Program Specialist

Full Job Description

The position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Asheville VA Medical Center, Social Work Service, Homeless Programs, in North Carolina.

The primary duties of the position are to perform administrative and technical support work for the Social Work Service Homeless Programs (Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV)).

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/06/2026.

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-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: assisting with administrative issues; planning and preparing for meetings including scheduling, mailings, travel and lodging arrangements; maintaining calendars; providing agendas; preparing responses to correspondence; scheduling appointments and meetings; answering phones; tracking time and attendance; and maintaining all paper and electronic files.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have graduate education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level, you must possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree or at least 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.

This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials.

Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate level education as described above. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials.

Education cannot be credited without documentation. Physical Requirements and Work Environment: Position involves regular and recurring work; is mostly sedentary; and involves sitting at a desk.

The position requires the ability to move from one geographic location of the facility to another; and requires working with a computer screen and keyboard.

The employee will spend some time walking, standing, bending, climbing stairs, and carrying some light items. Stamina and concentration to meet crucial deadlines is required.

The work is performed in a typical office setting, possibly shared office.

The office will be within the physical structure of the hospital or one of its surrounding structures as well as Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

The work area is usually adequately lit, heated, and ventilated.

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:

DUTIES INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TOO: The position verifies the veteran's status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility for participation in the Homeless programs.

The position assists Veterans in their search to find a house or apartment that will meet the qualifications of a Public Housing Administration (PHA) Inspector; coordinate briefing sessions and seminars for programs participants and landlords; prepare office and marketing materials, such creating brochures, flyers, and excreta, to promote homeless programs, and mail out/hand out material in order to educate prospective landlords and Veterans about the HUD-VASH program; oversee contracts with realtors, brokers/developers and landlords; maintain good public relations with landlords and developers in the community that may be willing to rent to a Veteran with a HUD-VASH voucher; participate in the process of interviewing applicants to determine eligibility and a needs assessment including CPRS and HOMES documentation; serve as liaison with PHA to support and monitor Housing Choice Voucher applications, referrals and voucher issuance processes.

The position directly supports the HUD VASH program by managing the furnishing of apartments once Veterans housing unit has passed inspection.

Respond to Veteran and Landlord housing issues once housing placement has occurred. Monitor overall program operations and keep staff informed of any new units that are available.

Assists Veterans and Landlords in the leasing process at the PHA, as well as monitor the units under lease.

The position maintains data and statistical compilations in order to; collect and submit participant data and program data as outlined by North East Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC) evaluation procedures, comply with the Joint Commission for Health Care Organizations, Council for the Accreditation of Health Care Facilities (GARF), VA and medical center policy and procedures.

The position prepares reports, maintain records and databases as well as perform other directly related work as required by HUD-VASH case managers and the Veterans who are enrolled in the program.

The position functions as the administrative support person for the purpose of facilitating and troubleshooting patient and administrative issues related to the consulting process of specialty care within the service line and supports administrative issues and processes related to interfaculty consultations to other medical centers.

Serves as the time and attendance record keeper. The position maintains familiarity and shares responsibility for all performance measures relating to the HCHV program.

The position participates and supports Homeless Program duties.

Such supportive services may include acquiring or following up on the acquisition of documents, reports, or information that are needed for social work treatment planning, providing coverage for walk-ins and Homeless Call Center and making telephone calls or personal contacts on behalf of staff to physicians, nurses, families, significant others, or community agencies.

Present Veterans with HUD-VASH vouchers to Landlords and negotiate various aspects of leasing such as security deposits, utility bills and monthly lease amounts.

The position maintains data and statistical compilations in order to; collect and submit participant data and program data as outlined by Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC) evaluation procedures, comply with the Joint Commission for Health Care Organizations, Council for the Accreditation of Health Care Facilities (GARF), VA and medical center policy and procedures.

The position prepares reports, maintain records and databases as well as perform other directly related work as required by HUD-VASH case managers and the Veterans who are enrolled in the program.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm Telework: ADHOC at the supervisors discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD040850 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized