Program Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is organizationally located within the VISN 20 Centralized Lung Cancer Screening Program located within the VA Portland Health Care System, Division of Hospital and Specialty Medicine.

The incumbent is responsible for systematic reviews of the VISN 20 Centralized Lung Cancer Screening Program, managing program budget, and reporting of overall program to the Division of Hospital and Specialty Medicine and VISN 20 leadership.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all time-in-grade and specialized experience requirements within 30 days of closing date of this announcement, 02/19/2026.

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-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: 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: Knowledge of project administration, including project management, program development and evaluation, operations, and personnel and budget management; Understands specific duties, needs and concerns of healthcare providers and other health care professionals; Demonstrates strong public speaking and writing skills; Must be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Strong management, organizational, and analytical skills to effectively listen, observe, and inquire about work processes; Ability to work independently, demonstrate leadership, exceptional communication, and teamwork skills, and effectively plan, coordinate, implement, and complete projects on schedule.

NOTE: 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.

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

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have have a masters or equivalent degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B.

or J.D., if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (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 education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position.

Only education in excess of the first year (18 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level.

NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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, but are not limited to; Responsible for overall planning, organizing, coordinating, implementing, directing, integrating, controlling, and evaluating the VISN 20 Centralized Lung Cancer Screening Program within the region which includes VA Health Care Systems and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

Implements changes in the delivery of patient care related to lung cancer screening and assists/advises facility physician and advanced practice provider leads and lung cancer screening RN personnel in managing the Centralized Lung Cancer Screening Program.

Acts as a resource person in planning, reviewing, or revising policies and procedures that impact VISN 20 Centralized Lung Cancer Screening Program and its related applications.

Works collaboratively with the Health Care System's managers, and specific specialties (Pulmonary, Radiology and Primary Care) in the implementation of lung cancer screening across VISN 20.

collaborate with other VA lung cancer screening program coordinators to improve and coordinate efforts and to develop program strategies and marketing at the regional level, and will participate in community education programs, as needed.

Establish relationships with professional and/or other health-related groups within the community.

Provide programmatic advice, support and assistance regarding lung cancer screening with a view towards accomplishing the work of the health care system.

Interact with a wide variety of staff and customers demonstrating sensitivity to and an understanding of their needs by taking ownership of the problem and adopting the customer's needs as their own.

Monitor quality improvement measures related to or impacted by Centralized Lung Cancer Screening Program for the health care system. - Ensure patient's safety and dignity.

Seek opportunities for program expansion by performing routine analysis of clinical activities and programs that would benefit from lung cancer screening.

Participate and facilitate multi-site coordination and problem resolution. Perform administrative tasks to support workflow of RN staff. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00a.m. - 4:30p.m.

(PST) Telework: This is not a telework position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD216190 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized