Summary This Program Specialist position is in Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service (MHBSS) at the VA Providence Healthcare Systems, located at the Providence location. Responsibilities The Program Specialist works for Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service (MHBSS) at the Veterans Affairs Providence Healthcare System (VAPHS) and provides direct administrative support to the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS), MHBSS and MHBSS Programs. VAPHS is a level 1C facility with three community based outreach clinics (CBOCS) in surrounding areas. MHBSS staff and programs are integrated throughout the main campus and all three CBOCs and work collaboratively with area Vet Centers. The service line of over 175 staff members is made up of nine different disciplines and comprises fourteen subspecialties and distinct programs, including both inpatient and outpatient services. The Program Specialist is located at the main VAPHS campus and supports all operations of MHBSS throughout the healthcare system. The duties of the position include but are not limited to: Drafts memos for signature by the HSS or ACOS, MHBSS and prepares privileging paperwork for review and approval by coordinators and the ACOS, MHBSS. Develops and maintains spreadsheet(s) or other tracking mechanism(s) that enable accuracy and transparency for stakeholders. Assists in the preparation, review, and monitoring of travel requests related to educational activities, serving as the MHBSS point of contact and subject matter expert. Obtains and monitors the use of services, GSA vehicles, supplies, and equipment for the office. Provides general office supply and equipment support services, such as obtaining standard office supplies and procuring needed equipment and supplies for clinical staff. Maintains an accurate and well-organized tracking system, accessible to ACOS, MHBSS and HSS, always kept up to date, that clearly documents completed task and activities and those that need to be completed. Provides routinely scheduled reports and/or by request reports to HSS and FCP Officials or designees on balances, purchases made, and status. Assists in the preparation and development of a tracking and monitoring system for the educational travel requests and budget. Maintains files on all completed education and travel requests. Assigns providers to be reviewed for Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE) to peer providers, in collaboration with coordinators. Works with providers and outside institutions to obtain all necessary information and documentation to ensure the appointment process is completed in a timely and thorough manner. Provides coverage and holds backup responsibilities for team members and collaborates to arrange coverage and resolve conflicts. Communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD038640 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is a LIUNA Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/28/2024. 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. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have 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. Examples of qualifying specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Applies qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques to identify, evaluate and resolve issues of a complex level with multiple factors. Obtains data that is variable and translates this information into concrete data Develops customized tools for the service line that will measure the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of clinical programs. Interprets and applies written instructions, guidelines, policy memorandums, Operates and uses word processing and experience with specific software packages (i.e., Word and Excel) to compile and prepare reports and maintain databases. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. 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. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. Equivalent combination of successfully completed education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position. Only education in excess of the first year of graduate level education (Masters/18 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Database Administration Interpersonal Effectiveness Manages and Organizes Information Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. However, some walking, bending, reaching, and carrying of items such as medical files, reports, and small packages is required. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: 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. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.