Summary The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist for the Department of Medicine, working with the ACOS and specialty Section Chiefs on planning and implementation of new clinical initiatives in the department. The incumbent will serve as an advisor, policy analyst, and planner to leadership. The duties directly contribute to the administrative management of a highly affiliated, complex health care delivery system. Responsibilities Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: The Program Specialist provides ongoing support in program planning, budgeting, contracting, personnel and equipment decisions affecting departmental administrative and clinical operations. Provides planning and administrative support for the development of new clinical initiatives and programs in the department under the direction of the ACOS and the Section Chiefs responsible for these programs. The incumbent will be responsible for working with the ACOS, AO and Section Chiefs in the development and implementation of new clinical programs/initiatives, serving as a liaison with other operating units in the facility in order to effectively plan and implement these new programs/initiatives. The Program Specialist will be responsible for leading and/or actively participating in projects requested by departmental leadership. Coordinates all aspects of each special project to ensure that objectives are achieved. Utilizes advanced planning, organizational, and management principles and practices to plan, design, and conduct professional studies in such areas as the acquisition, development, analysis, and presentation of population-based planning data, health and economic demographics, and patient care and work performance to enhance the efficiency of the operation of the health care system. Examines routine and highly complex operations systems, problems, either potential or real, and determines, in priority order, actions necessary to resolve the problems upon which recommendations for their resolution can be made. This procedure often involves the extensive collection of data from multiple sources across organizational lines. Coordinates cross-organizational projects involving more than one service and ensures completion of the projects within the prescribed time frame. Implements appropriate planning procedures to accomplish programs, projects, or needs. This may involve data collection, data analysis, and preparation of recommendations resulting from special studies concerning problems of staffing, equipment, budget cost containment, space availability and assignment, work simplification/organizational realignments or reorganization, report requirements, productivity, automated management information system, etc. Develops and implements management information monitors for tracking status of administrative service resources and operational parameters relative to service performance and strategic goals/plans as needed. The incumbent will prepare written correspondence, reports and presentations for leadership that are clear, concise, and complete and require few revisions of content on issues as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD915510 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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 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 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, 03/23/2026. 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-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: 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: Providing ongoing support in program planning, budgeting, contracting, personnel and equipment decisions affecting departmental administrative and clinical operations. Leading and/or actively participating in projects requested by leadership and coordinating all aspects of each project to ensure that objectives are achieved. Utilizing advanced planning, organizational, and management principles and practices to plan, design, and conduct professional studies in such areas as the acquisition, development, analysis, and presentation of population-based planning data, health and economic demographics, and patient care and work performance to enhance the efficiency of the operation of the health care system. Implementing appropriate planning procedures to accomplish programs, projects, or needs to include data collection, data analysis, and preparation of recommendations resulting from studies concerning different departmental problems. Preparing written correspondence, reports and presentations for leadership that are clear, concise, and complete. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LLM, if related to the work of the position. One year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or the number determined by the school attended to represent one year of full-time study. (Transcripts must be submitted). 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 the first year of graduate level education. Only education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (i.e., beyond the first year of graduate level education) is creditable towards meeting the specialized experience requirement. (Transcripts must be submitted).. 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 may involve periods of walking or standing to observe work operations. Requires use of computer on a daily basis. 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. "VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the @context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being."
