appropriate action. Continuously monitors and evaluates processes to identify problems and recommend Process Improvement studies to determine corrective actions. Reports relevant PI activities and follows up on all improvements or corrective actions at the All-Staff, Executive Committee, and Process Improvement Committee meetings. Work Schedule: M-F 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD234460 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No Critical Skills Incentive (CSI):No Permanent Change of Station (PCS): No 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: Physical demands of the position are quite limited, and the work is primarily sedentary but the incumbent must be able to function under pressure. A pre-placement physical examination is 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 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, 03/11/2026. 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. 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-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Familiar with the internal organization of VA, VHA, and VAMHCS. Thorough knowledge of administrative requirements of the health care delivery system and sufficient knowledge of clinical practice, procedures and standards of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service to analyze administrative processes and recommend improvements. Knowledge of problem identification/solving and using services to anticipate, define and solve the administrative aspects of patient care problems. Thorough knowledge of VA regulations and policies and procedures at the VISN, VACO and medical center levels in order to make appropriate recommendations and provide analysis to the Director, PR&MS and all other medical staff so their decision and action will be consistent with VA policy. Working knowledge of The Joint Commission standards; Medical Staff Office credentialing and privileging processes. Working knowledge of the policies and procedures of the University of Maryland in order to expedite resident staff with the formation and sustainment of residency programs. Knowledge of the Academic Affiliation program and requirements to manage and advise on academic affiliation functions and issues. Knowledge of Federal HR and recruitment processes and policies. Knowledge of local union management contract to advise leadership on staffing needs and recruitment. Familiarity with Federal position classification and position management to write and review position descriptions and advise on succession and retention plans. Knowledge of employee development, competencies, performance, and appraisals to oversee PM&RS evaluation calendars, rating schemes. Knowledge of various VA computer systems, databases, HR info systems, and websites to gather and query data, track requests, assist PM&RS leadership and staff, and troubleshoot issues. Advanced knowledge of MS 365, Excel, Lists, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Teams management and design to set up and adjust platforms, design and implement workflows and automations, and categorize and organize files and information. Ability to build Teams and channels that integrate Apps and advanced functions like Power Automate, ability to use power query in Excel to clean and organize data.. 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. Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first 2 years) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. 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/. Preferred Experience: Preferred Administrative experience: Data analysis, purchasing, time-keeping. 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 "Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care 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/.
