This Program Specialist position is located within the Surgical Care Service at the White River Junction VA Medical Center at the White River Junction, Vermont location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

Duties

The primary purpose of the position is to provide oversight and administrative coordination of Surgical operations throughout the VA Healthcare System and serve as an advisor on operations to the healthcare system's senior leadership. The duties directly contribute to the administrative management of a highly affiliated healthcare delivery system and require the ability to apply specialized principles and practices of healthcare management matters affecting patient care and organizational policy and advise the top management team responsible for planning, organizing, developing, directing, and evaluating VA Healthcare System Operations. The individual is held accountable for the systems management of various aspects of services which includes performance improvement and assessment programs, data analysis and monitoring, credentialing and privileging of clinical staff, coordination of education programs, management of human resource issues, fiscal and budget issues, creation and implementation of policies and procedures and all other matters that affect the multiple functions of the service. This demands a high level of administrative expertise, independent judgement, and analytical ability. Duties include but are not limited to: ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT (70%): The incumbent provides day-to-day supervisory and consultation to other administrative personnel within the service and is responsible for coordinating administrative staff functions associated with all Surgical programs. Performs administrative tasks at an independent level that is supportive of and contributes to the overall functioning of the Surgical service. Can coordinate the large variety of administrative tasks expected of the Surgical service direct care providers, support staff, supervisors, and service line manager. Engages collaboratively with Surgical service and other Medical Center staff at various levels regularly. Provides consultation and guidance on matters that improve effectiveness, efficiency, and access for Veterans to Surgical services. These matters include but are not limited to assisting to review and analyze data and prepare reports and presentations. BUDGET & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (30%): The incumbent provides budget and financial management for Surgical budget; prepares a variety of budget analyses; assesses immediate and long-range equipment and supply needs and maintains budget records. Provides support in budget formulation for all fund control points assigned to the Service Line. Recommends and advises, based upon the analyzing and evaluating historical data, market trends, and medical center priorities, etc., of budget needs. Reviews budget calls and explains schedules and data requirements to PC administration. Collects information on anticipated needs in preparation for new fiscal year. Advises administration of the practical and technical aspects of the budget. This includes budgets for salaries, supplies, equipment, and contract services for various programs located within the service. Performs additional duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized 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 Specialist/PD038040 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Notifications: This position is in the Competitive Service. This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Selectee required to serve one year supervisory/managerial probationary period. Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/22/2024. 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-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: 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. Specialized experience is knowledge of the unique characteristics of the specific health care delivery various administrative areas such as program management and administration, budgeting/financial management work, research and analysis work, lease management; ability to provide expert analysis and advice on complex program issues, ability to develop Medical Center policies, procedures, and resource allocations for assigned programs, develops status reports or response materials for higher level attention, review, or signature. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education in excess of a master's degree (excess of 36 semester hours) is creditable to meet this requirement. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementAnalytical ReasoningCommunicationsProblem SolvingSelf-Direction 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 position is primarily sedentary with regular movement around the VAMC. Work Environment: The incumbent works in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled environment. The incumbent works from a stationary office and must be able to shift to accommodate space related constraints as indicated by the needs of the service. 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 White River Junction VA Medical Center 215 North Main St. White River Jct., VT 05009 US
• Name: Jessica Steed
• Phone: (802) 295-9363 X2021
• Email: [email protected]