The Assistant Chief, (Supervisory Prosthetic Representative of the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks (VHSO) is fully responsible for sharing full responsibility with the Chief for directing, supervising, and managing all phases of the prosthetic service operations and serves as Chief of the service in the Chief's absence.

Duties

The Assistant Chief is responsible for planning, developing, and directing a Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Program to include serving as an advisor to clinicians with regard to selection, prescription, and acquisition of prosthetic devices involving furnishing information concerning such matters as new developments in the field of prosthetics and sources of supply for such devices. Major duties include but are not limited to: Manages procurement and contracting for the VHSO Prosthetic Program. This includes distributing national prosthetic contract requirements and guidelines as part of the National Prosthetics Clinical Management Program (PCMP) to staff, reviewing PCMP contract compliance, ensuring usage of Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts, and VISN 16 contracts and blanket purchasing agreements (BPA), preparing procurement requests, evaluating proposals for work, acting as a COR for procurements and VISN 16 contracts, and/or maintaining procurement and contracting records. Reviews contracting and procurement for small procurements that require varying approaches initiation of new ideas and demonstrated resourcefulness. Initiates and prepares contracts to secure adequate resources to facilitate operations to include determining appropriate costs, performs costs analyses, and communicates both orally and in writing with contractors. Exercises authorizations for obligation and expenditures of funds. Contributes to developing an annual specific-purpose budget for the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service by evaluating financial trends, ensuring compliance with agency guidance, and executing the budget on a facility program level. Coordinates budget and planning processes to inform upper management on key issues, which impacts agency processes and decision-making and future facility budget planning. Follows the network business plan through the coordination and cooperation of the facility's prosthetic program and ensures that the functions, abilities, and plans link to and effectively supports VHA, Network, VHSO and VISN 16 Prosthetics initiatives, goals, plans, programs, and achievements with internal and external stakeholders. Ensures that objective requirements of Public Law 104-262 (Provision of Prosthetic Services) and Public Law 107-135 to maintain capacity to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled Veterans (including spinal cord dysfunction, blindness, amputations, and mental illness) are met. Handles administrative matters pertinent to all issues related to the facilities Prosthetic Program. Responsible for furthering the goals of equal employment opportunity by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employment practices regarding race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap. Performs duties of an Approving Official to designated Purchase Care Holders as outlined in VHA Handbook 1730.1 Use & Management of the Government Purchase Card Program, and VA Handbook 4080, Government Purchase Card Policy. She/he approves expenditure of government funds as made by designated Purchase Card Holders and must adhere to rules and regulations as stated in the described handbooks and amendments. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 564-00584-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience and Education. (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience that demonstrates: Knowledge of basic anatomy and medical terminology; knowledge of accounting methods; ability to research, analyze, comprehend, and apply decisions; basic knowledge of inventory management procedures; ability to use computer software packages for word processing, spreadsheet development, and database management; and ability to work independently and as a member of a team; OR (2) Education. A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution AND at least 24 semester hours in course work related to health care, public administration, or business. The 24 semester hours could include but is not limited to any combination from the following fields: occupational therapy, physical therapy, kinesiotherapy, social work, psychology, prosthetics, orthotics, respiratory therapy, assistive technology, business law, leadership, healthcare, public administration, or business management. This course work may have been completed within the degree or in addition to the degree; OR (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. *Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the United States must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials, and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to experience gained in conventional United States programs. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-12 Requirements Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties, including responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; assessment of competencies; evaluation of performance; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions. 2. Ability to analyze data and make recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within the service. 3. Ability to manage a health care program that provides home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, orthotics, or prosthetics. 4. Knowledge of compliance and regulatory accrediting organizations. 5. Ability to manage, interpret, and present fiscal data (i.e. fund controls, contracts and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer an allocated budget. Note: KSAs must be clearly reflected in your resume under description of duties to be found qualified for this position/grade level. Preferred Experience: Ability to apply, coordinate, and oversee specialty programs which include clothing allowance, Home Oxygen, Automobile Adaptive Equipment, and Home Improvement Structural Alterations (HISA). One year of experience actively monitoring prosthetic program contract(s). Ability to train new staff, and to provide refresher training when needed. Assist in developing budget for fund control points. Ensuring budgeted amounts are not exceeded. Identifying needs/excess of prosthetic funds. Experience with monitoring purchasing to include credit card purchase orders and reconciliations. Ability to interact with cohorts from another Service line, or upper management. Ability to generate reports, and interpret results from several different data sources, i.e. NPPD (national prosthetic patient data base), PCM reports (prosthetic clinical management). Experience with prosthetic consult management to include reviewing open and pending consults, prioritizing, and ability to assign work to subordinates. Ability to formulate policies and processes related to current Prosthetic and Rehabilitative items and service laws, regulations, directives, handbooks, and clinical practice recommendations. References: VA Handbook 5005/94, PART II, APPENDIX G34. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.

Education

IMPORTANT: 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 Fayetteville AR VA Medical Center 1100 North College Avenue Fayetteville, AR 72703 US
• Name: Gregory Hawkins
• Phone: 281-467-2906
• Email: [email protected]