Summary This position serves as the Tissue Coordinator for Operative Care division (OCD) for Portland VA Health Care System (VAPORHCS). Primary duty-station is Portland, but area of oversight includes Vancouver and Salem CBOC as well. Is responsible for the overall coordination and oversight of tissue inventory, stocking, ordering, quality assurance, regulatory compliance and overall operation of the OCD tissue implant monitoring program. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: Inventory Program Administration The incumbent is recognized as an authority and subject matter expert to the tissue program within OCD. Acts as a central point of contact for the coordination of commodity support related to tissue. Develops and maintains Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The incumbent is also responsible for considerable analysis, database creation, reporting, tracking, monitoring, documentation of monitoring, regulation compliance and training related to tissue. Analyzes data to include demand history, program requirements, procurement lead-time, current stock levels and other factors which impact tissue management decisions. Advanced planning requires significant interaction and coordination with service lines and other stakeholders to balance competing priorities, including clinical requirements. Performs analytical work to manage, regulate, coordinate, or otherwise exercise control over the tissue program. The incumbent conducts data analysis for acquisition planning associated with tissue. Quality Improvement Programs The incumbent must possess a thorough working knowledge of the regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines governing the tissue program. The level of knowledge must be enough to allow the incumbent to analyze inventory usage, control the level and flow of supplies, and provide recommendations. Incumbent provides quality assurance monitoring for the tissue process ensuring that proper procedures are followed and that items are safe for use, delivered on time at the proper place and in a condition to be properly used for VA patient care. Performs work related to developing processes and procedures for monitoring tissue expiration and recall, analyzing effectiveness by comparison of goals and results in terms of program compliance. Incumbent is responsible for recall processing including, identifying location of recalled tissue, identity of patients affected. Establishes and maintains production statistics, which depict information on progress and/or evaluation of inventories. He/she maintains quality control and quality assurance activities of the Tissue Program. Ensures inventory of tissue cited on the custodial balance file are kept current and reflect the actual physical posture of the stock. Training-Education The incumbent has the responsibility of maintaining a current knowledge to answer questions for employees on procedures, policies and directives and to obtain needed information on decisions from management on major problems and issues that arise. The incumbent is responsible for reporting to his/her supervisor on performance, progress of work and training needs of employees and on any issues related to the tissue program. Performs Program Planning Work Performs administrative work, which includes management of an office's schedule or day-to-day plans. Develops new plans or schedules using standard references. Identifies objectives based on understanding of program and overall priorities. Determines specific steps, input required, and/or meetings. Identifies schedule and milestones; and estimates resources required. The incumbent sets administrative and policy direction for tissue through discussion of programs goals. The incumbent must have knowledge of analytical processes and deductive reasoning to conduct problem and trend identification and resolution. Works with Operating Room Management and VISN 20 Contracting to identify items appropriate for consignment. Prepares and submits documents for consignment consideration. Computes and analyses material requirements for special. programs such as procurement, planning and initiating actions to meet the materiel requirements of using activities. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 5:30am - 3:00pm, tour varies per the needs of the service.(PST) Telework: This is not a Telework position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant/PD215250 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Approved 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: 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 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 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 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 04/21/2026. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-7 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Proficient in oral and written communication. Experienced with policies and procedures related to tissue ordering and tracking, including gathering and documenting information in medical records. Expert in written and oral medical terminology, with the ability to effectively communicate with clinicians and transplant staff on issues affecting patient care. Skilled in responding to providers by phone or in person, regarding policies and procedures related to tissue referral and follow-up. Accurate in spelling, grammar, correspondence arrangement, and formatting. Experienced in applying analytical and evaluative methods to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations. NOTE: 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. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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. 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 There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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. 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/. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator
