This position is located in the Surgical Service - Ophthalmology Section at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (537) in Chicago, IL -The primary purpose of this position is to provide administrative functions that include human resources management, budget and finance management, program analysis, office support sections, document control, logistics, and a variety of related administrative matters in support of the Ophthalmology Section and its counterpart, the Optometry Section.

Duties

Evaluates and advises on the methods and procedures within the Ophthalmology Section for providing administrative support systems such as records, communications, directives, forms, files, and documentation. Shares oversight responsibility with the manager for performance appraisal and merit pay programs. Provides assessment and recommends the improvement of complex management processes and systems, and improvement of program effectiveness. Develops process improvement projects to address any deficiencies, utilizing standardized approaches. Responsible for managing the recruitment, orientation, and retention of clinical and nonclinical staff to meet effective staffing levels for the service. Works through compliance reports/issues for accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission, Office of Inspection General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP), etc. Reviews and evaluates completed actions (memos, reports, studies, fact sheets, information papers) for overall quality of the document, appropriate levels of coordination, consistency, logic, soundness of recommendations, and compliance with policy. Conducts studies of employee/organizational efficiency and productivity and recommending changes or improvements in organization, staffing, work methods, and procedures. Provides guidance specific to Medical Records/Documentation and/or Reports related to encounters open/closed/signed-incomplete discharges etc. Certifies reconciled payment charges in Integrated Fund Distribution, Control Point Activity, Accounting and Procurement (IFCAP). -Performs other related duties as assigned. 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. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD240960 and PD240970 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/04/2024. 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 GS07. 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 GS-9: Applicant must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped you 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 qualitative and qualitative analytical techniques and the ability to apply that knowledge to evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations; understanding of interface between clinical and administrative activities; knowledge of administrative regulations and operating procedures; skill in investigative techniques to gather factual evidence in support of compliance with regulations; knowledge of computer software programs equivalent to Microsoft Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word processing, etc.; ability to prepare presentations, briefings, reports, correspondence, maintain databases and develop spreadsheets; ability to assist with budget analysis, personnel functions, costs and forecasting future needs; skill in dealing with diverse groups and individuals; and skill in oral and written communication and business writing and research methodology to compile and convey report data and provide recommendations. 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. Specialized Experience GS-11: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position consists of: knowledge of statistics and business analysis procedures; ability to develop, conduct and analyze a variety of data such as surveys, evaluations, demographic studies and program; knowledge of marketing and advertising, data collection and database management employing quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques; knowledge of planning, scheduling and conducting market analysis; knowledge of community outreach and referral procedures; knowledge in adapting analytical techniques and evaluation criteria to the measurement and improvement of program effectiveness; knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents which affect marketing and outreach efforts; ability to assess public reaction and identifying extent of understanding achieved to evaluate effectiveness of information programs; knowledge of community outreach and referral procedures; knowledge of oral and written techniques sufficient to develop and present formal briefings, outreach materials, statistical data, and reports; and communication and interpersonal relations skills, including the ability to appropriately relate to internal and external customers. OR Substitution of Education for Experience GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, obtained in an accredited college or university, or LL.M., if related, may be substituted for specialized experience to qualify for this grade 11, Program Specialist (Clinical Administrative Specialist) position. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. Transcripts Required. OR Combination Education and Experience GS-11: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Program Specialist (Clinical Administrative Specialist) position may be used to meet the experience requirements for this position. NOTE: Only education in excess of 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education may be used to qualify at the grade 11 level. Transcripts Required. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical ThinkingCreative ThinkingCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Organizational Stewardship 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: May require extensive walking per day to meet with the VAMC Executive Leadership, Clinic Leads, Administrative Leads, HAS Staff, and other clinic personnel. Trips to community-based outpatient clinics are sometimes necessary and will involve transportation via station Government Owned Vehicle (GOV) or Privately Owned Vehicle (POV). The work performed is of a precise nature requiring long periods of concentration that is often interrupted. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 820 South Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60612 US
• Name: Larry LaRoche
• Phone: 708-202-8387 X28161
• Email: [email protected]