The Program Application Specialist provides continuous oversight of software programs integral to the overall administration and operations. Coordinates ongoing data collection and analysis and uses knowledge of System Redesign principles to determine organization performance. Conducts business process modeling, projects and studies that will impact on the overall functions of the services in such areas as, policy development and implementation, work methodology, processes, streamlining, etc.

Duties

Coordinates ongoing data collection and performs analysis to determine optimal organizational performance. Uses available data to determine current performance and develops and implements local performance measures as needed to assess current status and determine areas targeted for improved effectiveness and efficiencies of Business Office practices. Develops initiatives which will enable the facility to provide quality health care to its population while operating in a more effective and efficient manner. Performs a continuing evaluation and analysis to assess program effectiveness and to identify areas requiring management attention. Designs and develops dissemination and training materials, local standard operating procedure (SOP) manuals, develops and utilizes monitoring tools, and provides for the implementation of Business Office programs through on-site education and training. Identifies system inefficiencies and develops studies or data collection techniques related to specific identified problems. Coordinates with other staff to identify information needs and develops data collection methods and report formats to meet those needs. Organizes, compiles, summarizes, and analyzes the data collected and develops reports which reflect the scope of activities and identifies trends and opportunities for improvement. Incumbent research problems that impact the quality and efficiency of Business Office operations. Ensures data is being captured and reported accurately and appropriately. Analyzes utilization trend data on a monthly/quarterly basis to verify the accuracy of the data, identify problem areas, provide objective assessments, prioritize identified problems, analyze variances, and recommend appropriate actions and/or alternatives. Establishes administrative qualitative standards; the objective of which is intended to improve programs, facilities, and operations. The incumbent develops and implements standards that affect the service. Incumbent maintains records, prepares project administrative and statistical reports, assures compliance with review process, and monitors compliance with program requirements. Plans initiatives for hardware and software needs for the Informatics service. Responsible for the preparation and implementation of the business contingency plans for system failure specifically addressing manual system backup plans addressing how day to day business will be conducted for long and short- term outages. Responsible for determining the physical and data security needs for the service areas and implements necessary improvements. Assesses individual needs to determine appropriate level of menu access for staff, Regional Office employees, and employees from VISN VA facilities. Reviews access to terminal and file codes for the purpose of controlling access to patient and medical records to assure compliance with the Privacy Act, Cyber Security, and other regulatory compliance requirements. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available. 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 Applications Specialist/PD14422O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): 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, 10/19/2023. 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-011 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: experience designing and developing data management analyses, special studies, and reports; analyzing, planning and providing oversight for a variety of software programs integral to the overall success of operations; applying testing principles, methods, and approaches sufficient to test, and maintain software applications. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a PhD or equivalent doctoral or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate level education leading to such a degree in education, or a subject area related to the position to be filled. Note: you must submit copies of your transcripts for your education to be considered. 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 of graduate level education is a subject area related to the position to be filled. Note: you must submit copies of your transcripts for your education to be considered. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementAnalysis and Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingHealth Informatics 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: Regular and recurring work is mostly sedentary involving sitting at a desk, although the position requires the ability to move from one geographic location of the facility to another. The incumbent works with a computer screen and keyboard. Some physical effort such as standing, walking, bending or prolonged sitting may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to walking to outlying areas. The work places no special physical demands on the employee. 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 Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Bryce Thayer
• Phone: 8609643506
• Email: [email protected]