Clarification from the agency

This position is ONLY open to Current Permanent VA SLC HCS Employees (Serving on a Career/Career-Conditional Appointment or Covered Under OPM's Interchange Agreement) and CTAP eligible.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• This position providers business oversight for a variety of software programs integral to the overall administration and operations of the business.
• The incumbent is responsible for the coordination and training for service staff in business and functional areas for various information technology VISTA packages, e.g. ADT; scheduling, PTF; Medical Record Tracking; Fee Basis; PDX; HINQ; AMIEII/IBBA; IB; AMIE; Discharge Summary; PCE; ACRP; Network Health Exchange: AICS; KLF Menu; CIRN; TIU; EWL; Beneficiary Travel V 1.0; Incomplete Record Tracking V 1.0; Claims Manager - VISTA; EAS V1.0; and additional business office programs as added.
• The applications control critical applications, which are used primarily by all care lines/services. i.e. Gains and Losses Sheet, Scheduling, Fee Basis, Admissions/Discharge/Transfer, AMIE, HINQ, PTF and a multitude of other software modules.
• The incumbent provides training and troubleshooting for clinical and administrative staff in business processes and associated supporting software.
• Provides training for individual users on daily operational tasks and trains new users.
• Trains service employees in the use of PIMS programs, such as scheduling, to ensure that data is entered correctly and optimizes clinic utilization.
• Training consists of development and presentation of both formal lectures and on-the-job sessions to those employees who will be entering, changing, and extracting data.
• Trains users in resolving minor processing and equipment problems.
• Maintains reference material for the service.
• Responsible for creating and building clinic profiles using VISTA software.
• Maintains and updates those clinics to ensure that providers are meeting the standards set forth by VA policy.
• Verifies that stop codes are entered correctly in VISTA to ensure billing is correct.
• Ensuring that billing is correct, the incumbent must verify that stop codes on the patient site match the stop codes used on the provider side. This will require extensive coordination with personnel across VISNs.
• The incumbent is the problem solver with the special ability to integrate overall knowledge of the service system with VISTA applications and to be innovative in the process.
• Provides testing of new options and software versions prior to implementation to gain familiarity with the new product features and confirm that software is working according to specifications.
• Provides staff support to OI&T by providing information and analysis of software functions within the service.
• The incumbent participates in the establishment of administrative qualitive standards; the objective of which is intended to improve programs, facilities, and operations.
• The incumbent maintains a close working relationship with various program officials.
• This, in addition to his/her knowledge based on personal observation and understanding of management practices, results in effective and practical qualitative standards.
• The incumbent coordinates and provides recommendations in the application of standards that affect the service.

Work Schedule: Mon- Fri 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Telework: This position is not eligible for telework-(ADHOC only)
Remote: This is not a remote position.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Applications Specialist/PD11435-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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 may be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, if applicable, 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, 05/06/2026.

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-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: Responsible for creating and building clinic profiles using VISTA software, Maintains and updates those clinics to ensure that providers are meeting the standards set forth by VA policy., Verifies that stop codes are entered correctly in VISTA to ensure billing is correct. Ensuring that billing is correct, the incumbent must verify that stop codes on the patient site match the stop codes used on the provider side. Providers business oversight for a variety of software programs integral to the overall administration and operations of the business. Responsible for the coordination and training for service staff in business and functional areas for various information technology VISTA packages. Coordinates and provides recommendations in the application of standards that affect the service. This, in addition to his/her knowledge based on personal observation and understanding of management practices, results in effective and practical qualitative standards. Participates in the establishment of administrative qualitive standards; the objective of which is intended to improve programs, facilities, and operations.

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: Posses a combination of specialized experience and graduate education in a field that provided me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the functions of this position. Only graduate education more than 18 semester hours may be counted towards qualification at the GS-09 grade level. The combination of specialized experience and graduate education must meet one year. For example: 6 months of specialized experience at/above/or equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-07 (1/2 the specialized experience) + 27 semester hours of graduate education in an acceptable field (1/2 the education) would be an enough qualifying combination.

Preferred Experience:

• 3 years of VA admin experience
• 2 years of program applications experience
• 2 years of CPRS experience
• 2 years of clinic building experience
• 1 year of power BI reporting experience
• 1 year of pyramid reporting experience
• 1 year of VSSC reporting experience

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

• Attention to Detail
• Computer Skills
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Operating Systems
• Project Management
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Security
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
• 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: Regular and recurring work is mostly sedentary involving sitting at a desk, 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. Some physical effort such as standing, walking, bending or prolonged sitting may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to walking to outlying areas. The work places no special physical demeans on the employee.

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.

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
• Computer Skills
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Operating Systems
• Project Management
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Security
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
• Technical Competence

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• 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.

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

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

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.

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