Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration is current, permanent employees of the Bay Pines VA Medical Center and satellite offices.

Major Duties include but not limited too:

• Serves as an expert resource point in working with other services in the Southern and Northern Clinics and from other Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) on applications including Registration, Clinical Information Resources Network (CIRN), Master Patient Index (MA) File, Patient Data Exchange, Automated Medical Information Exchange (AMIE), Patent Funds, and other related modules as necessary.
• Frequently represents the Health Administration Service Program Manager, for Southern and Northern Clinics in collaborating with Information Resources Management Service (IRMS) and other services on Automatic Data Processing (ADP) related issues.
• Responsible for troubleshooting problem areas and taking appropriate corrective action.
• Demonstrates resourcefulness in fact-finding and analysis of data in solving management and clinical application problems assigned for review.
• Will collect, organize, and prepare reports of clinic programs and workload data utilized in ongoing operations management and performance improvement activities.
• Frequently identifies problem areas requiring the attention of management, presenting recommended solutions based on thorough analysis of application of accepted management principles.
• Reviews, verifies and analyzes data submitted for consistency with established clinic-wide objectives.
• Determinations as to data source, methodology of collection of data, analysis techniques applied and display of findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Conducts studies, designs databases, monitors reports, analyzes workload data and, uses a wide range of methods and procedures to conduct program analysis for a variety of data sources.
• Applies LEAN methodologies in support of the Health Administration Service to improve operations, programs, processes, and procedures in the pursuit of strategic goals.
• Responsible for auditing data and performing data validation studies, working with other hospital personnel on a daily basis, writing policies and procedures and statistics.
• Compiles, organizes, validates and analyzes computer generated output in such a manner that study results may be used by management for detection of trends, internal audits, and evaluations.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30am
Position Description/PD#: Program Applications Specialist/PD10866A
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
Telework: Not authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/09/2026.

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. 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.

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 the objectives, organization, and operation of each element in HAS. While in-depth knowledge of particular areas/programs is desirable, it is not essential. Education and/or experience which provides with knowledge and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods to plan, schedule, and conduct studies to evaluate and recommend ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of HAS is essential. Knowledge of ADP Security procedures, policies, and requirements. Processes data using VISTA, CPRS, and VSSC computer packages as well as knowledge of other packages used for extracting patient data. Develops VISTA documentation and training procedures, techniques, and practices. Identifies waysto modify and adapt existing VISTA functions to meet new and specific user requirements. Ensures medical center records systems and reporting requirements including internal, regional and national requirements. Must have knowledge of VA patient workload reporting systems such as National Patient Care Database. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with and gain the cooperation of supervisors, managers, professional staff, and coworkers on complex or controversial issues. Skill in written and oral communication sufficient to prepare and present findings and recommendations, carry out specific actions regarding controversial issues, and implementing new issues and concepts. Skill in interpersonal skills in presenting staffing recommendations and negotiating solutions to disputed recommendations. Skill in conducting detailed analyses of complex functions and work processes.

OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) 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 education beyond.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Clinical Informatics
• Knowledge Management
• Technical Competence

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: Physical demands involve frequent walking, bending, sitting, etc., although the position requires the ability to move from one geographic location of the facility to another. The incumbent works with a computer screen and keyboard. The work will involve some physical moving of computer equipment.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Performance Appraisal
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing 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
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: Does not apply to Merit System Promotions whose Area of Consideration is limited to current facility.

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