Supervisory Program Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Wichita, KS

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Community Care at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center is seeking a Supervisory Program Specialist for its Community Care Department (CCD). The medical center includes its main facility in Wichita, Kansas, and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics serving Veterans throughout the region. CCD coordinates referrals and authorizations for eligible Veterans receiving community care in accordance with federal law and VA policy, and supports VA staff, non-VA providers, Veterans, and other stakeholders. Its special programs include Inter-facility Consults, Traveling Veteran Coordination, Geriatric and Extended Care, and Noninstitutional Care.

The position provides strategic program data gathering and analysis, guidance, and high-level support to healthcare management at the department, facility, network, and Integrated Veteran Care levels. The incumbent makes independent operational decisions based on best practices and works with clinical and administrative staff across care specialties to manage the Community Care Program and related projects and applications. The position reports to the Chief, CC.

The incumbent leads and manages Community Care programs and initiatives, directs the effective use of department resources, improves processes, and ensures alignment with VHA directives, the VA MISSION Act, the PACT Act, the COMPACT Act, and other regulations. As a senior advisor and subject matter expert, the incumbent develops and revises policies, guides operational strategies, and coordinates community-based healthcare delivery.

The position is the primary point of contact for Community Care processes related to the VA Electronic Health Record (EHR). Responsibilities include staff training on system updates, troubleshooting referral and consult management functions, collaborating with VA staff and EHR vendor partners on modernization and data migration, and using user feedback to improve EHR workflows.

The incumbent collects, monitors, and analyzes data on Community Care consults; conducts demand and capacity analyses; identifies trends in wait times, administrative errors, and aging consults; and develops corrective action plans. The position conducts fact-finding analyses related to costs, consults, visits, eligibility, and other management concerns, and recommends solutions to Community Care leadership, the Chief of Staff, and VISN 15 Community Care. The incumbent independently selects data sources, collection methods, analytical techniques, and presentation approaches. Tools include FEHR, EPS, VistA, VSSC, Pyramid, Power BI, Wellhive, BISL, Palantir, CURES, SharePoint, and Optum.

The position directs and oversees subordinate supervisors and staff in VA Community Care operations, including two Supervisory Medical Support Assistants (GS-08), three Lead Advanced Medical Support Assistants, and the AMSAs under their supervision. The incumbent plans, organizes, and reviews work to ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and higher-level management directives.

The work schedule is 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Meet the GS-11 specialized experience requirement: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-09, including experience assisting with oversight, management, or coordination of a healthcare program or services; performing personnel management and administration for an organization with varied functions; managing online communication tools such as internal SharePoint websites; applying policies, regulations, and guidelines to program operations and coordinating activities or tracking costs/budgets; and maintaining effective working relationships with management officials and charitable organizations or sponsors.
• Alternatively, qualify through education with a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.M.; or a combination of qualifying education and experience.
• Current federal employees and certain former federal employees must meet the GS-11 time-in-grade requirement, including 52 weeks at GS-09, by the announcement closing date.
• Submit an SF-50 demonstrating time-in-grade eligibility when applicable.
• Be a U.S. citizen and meet Selective Service registration requirements when applicable.
• Complete a background/security investigation and the required online onboarding process; provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Provide a transcript if using education to qualify; qualifying education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Meet the physical demands of primarily sedentary work, with occasional standing, walking, stooping, bending, and carrying items weighing up to 25 pounds; fieldwork may involve travel to designated VHA training sites.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive leadership and management for Community Care programs, including planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating projects and initiatives.
• Direct the effective use of CCD resources, lead process improvements, and ensure alignment with VHA directives, the VA MISSION Act, the PACT Act, the COMPACT Act, and other regulations.
• Serve as a senior advisor and subject matter expert; develop and revise policies, guide operational strategies, and coordinate community-based healthcare delivery.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Community Care processes related to the VA Electronic Health Record.
• Ensure staff are trained on EHR system updates; troubleshoot referral and consult management functions; and collaborate with VA staff and EHR vendors on modernization and data migration.
• Use user feedback to refine and improve Community Care EHR workflows and efficiency.
• Collect, monitor, and analyze data related to Community Care consults; conduct demand and capacity analyses; identify trends in wait times, administrative errors, and aging consults; and develop corrective action plans.
• Conduct fact-finding analyses of costs, consults, visits, eligibility, and other management concerns, and recommend solutions to Community Care leadership, the Chief of Staff, and VISN 15 Community Care.
• Independently determine data sources, collection methods, analytical techniques, and presentation of findings.
• Use local and national data tools to gather, interpret, and visualize performance metrics, and identify performance gaps, process inefficiencies, and best practices to improve timeliness and quality of care.
• Direct, coordinate, and oversee subordinate supervisors and staff in VA Community Care operations.
• Plan, organize, and review staff work to ensure alignment with organizational policies, procedures, and higher-level management directives.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive federal benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree