Program Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Fayetteville, NC

31d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is in the Veterans Administration (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Healthcare Network (VISN 6), Fayetteville VA Medical Center (MC). The incumbent serves as Program Analyst in the Office of the Associate Director for Patient Care Services, working in Nursing Service. A significant function of this position is to analyze workload data throughout Nursing Service and make recommendations regarding resource utilization.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Must complete all required steps in the process, including application, questionnaire, and an online assessment.
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period.
• 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 GS-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
• Ability to prioritize and analyze problems in order to take into full consideration the wide range of factors and requirements which affect the management of the health care delivery system.
• Ability to manage various computer data base programs.
• Ability to interpret, prepare, and present research data in a variety of ways.
• Ability to develop and maintain database and access information from national reports, studies and commissions to improve patient care.
• Skill in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature.
• Knowledge of the theory and principles of management and organization including administrative practices and procedures common to organizations.
• Ability to handle situations independently under pressure, meet program deadlines and continually prioritize workload to meet changing demands effectively.
• A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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

• Serves as the Contracting Officer Representative (COR), responsible for ensuring that the government receives all deliverables and services specified in each contract. This position is appointed for Architecture and Engineering, construction, hazardous material (hazmat) contracts exceeding $25,000, all healthcare service contracts, and multi-year service contracts.
• Works closely with the Contracting Officer (CO), participating in quarterly meetings to review mandatory reporting requirements, conduct fiscal audits, and discuss potential adjustments and funding justifications.
• During option years, responsible for updating Human Resources (HR) certifications for medical sharing contracts, securing new approvals, preparing the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), and conducting market research.
• Before an option is exercised, provides the CO with past performance information.
• Adheres strictly to procurement integrity regulations governing the dissemination of contract information.
• Represents the Program Office as the responsible party for developing procurement packages and acts as the delegated business liaison for the contract with other required personnel on station.
• Remains available to meet with station leadership and provide relevant contract information throughout all phases of acquisition-planning, administration, and close out.
• Forwards all electronic files to the Contracting Officer upon contract expiration.
• Maintains contract administration files in accordance with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policies and procedures, including but not limited to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 160-10-01, Procurement Process, Security Handbook 6500.6, and VA Directive 1663.
• Maintains official files including: A copy of the contract with current rates/pricing schedule for invoice validation, all executed contract modifications, the Independent Government Cost Estimate, and Purchase orders.
• Develops, manages, and administers all database systems within Patient Care Service, ensuring their continuous maintenance and operation.
• Determines the organization of data, assigns names and definitions to records and fields, and maintains the SharePoint site for Patient Care Service.
• Delivers training on procedures and systems to the Associate Director of Patient Care Service, Health System Specialist, Chief Nurses, and Nurse Managers.
• Regularly completes monthly, quarterly, and annual training, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of relevant technical and analytical systems, procedures, and standards.
• Analyzes workload data throughout Nursing Service, consistently reviewing resource availability and associated costs such as hours per patient day (HPPD), overtime, staffing and agency expenses, sick leave usage, budget calls, budget projections, and various workload metrics.
• Pulls and tracks data for Performance Management Council (PMC) requests, monitors gains and losses in staffing, and makes informed recommendations regarding resource utilization to maximize efficiency.
• Provides managers with objective, fact-based information to inform administrative and programmatic decisions for the Fayetteville V AMC and outlying clinics.
• Identifies patterns and offers strategic insights by analyzing trends in workload reporting and cost data.
• Interviews action officers, supervisory personnel, and subject matter experts, and researches records, reports, functional statements, and other pertinent information to thoroughly analyze issues, recommend changes, and resolve problems.
• Reviews expense data allocation with department managers and clinical personnel, assessing the accuracy of allocation factors and offering recommendations for improvement.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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.
• Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.
• VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

What This Job Offers

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