Program Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Albuquerque, NM

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Program Specialist supports the Health Care System's mission, goals, and objectives by delivering comprehensive policy and document management. This position is aligned under the Chief of Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) Service, with the possibility of reporting both quantitative and qualitative analyses directly to the Director and the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN). The role serves as a consultant to Executive Leadership, providing guidance to the Policy and Directive Management Program (PDMP). 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.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Must complete all required steps in the process, including the application, questionnaire, and an online assessment measuring critical general competencies.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Must serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period.
• 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-07 position, must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05.
• For a GS-09 position, must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07.
• An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
• GS-07 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples include: responsible for providing policy and document management; performs administrative support work that involves a variety of tasks and supports program functions; creates reports; receives and processes requests; tracks action items and data, monitors customer satisfaction.
• GS-07 Education: One full year of successfully completed graduate level education or superior academic achievement, that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Transcripts must be submitted.
• GS-09 Specialized Experience: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Program Specialist. Specialized experience includes: Providing guidance, recommendations, and monitoring to Executive Leadership Team the implementation and program management of policy and development; responsible for process improvement activities including preparation for accreditation surveys and external/internal site visits/reviews; administering, analyzing, and performing tasks related to the establishment, dissemination, and management of organization's policy and governance.
• GS-09 Education: Successfully completed two years of progressively higher-level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D., in a related field of the position to be filled. Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Transcripts must be submitted.
• A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
• 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.
• If using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript.

Nice To Haves

• 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.
• Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed above is fully qualifying.
• Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below.
• To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following: Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision. A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
• Only education beyond a bachelor's degree may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-07 level.
• Only education in excess of the first year (18 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Responsibilities

• Develops and refines facility-wide processes, instructions, and procedures to improve integration, performance, and standardization across the healthcare system.
• Ensures alignment with directives, laws, statutes, and VHA guidance, and supports the creation, management, and submission of implementation plans and policy documents essential to operationalizing programs.
• Advises and assists staff at all levels-working closely with Service Chiefs, program managers, supervisors, and frontline employees-to strengthen policies and directives that influence patient care, performance outcomes, and clinical operations.
• Researches, analyzes, interprets, and applies laws, regulations, policies, and evidence-based guidance to produce policies that safeguard Veteran information and enhance operations.
• Contributes to accreditation activities, supports logistics for site visits and inspections, develops responses to Office of Inspector General (OIG) referrals and status requests, and manages action items stemming from survey findings.
• Provides expert guidance to senior leaders on organizational policies and governance.
• Ensures accreditation requirements are met and required documentation is properly maintained.
• Analyzes organizational structures, functions, and workflows to resolve complex issues affecting major programs.
• Develops and recommends new policies and improvements to enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Supports the coordination, drafting, and submission of policy documents for multi-disciplinary operations.
• Assists in developing concepts and initiatives that evolve into practical proposals for testing and change, helping shape and update policies to meet the future needs of healthcare systems.
• Serves as the technical advisor and subject matter expert for all policy and directive management across the healthcare system.
• Mentors and guides disciplines in producing compliant policies, directives, procedures, and programs needed for a fully functional governance structure.
• Creates administrative policies and documents when appropriate, such as Employee Handbooks.
• Develops healthcare system policy and directive procedures in alignment with Department and Administration requirements and ensures their effective implementation.
• Supports service line by managing all accreditation survey logistics, including preparation, scheduling, site-visit coordination, and handling OIG data requests and submissions.
• Serves as the OIG liaison, prepares agendas, coordinates key staff involvement, and oversees OIG status reports, action plans, and responses to Veteran complaint referrals.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Learn more about federal benefits.
• Review our benefits
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
• Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level