The incumbent serves as the Program Specialist within the Business Office (BO) at the Dorn VAMC in Columbia, SC. The primary responsibility of the incumbent is the development and implementation and maintenance of the ongoing training programs for employees within BO and other services, to include equipment and process training as well as mandatory training required by the facility. This position reports to the Chief, Business Office.

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to: Works with supervisors to monitor and develop seamless processes within the Business Office (BO) with the goal of improving efficiency, effectiveness and customer service. Primary focus includes training on: scheduling package, electronic waiting list, eligibility and enrollment, means testing, customer service, new BO initiatives, directives, and processes, mandatory training and informational training material. Responsible for auditing BO sections to determine areas requiring additional staff training and processes and procedures. Coordinates orientation activities for new employees to the BO and prepares materials to acquaint new employees with the organization's mission, structure, history, objectives and policies. Develops, reviews, analyzes, implements, conducts and evaluates training courses and programs related to the BO areas such as Scheduling, ICB, Tricare, Veteran Travel Services (VTS), Health Benefits and Enrollment, and Health Information Management (HIMS), as well as training on new directives and processes that interrelate within the BO sections/units and/or with other services. Monitors newly released Directives, Facility Policies, and released patches for their potential effect on the BO end-users and employees on a regular basis. Participates on facility/VISN wide committees representing BO operations, and provides information and assistance to the Education Committee as a representative of the BO. Works with supervisors to develop data capture and electronic reporting procedures to track progress of quality program management initiatives. Analyzes segments of business process or transaction, and identifies indicators, progress measures, objectives and emphasis areas for action for improvement. Establishes minimum standards for quality and productivity, also directs program implementation. 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 through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD015150 and PD015160 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/27/2024. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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 for the GS-9 based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge and ability in applying basic analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of scheduling and other programs in order to develop instructional programs to meet the needs of the service line; ability to research and comprehend pertinent laws, regulations, policies, and procedures that relate to all aspects of administration within benefits guidelines; knowledge of a wide range of office automation skills and the use of several different software programs. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D. in a field related to this position that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first year or 18 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements. You may qualify for the GS-11 based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge of and ability to develop pertinent policies related to the program; ability to develop complete training programs for implementations; knowledge of training and educational concepts in order to instruct all levels of employees, work studies, volunteers, and management; knowledge of computer systems and technical aspects of the hardware and software for output/input and analyses of data (possessing advanced computer skills, familiarity with computer programs, and comprehension of reports). OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of a PH.D or equivalent doctoral degree, successfully completed three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond a Master's degree) and specialized experience, as described above, to meet the total requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. Driver's License Requirement: Applicants must possess a valid, unrestricted State driver's license, have a safe driving record, and demonstrate that you are medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: ClericalCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)StandardsTeaches Others 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 work is primarily sedentary, although some light physical effort may be required. There may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items including training paperwork or manuals, or small equipment, such as laptops, computers, mobile LCD projectors; or driving an automobile. Incumbent may be susceptible to eyestrain from working long hours on the computer. 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/.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA):
The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998, as amended (VEOA) provides preference eligibles and certain eligible veterans the opportunity to compete for certain positions announced under an agency's merit promotion procedures. It applies only when the agency is filling a permanent, competitive service position and has decided to solicit candidates from outside its own workforce. It allows eligible veterans and preference eligibles to apply to announcements that would otherwise be open to so called "status" candidates, i.e., "current competitive service employees and certain prior employees who have earned competitive status."
To be eligible to be considered pursuant to VEOA appointment, your latest, discharge must be issued under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge), AND you must be either:

• a preference eligible (defined in title 5 U.S.C. 2108(3)), OR
• a veteran who substantially completed 3 or more years of active service under honorable conditions.

When agencies recruit from outside their own workforce under merit promotion procedures, their announcements must state VEOA is applicable. As a VEOA eligible you are not subject to geographic area of consideration limitations. When applying under VEOA, you must rate and rank among the best qualified applicants, overall, to be considered for appointment. The preference conferred, in this case, is the opportunity to compete; the statute confers no entitlement to be selected ahead of non-preference eligible candidates. Your veterans' preference does not apply to internal agency actions such as promotions, transfers, reassignments and reinstatements.
Current or former Federal employees meeting VEOA eligibility can apply. However, current employees applying under VEOA are subject to time-in- grade restrictions like any other General Schedule employee.
"Active Service" under VEOA means active duty in a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.
"Preference eligible" under VEOA includes those family members entitled to derived preference.
You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15 (PDF file)), Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference.
"Active Service" under VEOA means active duty in a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.
"Preference eligible" under VEOA includes those family members entitled to derived preference.
You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15 (PDF file)), Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference.

Contacts

• Address Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Christen Watson
• Email: [email protected]