This developmental position, located in Mental Health, serving four sections of the division, at the Tomah VA Medical Center, Tomah, WI, composes a career ladder structure to the full performance level of Program Specialist, GS-0301-09.

Duties

Major Duties Developmental Level- GS-7: The incumbent serves in a developmental capacity at the GS-7 grade level. Key functions will be similar to those described at the full performance level (GS-9) of the target position. However, during the developmental assignment, full performance range and level of selected functions will not be completely delegated to the employee until proper orientation and training have been completed and the Program Specialist has demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to accomplish the work at the full performance level. 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. Duties at the Full Performance Level GS-9 include: The incumbent will develop systems to track, measure, and ensure accountability for ongoing local, VISN, and National performance measures assigned as well as providing administrative and management support to the section in the following capacity: Handles requests for information, and resolves or assists in resolving a variety of problems. The incumbent must independently triage the importance of issues, identify key staff as resources, and make prompt decisions on matters concerning policy, conforming to the Services' expectations and established regulations. Provides management assistance for the Services' councils, task forces, committees, and meetings. Incumbent will track follow-up actions that are required to meet designated time frames and deadlines. Collects data for the Services' reports, reviews data for accuracy, and completes reports assuring submission to meet established deadlines. The incumbent completes assessments of the Services processes and procedures, including researching applicable regulations and directives, and provides formulated data to management for development of local policies and standard operating procedures. Serves as a project coordinator, collaborates with other staff as needed within the MHSL for the purpose of project completions and meeting performance measures and timelines. Assists the Services in preparing, revising/implementing new program guides, forms, and preparing and updating Medical Center Policies and procedures, and short/long range goals. Develops internal systems to assure tracking of administrative matters to respond to inquiries both from within MH and outside organizations. Ensures that the services within Tomah MH have an effective system of records. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Intermittent/Ad-Hoc - 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/PD234820 and PD182710 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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, 11/13/2023. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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 GS-7: Applicants must have one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Program Specialist at the GS-7 level. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in Federal service. Specialized experience related to this position includes demonstrated knowledge and experience working with software programs such as Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, as well as data analytics programs to gather pertinent data, analyze problems, identify significant factors, and recognize solutions; develop, analyze and present data to audiences; knowledge of adapting analytical techniques and evaluation criteria to measure and improve program effectiveness and/or organizational productivity; knowledge of conducting analyses of functions and work processes; and communication and interpersonal relations skills which have demonstrated the ability to organize ideas, present findings, instruct others, and explain recommendations for process and program improvement --OR- Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience - GS-7: One (1) full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and been obtained at an accredited college or university. Superior Academic Achievement is based on class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership. Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Grade-point Average - Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major filed completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Election to membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society - Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. NOTE: TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED --OR- Combining Specialized Experience and Education - GS-7 - Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying for this position. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. Specialized Experience GS-9: One (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skill, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Program Specialist and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization (GS-7). Examples of specialized experience include (but are not limited to): Knowledge of directives, policies, guidelines and regulations which effect patient care programs and office operation processes; skill in applying fact-finding and investigative techniques to evaluate and make recommendation for performance improvement; knowledge of functions, processes and principles of program planning and management; skill in dealing with people of varying degrees of education and authority; skill in the use of computer equipment with a variety of software applications including the ability to produce documents and reports containing tables and/or graphs and extract data from a variety of sources; and demonstration of skill in communication and interpersonal relations both orally and in writing providing clear and concise communication. --OR-- Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience - GS-9: A master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL. B or J.D.., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and been obtained at an accredited college or university. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. --OR-- Combining Specialized Experience and Education - GS-9 - Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying for this position. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem SolvingCommunicationComputer Skills 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: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. May require occasional travel. Employee is also expected to perform duties that may involve spending time on psychiatrist patient care units and outpatient clinic. 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 Tomah VA Medical Center 500 East Veterans Street Tomah, WI 54660 US
• Name: Avian Wilkins
• Phone: (901) 522-5536
• Email: [email protected]