Program Specialist

Summary

The Program Specialist position is located at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center and reports to the Chief, Office of Quality and Patient Safety. The incumbent is responsible for developing, managing, and coordinating the facility Communications and Correspondence Program (Suspense Program and Tracking System, Heads Up Messages (HUMs), Issue Briefs (IBs), Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO)/Veterans Heath Administration (VHA) publications and the facility policy program).

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Assist the Chief, Quality and Patient Safety Service in the development of systems for HUMs, IBs, and the Suspense Program and Tracking System (incoming and outgoing) and related policies and procedures to ensure that quality provisions are planned, developed, and implemented to identify, prevent, and reduce risks to the organization. Ensure all correspondence is logged into the appropriate database tracking systems and ensures all correspondence is managed within assigned deadlines. Perform work involving the collection, compilation, and/or tracking of data and statistical information in support of the Suspense Program and Tracking System. Evaluate documents, e.g., survey reports, performance improvement reports, patient satisfaction, and other data tracking forms. Develop reporting procedures, techniques, and measurements at various points in the transaction process to identify problem areas or weaknesses in work processes, procedures, or information systems. Use standard qualitative and quantitative measurement techniques to report on status of assigned projects. Enter pertinent information into an automated database used as a tracking system. Coordinate incoming data from a variety of sources. Reviews documents, reports, and other clinical reviews for inconsistencies, and ensures data entry is complete and accurate. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Telework: 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/PD928940 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/21/2026. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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: GS-9 Grade Determinations 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 specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Tracks policies to ensure that updates are completed in a timely manner; Manages a system that ensures the facility consistently meets deadlines; Ensures all correspondence is logged into the appropriate database tracking systems and ensures all correspondence is managed within assigned deadlines; Performs work involving the collection, compilation, and/or tracking of data and statistical information; Makes independent decisions when handling callers by identifying, analyzing, and making recommendations to solve conventional problems and situations; Reviews documents, reports, and other clinical reviews for inconsistencies, and ensures data entry is complete and accurate. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a successful completion of a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, two (2) full years of graduate level education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D. in a related field that demonstrates my ability to perform the duties of this position. NOTE: This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your 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 equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. NOTE: The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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/.