Summary The position is located within the Health Benefits Department (HBD), Health Administration Service (HAS) at the Wilkes-Barre Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (MC); reports to the Assistant Chief, Health Administration Service. Responsibilities Provides management assistance regarding registration, eligibility, and admissions for the facility and CBOCs. Oversees patients' electronic medical and administrative records. Has delegated full authority and responsibility for planning and organizing the flow and methods of work for the Admissions Support Unit. Serves as Acting Supervisory of entire Health Benefits Section in the absence of the Supervisory Medical Administration Specialist. Investigates and develops facts, conclusions, and recommendation in those matters requiring investigation that come within the jurisdiction of the Admissions Support Unit, Health Benefits Section and Patient Support Business Services. Responsible for management of budgetary requirements for application programs and develops budgetary projects for Admissions Support Unit as necessary. Provides orientation and technical training to new employees of the unit. Keeps track of employees scheduled for leave, training classes, cross-training, 5-tier performance appraisal quality assurance error rate monitors, etc., assuring that all areas of Admission Support Unit are adequately covered and that available personnel are utilized as needed. Obtains information on changes in Public Laws, VA Regulations and actions which could affect an individual's status or eligibility for benefits an informs them of heir responsibility for reporting these changes. Performs a variety of duties to carry out work concerned with assuring quality of work transaction to carry out health care programs and functions. Monitors work processes to prevent ineffective work practices and to verify adherence to plans and requirements of the unit. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Program Specialist/PD027260 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. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 identification 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, 07/02/2026. 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-09. 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: Provides management assistance regarding registration, eligibility, and admissions for the facility and CBOCs; exercises control and having responsibility for projects, questions, or problems associated with determining eligibility; patient processing or admission activities for the facility; coordinate patient processing activities; reviews patient's electronic records and administrative records for compliance. 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 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., or LL.M., if related. Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary, although moderate physical effort may be required in attending meetings in many different locations across the campus and conducting walking rounds. The responsibilities of the position can often be physically demanding and stressful due to competing demands. The incumbent must take personal initiative to manage time, resources and priorities to assist with workflow and workload. 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. 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.
