Program Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Syracuse, NY

23d • Onsite

About The Position

The Program Specialist manages the Scheduling Training and Audit program for Community Care Service staff at the Syracuse VA Medical Center and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), in collaboration with leadership. The position oversees onboarding and training for Community Care staff, including scheduling options and VS GUI, and develops standard work, training programs, courses, guides, and plans. The specialist conducts instruction, evaluates training outcomes, and carries out ongoing compliance audits.

The role includes planning, implementing, and evaluating short- and long-range training; assessing organizational training needs; preparing training plans and office instructions; and reporting on program status and effectiveness. The specialist collaborates with leadership and operational staff, analyzes audit results, identifies scheduling practices requiring remediation, and provides or coordinates remediation training and re-audits. This is a non-virtual position with a Monday-through-Friday schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• For current or former federal employees subject to the time-in-grade requirement, 52 weeks at GS-7 for the GS-9 position by the announcement closing date.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-7, including knowledge of management principles, analysis and evaluation techniques, scheduling programs and procedures, and audit programs used to plan, organize, and facilitate staff training; ability to communicate orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds and levels of understanding; and skill using computers and software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, the Internet, and VHA databases to develop training materials, work with data, and prepare documents and forms.
• Alternatively, a 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. may substitute for the required experience.
• Education and experience may be combined to qualify.
• Competencies assessed include creative thinking, interpersonal skills, and partnering.
• Must complete applicable background/security investigation and online onboarding requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• A transcript is required if qualifying based wholly or partly on education; qualifying education must be from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• No special physical demands; the work is sedentary.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Scheduling Training and Audit program for Community Care staff at the Syracuse VA Medical Center and associated CBOCs, in collaboration with leadership.
• Manage scheduling onboarding for Community Care staff, including VS GUI and training and education activities.
• Analyze work processes to determine individual employees’ educational needs and monitor quality and productivity standards.
• Assess and develop standard work and training programs; conduct formal and on-the-job instruction.
• Evaluate training outcomes and conduct ongoing compliance audits.
• Participate in short- and long-range training and developmental planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Serve as the point of contact for routine, developmental, and one-on-one training matters.
• Develop or modify procedures, courses, training guides, and plans, and seek alternative training sources.
• Prepare internal office instructions governing local training development programs.
• Conduct formal and informal in-service and continuing education based on identified needs.
• Train staff on scheduling options using adult learning principles and appropriate teaching aids when applicable.
• Review, analyze, and evaluate training courses and programs for quality and effectiveness.
• Plan, organize, analyze accumulated data and information, and coordinate training with other functional activities.
• Develop a medical-center-wide training plan with input from the Chief of Community Care.
• Conduct systematic studies to determine immediate and long-range training needs related to VHA Directive 1230.
• Initiate educational programming in response to policy, procedure, or technology changes and to support the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
• Provide management with periodic reports on training status and analysis of program effectiveness and capacity to achieve agency objectives and policies.
• Modify annual training plans to comply with VHA Directive 1230 and management guidelines and meet annual training objectives.
• Collaborate on Community Care scheduling audits as a facility best practice and run audit reports at facility, department, and individual levels.
• Independently analyze audit outcomes, identify scheduling practices requiring remediation, and support Health Information Specialists with CPRS training as needed.
• Work with supervisors, managers, and section chiefs to resolve discrepancies or conflicts involving established scheduler training.
• Conduct remediation training and re-auditing for schedulers who do not pass audits and for services that do not meet scheduling performance expectations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility and specific benefits depend on position type and are available to the employee and family.
• Selected applicants may qualify to receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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