Program Applications Specialist

Full Job Description

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.

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 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

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