Summary The primary function of the incumbent is to assist the Chief of Patient Administration Service (PAS) in managing community provider network adequacy and community provider relationships. These include but are not limited to Community Care Network (CCN) providers, provided with whom Central Texas VA Healthcare Systems has sharing agreement and local contracts/agreements, and with other VA facilities, federal agencies, affiliated medical school facilities/providers, and private sector facilities. Responsibilities The incumbent will perform a variety of duties, including but not limited to the following: Serving as primary point-of-contact for all inquiries concerning community care contracts and agreements. Addressing community providers' questions regarding all VA systems, to include but not limited to, Health Share Referral Manager (HSRM). Serving as a liaison to assist community providers with enrollment in VA Health Information Exchange (VHIE). Considering complaints and grievances from patients or from individuals on behalf of patients to recommend strategies/tactics in the resolution of patient problems which arise in community care and related clinical services. Reviewing the volume of community providers enrolled in the Central Texas catchment area to determine adequacy and identify areas that need additional providers by specialty to ensure there is capacity and capability to refer Veterans for timely care. Reviewing the utilization of community providers in the Central Texas catchment area to determine continued need for community providers. Making frequent contact with community providers to ensure their demographic information is updated in our Provider Profile Management System (PPMS). Providing consistent and ongoing training with community providers. Facilitating in person visits to community hospitals and providers offices with a team of Community Care staff to meet, build rapport and trust in VA, and educate community providers on VA processes and applications. Running reports to identify gaps, utilization trends, and referral patterns. Providing frequent and regular reports to the facility, VISN, and staff as directed by the Chief of PAS. Supporting development and in-service education to services for awareness to the health care system staff of the patient's perceptions and of the patient's facility/service experience, thereby contributing to improving staff understanding and attitude. Establishing constructive and effective working relationships with the office staff of community providers to effectively coordinate care, resolve, ensure ongoing satisfaction, ensure efficient communication and problem resolution with requests and issues. Recommending process improvements to ensure ongoing customer satisfaction. Serving as the liaison between VA and community care on all aspects of network adequacy. Managing community provider profile and community provider relationships. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Management and Program Assistant/PD00758A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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, 05/22/2026. 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 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Acting as a liaison to support community providers with VA health information systems; Addressing complaints and grievances from patient(s) or from individuals on behalf of a patient to recommend strategies/tactics in the resolution of patient problems; Generating and providing frequent and regular reports to identify gaps, utilization trends, and referral patterns for management or senior leadership; Collecting, tracking, and maintaining data utilizing software such as Microsoft Excel or Access; Communicating clearly and effectively through emails, reports, presentations, and meetings to build strong stakeholder relationships; Facilitating collaborative in-person visits with Community Care team members to engage with community hospitals and provider offices, build shared understanding and trust, and strengthen awareness of agency processes and applications. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service Requirements Analysis Organizational Awareness 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 sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. 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 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.
