Administrative Officer

Full Job Description

The primary purpose of the position is to apply complex knowledge and understanding of policies and procedures, performance standards and competencies, budgetary guidelines, effectiveness, and efficiency of program operations within the scope of a clinical service.

The incumbent serves as the Administrative Officer for Nursing Mental Health Service at VA Palo Alto Health Care System.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/17/2026.

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-09. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11.

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.

GS-11 Specialized Experience GS-11: 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: knowledge of planning, execution of business functions, resource allocation, contracts and procurement, and identifying and gathering relevant information or solutions and/or recommendations.

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 (transcripts required).

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education as described above which totals at least one year.

[To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages.

The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.]. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED).

GS-12 Specialized Experience GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge of planning, execution of business functions, resource allocation, contracts and procurement, and identifying and gathering relevant information or solutions and/or recommendations.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Analysis and Problem Solving Contracting/Procurement 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: Work is primarily sedentary. Work will involve some walking, bending, and lifting of light objects, as well as a good deal of work on a computer keyboard.

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/.

Major Duties:

The major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Directs all administrative activities of the Service including budget and financial management, human resource management, strategic planning, program management and evaluation.

Collaborates closely with other nursing services, clinical services, executive leadership, and support services.

Serves as a Process Improvement expert and resource to the service and Health Care System to improve operations and facility resource stewardship.

Applies the process of discovery that involves the diagnosis of a problem or issue, identification and gathering of relevant information, formulation and evaluation of alternative solutions or courses of action, and selection or recommendation of the preferred solution or course of action.

Serves as the Contracting Officer Representative for the Service Conducts and directs special studies and analyses of complex problems in relation to staffing requirements, space, equipment utilization, organizational alignment, and other areas of concern both within the service and Health Care System wide.

Formulates policies and operating procedures, ensuring compliance with VA regulations, statutes and the standards and requirements of various internal and external review bodies.

Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of existing programs in meeting established program goals and objectives.

Monitors expenditures and proposes reallocation of funds based on shifting program needs. Manages service and equipment related contracts.

Identifies need for and recommends major equipment acquisition and replacement.

Maintains a constant surveillance of service compliance with standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation and Healthcare Organizations and other accrediting and regulatory agencies.

Ensures compliance with all applicable accrediting organizational standards.

Develops procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance.

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: Full-Time, Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Administrative Officer/PD02909O and PD02908O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized