Program Specialist

Full Job Description

The Program Specialist (PS) for Medicine Service serves as executive support for the Administrative Officer (AO) and provides the primary technical direction for members of the administrative staff, clinical, provider staff and other members of the Salt Lake City Veterans Administration Health Care System.

The Program Specialist develops and implements reports intended to analyze and improve delivery of care, efficiency of administration, and reduction of cost.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/27/2026.

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 by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07.

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-07: Basic Requirements: You must have one year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Extensive and practical knowledge and skill in applying basic analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of the Service area.

Knowledge of an array specialized duties and responsibilities involving a wide variety of problems or situations, including developing information, identifying interrelationships, and taking action consistent with program objectives.

The work requires knowledge of the mission and functions of Medicine Service.

The employee understands how the office's various administrative services relate to one another and how they relate to the Service's mission.

The work also requires broad understanding and detailed procedural knowledge of budget, data management, personnel, and information processing functions of the office.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of graduate level education in an accredited college or university.

Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the Program Specialist.

NOTE: A transcript or course listing must be submitted if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Unofficial transcripts required.

Applications submitted without this information will not be considered. OR, Superior Academic Achievement.

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

You must have an combination of specialized experience and successfully completed post-high school education to meet total qualification requirements for the grade level GS-07 GS-09: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of 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: Knowledge and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations; (2) Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents which affect the use of program and related support resources in the area studied; (3) Knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of the organization; (4) Knowledge and skill in adapting analytical techniques and evaluation criteria to the measurement and improvement of program effectiveness and/or organizational productivity; (5) Skill in conducting detailed analyses of complex functions and work processes; and (6) Interpersonal skills in presenting staffing recommendations and negotiating solutions to disputed recommendations.

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 from an accredited college or university; OR, two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR, an LL.B.

or J.D., if related. NOTE: A transcript or course listing must be submitted if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Unofficial transcripts required.

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

Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade level GS-09.

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:

Major Duties Include: Responsible for care team maintaining target levels for compliance parameters.

The focus of compliance enhancing activities include: audit of part time physician hours and development of controls to ensure physician compliance with VHA regulations.

Develops procedures and systems for establishing, operating, and assessing the effectiveness of clinical outpatient clinics and inpatient units for Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA).

Resolves and improves complete workload reporting issues for the Medicine Service team. Educates providers, administrative, and clinical staff on workload accountability.

Resolves audit/inspection activities for Medicine Service by working with the Chief of Staff and section chiefs.

Maintain data on all Medicine Service Clinics including numbers of patients seen, waits and delays, encounter oversight, and other workload reporting with the goal of continuously improving the throughput and quality of the Medicine Service clinics.

Manages and coordinates clinic schedules and physical locations in order to maximize efficiency. Interfaces with Medicine sections on issues relating to clinic administrative staff.

Uses MS Excel or other comparable spreadsheet software to develop and change spreadsheets in order to graphically display data.

Uses MS PowerPoint or other comparable graphics software to develop presentation materials. Process information in a professional manner and has excellent oral and written communication.

Effectively utilizes excellent oral and written communication skills when interacting with patients, family members, volunteers, and VA staff while maintaining a professional demeanor.

This position establishes a liaison between the medical facility staff, in-coming staff, students, residents, contractors & fellows.

Perform as liaison with educational institutes, residents, fellows, and new FTE for new employee tracking, intake, training, information gathering, issuance PIV cards and keys, computer/software access, credentialing, pay comp panels, and proficiencies.

Serve as primary timekeeper for Medicine Service sections assigned. Maintains accurate time & attendance and adjustable work schedule systems for all staff.

Collaborates with the Surgical AO, chiefs, staff and other departments as necessary to correct and problem solve regarding time and attendance and AWS policies and procedures.

Ensures timeliness to meet specific program provisions. Work with IRM and the Data Warehouse to generate specific Medicine Service reports. Facilitates data sharing within sections of specialty care.

Medicine Service liaison to IRM for Coding, Clinical Application Coordinators, and Automated Data Processing Application Coordinators.

Assists Administrative Officer, Medicine Service to develop realistic quality improvement plans. Maintain the Medicine Service organization chart.

Works with various section chiefs and the Chief of Medicine Service to ensure correct distribution of physician eighths.

Develops documents for submission to the Position Management Committee to generate recruitment, organizational change, and modification of positions in Medicine Service.

Maintains master list of Medicine Service staff and accomplishes necessary personnel actions through collaboration with the Administrative Officer, Medicine Service and the Chief of Medicine.

Investigate and analyzes adverse quality trends or conditions and initiates corrective action. Institutes auxiliary training for CPRS, VISTA, and other process related problems.

Works in conjunction with Medicine personnel and Fiscal in order to maintain consistent performance by clinic staff in order to support accurate and timely patient records.

Performs in-depth research, analyzes operating contingencies and special situations. Assists technical managers and staff in developing process solutions. Performs other related duties as assigned.

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 through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD13407O and PD13408O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.