Program Specialist

Summary
This position is a Program Specialist under the direct supervision of the Medical Center Director in the Office of the Director of the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center. The purpose of this position is to plan, coordinate, execute, evaluate, direct, and perform all administrative functions including budget, finance, program analysis, office support services, document control, logistics, and a variety of related administrative matters in support of the medical treatment facility.
This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• Family of overseas employees
  Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.
• Federal employees - Competitive service
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.
• Federal employees - Excepted service
  Current excepted service federal employees.
• Individuals with disabilities
• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.
• Land & base management
  Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.
• Military spouses
• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
• Recent graduates
  Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.
• Students
  Current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Includes internships, pathways and other student programs.
• Veterans

Clarification from the agency
1st Area of Consideration - current permanent G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center employees including satellites; 2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees; 3rd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees; 4th Area of Consideration - All Other Status Applicants.
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Duties
This position performs duties such as:

• Develop criteria for the evaluation of program effectiveness and efficiency in support of a medical facility.
• Gather information to refine existing administrative, management, financial or budget work methods and techniques.
• Analyze the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of mission-oriented programs in support of the organizations goals, measures and objectives.
• Plan, develop, and conduct program analyses concerning all aspects of current or projected operating programs for actual or potential effectiveness.
• Make recommendations concerning changes in administrative and management procedures or policies which have effect on a facility-wide group of personnel.
• Direct large areas of function such as administrative, budget, finance, program analysis, office support services, or document control in support of a medical facility.
• Perform budget execution functions such as plan or estimate the costs of conducting projects for operating personnel within a medical facility.
• Oversee a variety of administrative programs such as distribution and dissemination of incoming mail, internal controls, records management, publication and forms management, and time cards in support of a medical treatment facility.
• Oversee major projects regarding organizational effectiveness involving duties such as planning, scheduling, follow-through, and completion..
• Monitor several aspects of an administrative program such as development, coordination, evaluation, or implementation to optimize their function within an organization.
• Reconcile discrepancies in any phase of the planning, programming, and execution of a program using in-depth knowledge of the mission, function, management structure, projected workload, and overall objectives of the organization.
• Gather management input in areas such as improvement objectives, cost reduction, incentive award evaluation, input for review and analysis, or survey team responsiveness to develop courses of action.
• Discuss policy findings, recommendations, and changes with management to resolve administrative issues or obtain a higher degree of compliance.
• Modify analytical techniques to resolve work operation effectiveness and efficiency problems in a medical facility.
• Analyze, summarize, and identify significant trends and roadblocks in achieving planned goals and objectives within complex multi-mission activities.
• Advise management officials, supervisors, and employees on the interpretation and application of a variety of human resource policies, practices or procedures.

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.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. 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#: Program Specialist/PD843040 and PD843390
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
• 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.

Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/11/2023.
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; for the 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 may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS 9 Level: 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-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: assisting with a variety of administrative programs or projects; performing various administrative functions such as creating meeting agendas, scheduling, traveling, or appointment management, preparing or disseminating reports, memos, or various forms of written correspondence, filing, or archiving records, updating information into an automated system, or reviewing documents for overall quality; participating in administrative studies performing duties such as gathering or organizing data using various methods to include questionnaires, interviews, database reviews; and communicating administrative, budget, or fiscal information in a clear, logical and concise manner orally and in writing. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D., in a related field of the position to be filled. Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience as described above, to meet the total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume.

GS 11 Level: 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-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: evaluating administrative, budget, or fiscal programs for effectiveness in meeting established goals, measures or objectives; establishing study methods and techniques to be utilized in program studies and audits; analyzing and evaluating findings, methods, or study results regarding administrative support functions; overseeing the execution of programs of significant scope and mission impact within a medical treatment facility; providing technical and administrative direction regarding administrative policy, coordination, handling, or disposition of substantive problems, actions, and assignments; and communicating detailed administrative, budget, or fiscal information in a clear, logical and concise manner orally and in writing. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, LL.M., or equivalent doctoral degree in the related field of the position to be filled. The education portion must include courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college, or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education graduate level education (beyond the first 2 years) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management
• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Analytical Reasoning
• Planning and Evaluating

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 however, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items,...