Job Title

Summary There is a nationally recognized initiative to seamlessly transition the health care of injured and ill service members and Veterans from the Department of Defense (DOD) to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. The Program Specialist is seen as one of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) representatives to the military installation and must represent the VA in many aspects of the patient care coordination, transfer and outreach. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Analyze, track, and report on quality improvement initiatives related to patient transfers and care coordination. Develop and maintain program documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and operational workflows. Collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends and send reports to leadership. Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and case conferences, communicating updates and follow-up actions. Collaborate with other VA programs, DoD entities, and community partners to enhance access and coordination of services. Respond to inquiries from Veterans, families, and external stakeholders regarding program services and eligibility. Review and resolve barriers impacting timely access to care or transitions between agencies. Monitor and update databases and records to support accurate reporting and program evaluation. Schedule primary care appointments for service members/veterans. Assist new employees obtain access to VA and DoD (physical/databases) Experience serving in a dual-role capacity to work between different program areas to support operational needs. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for telework on an as needed (ad hoc) basis, determined by the needs of the service. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD413800 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 04/27/2026. 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 within 30 days of 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: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS 7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: managing and evaluating programs and policies; knowledge of healthcare service and delivery systems; administrative management in a healthcare facility; developing, gathering and applying new data; preparing reports, briefs and presentations; interpreting guidelines, policies/procedures, handbooks, and Federal regulations. 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 two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D in a related field of the position to be filled. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Education cannot be credited without documentation. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first year or 18 semester hours) and specialized experience equivalent to GS 7 described above to meet the total experience requirements. I have computed the percentage of the requirements that I meet, and the total is at least 100%. Education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Education cannot be credited without documentation. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED.. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Preferred experience: Experience working in a federal healthcare setting, particularly with Veterans, Service members, or military families. Knowledge of VA and DoD healthcare systems, policies, and procedures. Prior experience coordinating transitions of care, patient navigation, or case management. Strong data analysis and reporting skills; proficiency with VA data management systems. Familiarity with HIPAA and regulations governing the handling of PHI and sensitive Veteran data. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills. Experience developing or implementing quality improvement or process improvement projects. Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to evolving priorities. Ability to troubleshoot complex problems as they arise. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CPRS, JLV (electronic health record (EHR) systems). Demonstrated competency and sensitivity to the unique needs of Veterans and military populations. 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. 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