Summary The Medical Management Specialist is a position located in the Office of the Chief, Health Administration Service/Business Office (HAS) at the VA Medical Center in Central Western Massachusetts, whose responsibility is to represent both the Medical Center Director and the Chief of HAS on all administrative matters occurring when assigned to other than a normal tour of duty. Responsibilities The Medical Management Specialist on Duty (HOD) is a facility-wide position, located in the Office of the Chief, Health Administration Service (HAS), or Business Office (BO), or Medical Administration Service (MAS), or similarly named and organized service; the position has both the authority and responsibility to represent both the Medical Center Director and the Chief, HAS on all administrative matters occurring when assigned to other than a normal tour of duty. In this position, you will serve as Medical Management Specialist and you will be required to provide 24-hour schedules, which involve teams of employees working across day and night or day, swing, and night shifts to provide 24/7 staffing. Typical work assignments include, but are not limited to: Interprets VA rules and regulations, determining if presenting Veterans meet established criteria to warrant entitlement to benefits associated with hospital admission or outpatient care, nursing home care, dental treatment, domiciliary, distant patient lodging, non-VA care, prosthetic appliances, patient transfers, and beneficiary travel. Authorized as certifying officer for documents pertaining to the administration of laws concerning VA. Coordinates the resolution of medical-administrative-operational problems concerning the Healthcare System after normal working hours. Delegated authority to act on behalf of the HCS Director to initiate actions dealing with any disaster situation, in accordance with the hospital disaster plan. Serves as a resource to the Medical Officer of the Day (MOD), hospitalist, all other providers and clinical staff, and clerical staff concerning administrative matters necessary to support the operation of the Healthcare System during other than normal hours. Provides Healthcare System staff advice on administrative procedures and requirements, many of which are based on law/statute or regulation, utilizing practical knowledge and ample experience in such day to day matters, including involuntary commitments, conservatorship, orders of protective custody, and management of disruptive or severely disturbed patients. Maintains current bed inventory utilizing BMS (Bed Management System) software and ensures the accuracy of the program for national reporting purposes; obtains bed availability for treatment needs and provides daily report/log of all activities occurring during tour of duty. Briefs on-coming shift of pending events or the current status of any administrative issues. After regular hours responsible for initiating prearranged call tree, or for calling in all necessary employees on an overtime basis for emergent needs such as attending to patient care needs or emergency repairs. Coordinates with VA Crisis Line and VISN or regional Nurse Advice Line in assisting Veterans in emergent or crises situations. Records operative permits, when appropriate, and assists physician in administrative matters. Provides compassionate and sympathetic explanation of death and burial benefits to family and next-of-kin. Records procedural, operative, autopsy, organ donation permits when appropriate. Provides sympathetic answers to family's concerns of how autopsy affects appearance of remains; assists with procedures on organ donation. Work Schedule: 40 Hours a week, Monday-Sunday, Rotating Shifts, to include Evenings, Nights and Weekends, EST. Telework: Maybe authorized at supervisor discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Management Specialist/PDPD-99368-S,PD-99385-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Competitive Service. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Current Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and @type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is not a Bargaining Union Position. Veterans' Preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment. 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 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 Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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 must qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: To qualify for this position at the GS-07 level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge of medical organizations and their functions, specialties, and programs; experience with various Microsoft Office products; experience interpreting rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; ability to identify and analyze complex problems or situations with a range of variables; and knowledge of analytical tools and methods to be able to interpret information; OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of graduate level education or (b) superior academic achievement (Transcripts required).OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. To qualify for this position at the GS-09 level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: analytical ability, judgment, discretion, and knowledge of a substantial body of administrative or program principles, concepts, policies, and objectives; knowledge of general principles of management and of the practices, techniques, and objectives of supervision; knowledge of medical and administrative record systems; experience with various Microsoft Office products and other programs related to healthcare management; ability to identify and analyze complex problems, and ability to explain and organize them in writing; experience using analytical tools and methods to interpret information and make recommendations on the improvement of systems; OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree. OR, 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education in excess of the first year of graduate level education. 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 requires significant movement throughout the Healthcare System with the occasional requirement to lift objects such as suitcases, clothing, or medical charts. Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office. May require occasional travel. Work is accomplished in a busy, generally congested office area. The AOD routinely goes to most sections and buildings, including offices, clinics, wards, laboratories and the morgue. 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. 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/.
