Job Title

Summary The Program Application Specialist (PAS) is located within Patient Business Services at the VA Central Ohio Healthcare System (VACOHS); serving as the integrator that coordinates the business process and software functions. . The incumbent of this position provides continuous business oversight for a variety of software programs integral to the overall administration and operations of the business and effects programmatic changes. Responsibilities The primary responsibility of the incumbent is the development and implementation of the ongoing training programs for employees within PBS as well as staff within other services that have responsibility for using PBS packages to perform their duties. The secondary responsibility is to serve as the patient check-in and Insurance Capture Buffer Manager for PBS. Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Coordination and implementation for all service staff in various VistA packages, e.g. HINQ (Hospital Inquiry); AMIE (Automated Medical Information Exchange); PCE (Patient Care Encounter and Visit Tracking): ACRP (Ambulatory Care Reporting) ; Network Health Exchange ; VSSC Menu; PTF (Patient Treatment Files); ADT (Admissions/ Discharge/ Transfer); AICS (Automated Information Collection System); EAS (Electronic Application System); TIU (Text Integration Utilities);and additional business office programs as needed. Provides training and troubleshooting for clinical and administrative staff in business processes and associated supporting software. Trains service employees and facility employees in the use of Patient Information Management System (PIMS) programs, such as scheduling, to ensure that data is entered correctly and optimizes clinic utilization. Designs and develops dissemination and training materials, local standard operating procedure (SOP) manuals, develops and utilizes monitoring tools and provides for the implementation of Business Office programs through on-site education and training. Coordinates ongoing data collection and performs analysis to determine optimal organizational performance. Performs a continuing evaluation and analysis to assess program effectiveness and to identify areas requiring management attention. Organizes, compiles, summarizes, and analyzes the data collected and develops reports which reflect the scope of activities and identifies trends and opportunities for improvement. Works with the PBS Section Chiefs, PBS Supervisors, PBS Leads and the PAS to monitor and develop seamless processes within PBS with the goal of improving efficiency, effectiveness, and customer service. Provides training for other service packages such as Pharmacy, Radiology, Laboratory and Health Summary as they relate to the business office process. Serve as liaison for the facility as Master Patient Index (MPI) and as VetLink kiosk management POC. Responsible for all parent service ADP requests, placement and/or relocation of equipment to maximize efficiency. Develops new automated files for tracking and data retrieval and is responsible for designating and preparing data management analyses, special studies, and reports for use by top management for budget preparation. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Applications Specialist/PD92652A and PD91423-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/21/2026. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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-09 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: plans, coordinates, and carries out the successive steps in fact-finding and analysis of issues necessary to complete each phase of assigned projects; skill in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature; using qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques such as: literature search; work measurement; task analysis and job structuring; productivity charting; determining staff to workload ratios. 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. 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 total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade 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. GS-11 Qualifications 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: Provide leadership and train others in the use of software applications; Coordinate ongoing data collection and perform analysis to determine optimal organizational performance; Organize, compile, summarize, and analyze the data collected and develop reports which reflect the scope of activities and identifies trends and opportunities for improvement; Extensive knowledge of computer applications to include MS Word, database management; Coordinate, plan and implement training needs for staff; Development of training materials and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP); Establishing administrative qualitative standards. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a 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. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade 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 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: 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: Additional Information 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at