The incumbent serves as the primary contact for administrative, clinical and clerical issues for the Environmental Health Program within the Enrollment and Eligibility Department and is responsible for performing administrative, analytical, technical functions, and tasks with respect to health care registries (PACT Act and COMPACT Act) e.g., Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Iraqi Freedom, Depleted Uranium (DU), Ionizing Radiation, Prisoners of War (POW) and other environmental areas of concern.

Duties

Program Oversight - Coordinates the following actives: o Interviewing veterans and determining eligibility for special health care registries within the PACT Act and COMPACT Act (e.g., Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Iraqi Freedom, Depleted Uranium (DU), Ionizing Radiation, Prisoners of War (POW)). o Providing brief oral explanation of the purposes of each registry program and the examination process. o Coordinates with clinical staff to ensure verification of scheduling registry appointments occur within the mandated 30-day time frame and exploring other options if 30-day requirement cannot be met. o Coordinates with clinical staff by verification of scheduling registry consultations recommended by EH Clinician. o Coordinates and verifies the schedules other environmental examinations (e.g., Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Iraqi Freedom, Depleted Uranium (DU), Ionizing Radiation, Prisoners of War (POW)) o Coordinates with clinical staff with verification of scheduling treatments recommended by Environmental Health Clinician. o Collecting both demographic and medical data for medical records and data entry into the Environmental Agents Service database. o Composing and mailing follow-up letters to veterans regarding their medical evaluations within the required time frame. o Participating in VACO Environmental Agents Service EH Coordinator and Clinician quarterly telephone conferences. o Participating in PACT Act and COMPACT Act Coordinator and Clinician quarterly telephone conferences and meetings. - Reviews, monitors, and maintains assigned registry programs system independently identifying discrepancies and providing quality assurance of registry worksheets prior to submission to the Environmental Agents Service (EAS) database - Maintains health care registries data and prepares presentations for quarterly administrative briefings for health care registries status to Medical Facility and VISN per VACO reporting requirements. - Establishes veteran's health records to include registry examination data, treatment, updates, retains, and modifies these records subject to retention and disposition policies regulated by Records Control Schedule (RCS)10- 1 and appropriate VHA Handbooks. Administrative Support - Maintains daily contacts (face-to-face, e-mail, correspondence, etc) with veterans, family members, VSOs, public officials to explain VA policies and procedures regarding PACT and COMPACT Act's and resolves veteran and family member complaints or concerns by recommending appropriate courses of action. - Disseminates Environmental Health Program information to veterans, families and other interested parties via newsletters, information bulletins, and web sites, and displays (e.g., via posters) appropriate program information in outpatient areas, Veteran Service Organization offices, etc. - Performs analytical and evaluative work in support of the Environmental Health Program and Environmental Health Coordinator at Sheridan VA facility. - Coordinates with Nursing Ambulatory Care other administrative staff and leadership coordinate interoffice meetings and communications related to programs incumbent manages. - Collects and prepares written reports and summaries of activities or findings. - Keeps EH Clinician and Enrollment and Eligibility Coordinator informed on all matters pertaining to daily office functioning or special health care registry programs and alerts the EH Clinician and other administrative staff on concerns related to office management. - Ensures follow-up for the EH Clinician and Enrollment and Eligibility Coordinator with outstanding correspondence, initiatives, and meetings. - Oversees and monitors the regular tracking of staff education and training pertaining to Environmental Health Program (PACT Act and COMPACT Act). - Prepares summary reports, memorandums, official letters, etc., in response to requirements or tasks on behalf of the EH Clinicians and Enrollment and Eligibility Coordinator. Special Projects/Quality Assurance - Receives special assignments of a complex nature from the EH Clinician and Enrollment and Eligibility Coordinator requiring an expeditious and judicious assemblage of data or information specific to the program's incumbent manages for use by service. - Performs a variety of special tasks or projects in support of the Environmental Health Program, COMPACT Act, PACT Act, and other programs as appropriate. - Proactively offers recommendations and suggestions to improve program functions to accommodate veterans. - Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 0730-1600, Monday - Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD141010 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/01/2023. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. 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 of 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: Detailed knowledge and understanding of policies, regulation, directives, and procedures relating to eligibility programs with respect to health care registries (PACT Act and COMPACT Act) e.g., Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Iraqi Freedom, Depleted Uranium (DU), Ionizing Radiation, Prisoners of War (POW) and other environmental areas of concern e.g., Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense (SHAD), Military Chemical Warfare Agent Experiments, Cold Injury, evaluations of veterans that served in other combat areas, referrals to one of the War Related Illness and Injury Study Centers and the Compensation and Pension section for evaluations as defined by Sheridan VA Local policy, VA Central Office, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Occupational Safety and Health Program (OSHA), Office of Workers' Compensation Program (OWCP), and other regulatory agencies to analyze/evaluate information, interpret guidance and draw conclusions. Sufficient knowledge and skill in the use of office equipment and identify and justify equipment need, demonstrate computer experience using Microsoft (MS) Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel with knowledge of databases, Vista support packages, and spreadsheets to effect a variety of functions to meet the needs of the organization. Knowledge and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to plan and conduct studies and analyses, to identify problem and potential problem areas based on daily observance concerning the efficiency and effectiveness, and productivity of managed programs. Knowledge of key personnel and lines of authority within the medical facility to effectively manage clerical functions and the flow of information. Knowledge of basic conflict management and resolution skills and knowledge of effective customer service and interpersonal communication skills. (Being tactful and understanding of how war may impact a veteran's mental health) Skill in data collection and evaluation techniques to accurately manage veterans data, identify and extract information, identify and correct deviations, and prepare justifications. Skill in written and oral communication sufficient to explain the programs position when interacting with senior leadership and VISN leadership and to address programs specific issues relating to health care registries. In depth knowledge of organization and interrelationships of Services throughout VA facility and their administrative procedures as they affect the current Environmental Health Program and its relationship to the veteran. In depth knowledge and skill in preparing oral and written reports to provide information and consultation with appropriate staff. Knowledge of specialized medical terminology to recognize terms, grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, etc. . 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 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. 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 1 year of graduate level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to DetailCustomer ServiceDecision MakingInterpersonal SkillsTechnical Competence 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 some physical exertion such as periods of walking, standing, or sitting within the assigned clinic areas. Some bending, climbing of stairs and lifting of medical records or forms/supplies is required. The quantity and variety of clinical staff contacts require that the incumbent be able to respond to multiple complex issues and establish priority as the situation demands. Travel between other VA facilities may be required. 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 Sheridan VA Medical Center 1898 Fort Road Sheridan, WY 82801 US
• Name: Ryan Franklin
• Phone: 501-918-1270
• Email: [email protected]