Clarification from the agency

Area of Consideration (AOC): Current, permanent, VHA Nationwide employees.

The Program Specialist provides comprehensive administrative management for the Provider Agreement program in VACC (VA Community Care). Responsibilities include interpreting administrative policies, developing and implementing local policies, defining administrative requirements, and providing advice to top management on related issues.

Major Duties:

• Community Outreach and Relationship Management:
  • Acts as a front-line representative, developing working relationships between local community providers and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Coordinates and conducts outreach to community providers, explaining the Veterans Choice Program and the benefits of partnering with the VA.
• Provider Agreements:
  • Works directly with community providers, health systems, and groups to obtain signed provider agreements under the Choice program.
  • Conducts daily monitoring of scheduling management, coordination, and analysis of Choice, VACC, and consult management programs to ensure that the health system has the necessary provider agreements in place to meet patient care demands.
  • Acts as the liaison between the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) and the VA, identifies care coordination efforts, validates Veteran eligibility and demographics, and directs staff to training resources when needed.
  • Serves as the primary VACC subject matter expert on assigned Provider Agreements. Plans, evaluates, coordinates, integrates, and monitors Provider Agreement activities. Maintains the SharePoint tracking system for provider agreements.
• Business and Contracting Skills:
  • The role requires general business competencies as well as technical skills in contracting. Plans and represents the organization when developing and implementing provider agreements to meet mission requirements.
  • Manages vendor relationships for effective service delivery and monitors provider agreement vendor performance, taking necessary action to protect the Government's rights.
• Administrative Oversight:
  • Conducts studies and surveys on workload assignments as outlined by the Chief of VACC or the SPA.
  • Interviews and evaluates job applicants for clerical positions at the request of the Chief of VACC or the SPA.

Administrative Management

• Community Care Subcommittee:
  • Chair the Community Care Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the hospital-wide Access Committee.
• Program Enhancement and Strategic Planning:
  • Recommends and implements enhancements for the VCP Provider Agreement program, including writing proposals for funding, personnel, and facility space.
  • Participates in the development of VACC's long-range strategic planning, analyzing plans to determine their impact on administrative processes and evaluating the feasibility of modifications to accomplish mission requirements.
• Correspondence Handling:
  • Writes and responds to controlled correspondence, including congressional inquiries, as they relate to the VCP Provider Agreement program. This involves researching and interpreting VHA policies and laws related to the Veterans Choice Program.
• Consult Management:
  • Assists in managing and tracking consults to ensure patients receive care in a timely and efficient manner. This involves running daily reports and coordinating the scheduling of care and closure of consults with clinical staff.
  • Analyzes trends and applies the Hierarchy of Care model to determine the most appropriate delivery method for specific episodes of care.

Performance Improvement and Organizational Analysis

• Performance Improvement Coordination:
  • Serves as the performance improvement coordinator for the VACC Provider Agreement program, performing data tracking, analysis, and reporting.
  • Analyzes program performance data to identify deficiencies and areas of impact. Detects inconsistencies or errors in data, determines the source of the problem, discusses errors with the supervisor, and recommends corrective methods.
• Data Management and Reporting:
  • Develops a database file system to extract specific data for recurring reports, ensuring continuous data collection and tracking of outcome analysis for the Provider Agreement program.
  • Performs analytical and evaluative work associated with program activities. Prepares and analyzes Provider Agreement status reports for review at all organizational levels.
• Committee Support and Strategic Planning:
  • Provides direct support to the hospital Access Committee and participates in various access workgroups at both the facility and VISN levels to integrate strategic planning initiatives into the day-to-day operations of the Provider Agreement program.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
AD HOC TW eligible, this is NOT a remote position, this is NOT a virtual position.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD063670
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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, 03/09/2026.

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 GS09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS07. 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 GS7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Managing or coordinating provider agreements, contracts, or service-level agreements between a healthcare organization and community partners; acting as a liaison to explain complex program policies, payment methodologies, or eligibility requirements to internal and external stakeholders; utilizing data management systems (such as SharePoint or electronic health records) to track program performance, monitor compliance, and generate status reports for management; and participating in program evaluation or performance improvement initiatives to identify operational deficiencies and recommend corrective actions.

. OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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 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 1 full year of graduate level education.

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

• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Communications
• Data Management
• Manages and Organizes Information

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.

Preferred Experience: The incumbent, serving as a specialist for VA Community Care (VACC) and administrator for the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) Provider Agreement program, acts as a liaison among VA staff, community providers, vendors, and Veterans, ensuring collaboration and guideline adherence for Provider Agreements. Reporting to the Assistant Chief MD, this role involves resource management, program administration, preparing reports, developing policies, and managing administrative requirements, including overseeing all VACC Provider Agreements.

Work Environment
Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. The incumbent must be able to work closely with others. Occasional travel related to training opportunities and visiting community partners is required.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, but may require some standing, bending, and light lifting (under 15 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally need to carry items such as books, medical records, and paper. Due to the nature of the work, the incumbent may come into contact with veteran patients who are confused, intoxicated, or have contagious diseases. The incumbent must have functional eyesight and hearing (with aids if necessary), use of fingers and hands, the ability to drive a car, and have a valid state driver's license. The position may involve stress, and frequent or daily travel throughout the Bay Pines VAHCS is required. Overnight travel may be necessary for multi-day stays in the southern catchment area.

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
• License
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• 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.

Next steps