The Program Applications Specialist reports directly to the Chief Business Office Manager, Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System on all manners related to the Business Office. This position provides a high level of administrative support to all Business Office staff. Duties involve exercising independent judgement in accomplishing technical work of marked difficulty and providing excellent customer service to Business Office staff.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Major duties listed but not limited to: Responsible for new and existing software applications as they impact on the Business Office and the facility Serves as the training officer for the Business Office's software applications, coordinating with other service lines where their software application's packages involve input from the Business Office, and develops appropriate training and implementation plans Requests menus and security keys to Business Office employees and approves requests for Business Office software access to ancillary employees Resolves operating problems and conducts usage studies and quarterly access reviews Analyzes and evaluates clinical and administrative processes related to information flow; assists with planning, directing and coordinating the implementation of multi-service software modules Requests software development, modification, or enhancement; Collaborates with software developers and National OI&T analysts to test and verify software patches/updates within specified time frames prior to activation in production mode Trains the application coordinators (ADPACs) of other services in the use and support of administrative packages and keeps other ADPACs advised on current issues, problems and new features Maintains communications via telephone or electronic mail with national support personnel in order to solve problems, coordinate training and exchange information as necessary Maintains frequent contact with regional and national support facilities to be aware of reported software bugs, patches and enhancements, and of implementation-related issues Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. TBD (work hours may be further discussed during interview) Telework, 1-2 days per pay period: 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 Applications Specialist/PD23290A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit Position: Yes, AFGE

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/25/2023. 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. 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-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: analyzing, evaluating, advising and coordinating projects and activities related to administrative processes that have an impact on the delivery of health care; coordinating, planning, implementing and training service and facility staff in business and functional areas for various information software applications and programs; and conducting business process modeling projects and studies that will impact the overall functions of the services in such areas as policy development and implementation, work methodology, processes and streamlining. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. 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 directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position. Only education in excess of a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-11 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. Combination Example: The position to be filled is a Music Specialist, GS-1051-11. An applicant has 9 months of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 and 2 1/2 years of creditable graduate level education in music. The applicant meets 75 percent of the required experience and 50 percent of the required education, i.e., the applicant has 1/2 year of graduate study beyond that required for GS-9. Therefore, the applicant exceeds the total requirement and is qualified for the position. (The applicant's first 2 years of graduate study are not qualifying for GS-11.) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer ServiceManages and Organizes InformationPlanning and EvaluatingProblem Solving 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Working Conditions: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. May require travel as needed for implementation of new and existing programs. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Nebraska-Western Iowa HCS - Omaha 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 US
• Name: Kara Grieser
• Phone: (320) 252-1670 X7151
• Email: [email protected]