Program Specialist

Summary The primary purpose of this position is to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care by serving as the MTVAHCS Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) subject matter expert of Medical Center Policies and facility shared Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) programs in accordance with VA and VHA policy, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and other applicable federal laws and regulations. Responsibilities Major Duties : Develop facility specific MCP and facility shared SOP training materials and provide training. Collectively and individually work with chiefs, managers, supervisors, and staff at all levels. Provides expert advice and guidance to senior leaders and management concerning organizational policies. Develop and maintain facility and policy procedures. Systematically ensuring the control and life cycle of MCPs and facility shared SOPs. Manage facility committee charters. Assists in the writing, development and submission of implementation plans and policy documents. Coach and mentor disciplines or collaborative entities to create the required MCPs, facility shared SOPs. Prepare monthly reports for executive leadership. Guidance to senior leaders and management concerning organizational policies. Coordinate the development, renewal, review, and publishing of MCPs and SOPs. Prepares agendas, reports, minutes, and correspondences to management and administrative programs. Assist with ensuring all aspects of the Administration of Quality Management. Initiate and conduct internal compliance reviews, assessments, and audits. Ability to establish and further develop high quality working relationships with managers and staff throughout the facility. 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 : 00AM-4 : 30PM Telework : Ad-hoc, as determined by agency Virtual : This is not a virtual position. Position Description / PD# : Program Specialist / PD14577O and PD14578O 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. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01 / 27 / 2025. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to : 1) Ability, and knowledge to communicate well, both orally and in writing and provides excellent customer service. 2) Knowledge of strategies, assessments, evaluations, inspections, appraisals, after action reviews, and VHA / VA or medical center structure. 3) Knowledge of complex studies governing hospital or medical center related operations. 4) Knowledge of leadership techniques and skills. 5) Ability to research and cross reference and interpret multiple regulatory information. 6) Definitive oral, written, and computer communications skills to teach / mentor Policy procedures to management and staff. 7) Knowledgeable of VA series of regulations and The Joint Commission (TJC) Regulations, Ascellon Survey, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), VA, VHA federal, state, and other applicable healthcare operations. OR, Education : Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or 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 beyond bachelors degree. (Transcripts required). For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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. Specialized Experience : You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to : 1) Ability, and knowledge to communicate well, both orally and in writing and provides excellent customer service. 2) Knowledge of strategies, assessments, evaluations, inspections, appraisals, after action reviews, and VHA / VA or medical center structure. 3) Knowledge of complex studies governing hospital or medical center related operations. 4) Knowledge of leadership techniques and skills. 5) Ability to research and cross reference and interpret multiple regulatory information. 6) Definitive oral, written, and computer communications skills to teach / mentor Policy procedures to management and staff. 7) Knowledgeable of VA series of regulations and The Joint Commission (TJC) Regulations, Ascellon Survey, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), VA, VHA federal, state, and other applicable healthcare operations. 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 or LL.B. or J.D., if related (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 beyond 2 years graduate level education. (Transcripts required). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position : Communications Customer Service (Clerical / Technical) Project Management Quality Management Writing 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 : There are no unusual physical demands. The work will mostly be sedentary office work. The work is performed in an office setting. Incumbent is required to perform policy walkthroughs and crosswalks throughout the facility. Travels to surrounding Clinic Based Outpatient Clinics and can visit local Business Associates place of business as necessary. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at 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 : 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 : Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.