Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current, permanent (career/career conditional) employees of the Medical Disability Examination Office and CTAP eligibles only.

Specific duties include:

• Provides technical and administrative supervision to a staff of administrative professionals and oversees the daily operation of the unit, ensures agency policies and priorities are being followed; develops performance standards; and evaluates work performance of subordinates.
• Gives advice, counsel, and instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters.
• Hears and resolves minor complaints from employees; refers group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to a higher-level supervisor or manager; effects minor disciplinary measures such as warnings and reprimands and recommends action in more serious cases.
• Interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommends appointments, promotions, and reassignments to unit positions; identifies and provides training needs; and finds ways to improve production or increase the quality of work within the area of authority.
• Monitors completion of additional assignments Including special projects, preparation of recommendations for manual or regulatory change, and training materials.
• Analyzes and evaluates on a qualitative and quantitative basis the effectiveness of programs or operations in meeting established goals and objectives. Performs regular analysis of accuracy review results and identifies actual or potential problem areas, trends, significant program accomplishments, merit and deficiency situations, areas of Imbalance, or other similar factors.
• Coordinates goals, priorities, staff resources, productivity, quality, and general activities with higher-level management.
• Performs work associated with planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and evaluation of activities to support operational accomplishments for MDE program activities. This includes oversight and responsibility for the overall planning, directing, and timely execution of program operations, internal training, and data analysis, evaluation, and providing recommendations based on complex input to improve the effectiveness of work methods and procedures, management controls, information and documentation systems, and similar functions of program management.
• Will serve as management advisor using a high-level of discernment and judgment to address a wide variety of interrelated subject matter, that can include contractual, programmatic, or other program office focus areas.
• Serving as a key advisor to the Deputy Executive Director, MDE on program planning, measurement, analysis, and performance improvement.
• Planning, developing, directing, and assuring the implementation of an integrated operational and strategic planning in alignment with the budgeting process.
• Working closely with MDE budget team, MDE contracts team and other VBA business lines, prepares necessary documentation for VA and Congressional submissions and monthly reports which includes performance goals which are tied into program effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with key VBA programs, MDE contractors and other Departmental staff in execution of operational goals.
• Provides authoritative guidance in the resolution of complex problems or issues impacting Medical Disability Exams.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Unavailable
Telework: Unavailable
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Manager (Quality Assistant Director); PD# 393330
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Unauthorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selectees are required to service a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:06/11/2026.

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.

• For a GS-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14 level.

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:
GS-14 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Directing and managing a large-scale program, including planning, organizing, and evaluating program operations; providing technical and administrative supervision to an expansive team, effectively resolving administrative and operational issues, and ensuring adherence to agency policies and priorities; evaluating the effectiveness of program goals and operations through quantitative and qualitative analysis, identifying trends, problem areas, and areas for improvement; managing performance and delivery of program operations to meet organizational objectives, and providing high-level strategic guidance and advice to senior management; collaborating with key stakeholders, overseeing data integrity and governance, and utilizing evidence-based decision-making to improve program performance.

Volunteer Experience: 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.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. 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 (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to variety of situations.
• Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
• Decision Making - Makes sound, well informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
• Writing - Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
• Customer Service - Works with clients and customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. Note: Clients and customers include any individual who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government.
• External Awareness - Understands and keeps up to date on local, national, and international trends and policies that affect the organization and shape stakeholders' views; is aware of the organization's impact on the external environment.
• Influencing/Negotiating - Persuades others to accept recommendations, cooperate, or change their behavior; works with others towards an agreement; negotiates to find mutually acceptable solutions.

Supervisory Situational Judgement Test: Applicants will be required to complete a Supervisory Situational Judgment Test (SSJT) as part of the assessment process for this position. The SSJT evaluates judgment, decision-making, and leadership competencies associated with effective supervision in a Federal work environment. This is not a timed test, however, the assessment is expected to take approximately 45 minutes or less to complete. This assessment is required for all applicants. If you do not complete the assessment, it will result in an incomplete application and you will receive no further consideration.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package to include the documents detailed below. Resumes may not exceed two pages and must be legible for review of eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. Failure to submit the documents as specified may result in loss of consideration for this job announcement.

• Resume:
  • Contact Information:
    • Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number
  • Relevant Work Experience:
    • For each relevant work experience, make sure you include:
      • Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
      • Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 - 08/2022)
      • The number of hours you worked per week
    • Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement
  • Optional Details:
    • When relevant, include:
      • Current Security Clearance
      • Job-related training
      • Language skills
      • Organizations and affiliations
      • Professional publications
      • Eligibility for special programs (e.g., military spouses, individuals with disabilities, etc.)
• A copy of your most recent NON-award SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
• Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit a SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.).
• Current VBA Employees seeking a reassignment/change to lower grade: you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) AND the SF-50 placing you into your current position.
• Most recent Performance Appraisal (VA Form 0750): A copy of your two (2) most recent annual performance appraisals and associated performance standards; (Note: Applicants unable to provide the most recent performance appraisal MUST provide a written justification for its absence.)

Additional Documents accepted:

• Award SF-50s
• Documentation to be considered under non-competitive eligibility (if applicable) such as a member-4 DD-214, civil service preference letter, or Schedule A letter.
• CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal

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