Program Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, ME

11d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at the Maine VA Health Care System in the Mental Health Service Line and reports directly to the Supervisory Health System Specialist. The GS-7 is a developmental level in a career ladder to the full-performance Program Specialist position, GS-9. The position is based at the Maine VAMC main campus and supports the medical center and surrounding Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Maine.

At the full-performance level, the Program Specialist derives and analyzes qualitative and quantitative information to support cost-effective, efficient, high-quality healthcare services. The position advises service-line leadership and implements improvements based on analysis. Its work focuses on planning, implementing, and evaluating Mental Health programs, improving productivity and efficiency, and consistently and accurately supporting Mental Health operational systems and processes. The work requires analytical ability, sound judgment, and discretion.

The position conducts specialized work involving workplace environment, resource-needs assessment, operations analysis, and review of existing systems and procedures. It monitors Mental Health fund control points and assists with purchases and credit-card transactions. The Program Specialist works independently, makes recommendations, and supports the Mental Health Service Line across organizational boundaries. The incumbent may assist with internal reviews to help ensure clinical and administrative functions comply with VA Central Office directives and standards from accrediting and regulatory organizations. The position also provides customer service for employees traveling on VA business.

The GS-7 is a developmental assignment intended to build the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the full range of duties at the GS-9 level. Promotion to the full-performance level may occur without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met; selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Compressed or flexible schedules are not authorized. Telework may be authorized, with eligibility discussed during the interview. The incumbent may need to travel to other VA campuses and CBOCs.

Requirements

• For GS-7, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5, or qualifying education or a combination of education and experience. Specialized experience examples include obtaining and interpreting data; conducting research; collecting and analyzing data; preparing reports or presentations; assessing performance; and developing and evaluating improvement activities.
• For GS-9, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7, or qualifying education or a combination of education and experience. Specialized experience examples include applying qualitative and quantitative analysis to complex issues; using management analysis techniques to produce comprehensive reports on work measurement, trends, efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, and program goals; troubleshooting computer-system problems for service-line users; and translating variable data into concrete data.
• Education used to qualify must be relevant to the position. GS-7 education option: one full year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement. GS-9 education option: a relevant master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.B. or J.D.
• Current or former federal employees applying at GS-7 must meet the applicable time-in-grade requirement, including 52 weeks at GS-5; applicants at GS-9 must meet 52 weeks at GS-7. Applicable SF-50 documentation is required.
• U.S. citizenship is required. Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Applicants must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment. Selected applicants are subject to background and security investigation and must complete online onboarding and acceptable employment-eligibility identification requirements.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• The selectee must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Competencies include attention to detail, customer service, decision making, flexibility, integrity and honesty, interpersonal skills, learning, reading comprehension, reasoning, self-management, stress tolerance, and teamwork.
• A transcript must be submitted when education is used to qualify. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
• Work is mostly sedentary, with some walking, standing, and bending. The employee must be able to sit for extended periods and use a computer for most of the day; may need to walk between the main hospital and outbuildings; and may need to lift supply boxes weighing up to 25 pounds.
• The position requires the ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced, sometimes chaotic environment.

Responsibilities

• Analyze qualitative and quantitative information to identify opportunities for cost-effective, efficient, high-quality healthcare services.
• Advise Mental Health Service Line leadership and implement improvements based on analysis.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate Mental Health programs and support service-line operations.
• Assess productivity and efficiency and support improvements to operational systems and processes.
• Conduct resource-needs assessments and analyze workplace environment, operations, and existing systems and procedures.
• Monitor Mental Health fund control points and assist with purchases and credit-card transactions.
• Work independently, exercise judgment, and make recommendations in support of the Mental Health Service Line.
• Assist with internal reviews to help ensure clinical and administrative functions comply with VA directives and applicable accrediting and regulatory standards.
• Provide customer service to employees traveling on VA business.
• Travel to other VA campuses and CBOCs as required.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may approve job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service for annual-leave accrual credit, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed