Program Specialist

Summary

The Program Specialist, located within VHA's Integrated External Networks, Contracts Management and Performance, supports community care contract administration by tracking performance issues, analyzing data, preparing reports, and developing contract documents. The role requires knowledge of healthcare operations, claims processing, and regulatory requirements.

Duties

Major Duties: Develop, plan, coordinate, and oversee contract-related activities, including preparing statements of work, evaluation plans, decision documents, and reports that address contracting challenges. Manage project schedules, milestones, quality assurance activities, risks, issues, and stakeholder communications. Analyze program and operational data, identify performance measures, and prepare reports on budgets, utilization, costs, compliance, and program outcomes. Support programs that facilitate access to healthcare services through external provider networks and assist healthcare organizations in acquiring those services. Conduct risk assessments by reviewing program data, requirements, and regulations, and develop strategies to reduce or prevent future risks. Collaborate with leadership and stakeholders on acquisition and contracting initiatives, participate on cross-functional project teams, and support program oversight and decision-making processes. Work Schedule: Full-time, 8-hour shifts Monday through Friday, with tours scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to in person work mandate in their current position. Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA owned or leased space. Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in-person work unless they are approved for an exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception, exemption, or extension will happen after a tentative job offer, but before a final job offer. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD39599A 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, 11/10/2026. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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. Quality Ranking Factor (QRF): Experience in healthcare operations and/or managed care operations. 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-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience reviewing and interpreting regulations, policies, and procedures to support program operations and ensure compliance. Experience analyzing data, conducting research, and preparing reports to identify issues, evaluate findings, and support management decision-making. Experience communicating with internal and external stakeholders to provide guidance, resolve issues, and support organizational objectives. Experience monitoring program, project, or contract activities to track performance, validate results, and recommend process improvements. Experience demonstrating knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare reimbursement systems sufficient to support healthcare program operations, claims review activities, and payment processes. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the under graduate level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. 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/.