Summary
The Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) is seeking experienced and motivated Supervisory Health Tech (Opticians) to support operations within the VCS Optical Shop at the Bay Pines, FL VA Medical Center.
This position plays a critical role in delivering exceptional service by coordinating optical operations and serving as a key liaison between VCS, eye clinic providers and prosthetics teams. Join us and help enhance the experience for our Nation's Veterans.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Veterans
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference
Recent graduates
Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.
Duties
Duties include, but are not limited to the following:
Customer Service & Patient Assistance: Greets customers entering the Optical Shop, responds to inquiries, and guides product pricing, availability, and estimated delivery timelines for eyewear.
Supervisory Leadership & Personnel Management: Oversees all personnel functions related to Optician staff, including supervision, performance oversight, and daily operational management.
Workload Coordination & Team Oversight: Assigns duties, distributes workload, and monitors task completion to ensure efficient workflow and adherence to established operational procedures.
Frame Selection & Product Expertise: Actively assists customers with frame selection and product upgrades while maintaining comprehensive knowledge of available frames, lenses, and coatings.
Eyewear Fitting & Optical Services: Performs eyewear measurements, fittings, adjustments, and basic repairs while accurately documenting services and patient interactions in the CPRS system.
Communication & Follow-Up: Manages customer communications, coordinates follow-up actions, and ensures timely resolution of customer needs and service requests.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
As a Condition of Employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-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
- Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Additional Conditions of Employment include:
-Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
-Subject to background/security investigation.
Qualifications
Licensure Requirement: Must be certified by the Florida Board of Opticianry.
Specialized Experience Requirement: Must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of this position.
Computer Skills & Technical Proficiency: Demonstrated advanced computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. Ability to quickly learn and operate new software systems used by the Optical Contractor and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including DOS-based programs.
Prescription Review & Accuracy: Ability to review optical prescriptions, recognize discrepancies or irregularities, and take appropriate corrective action to ensure accuracy and compliance with established standards.
Lens Measurement & Verification: Skill in measuring and verifying proper lens placement within spectacle frames, ensuring lenses meet required positioning tolerances and quality standards.
Lens Selection & Patient Needs: Ability to select and match appropriate lens types, forms, and positioning to meet individual patient vision requirements and comfort.
Quality Control & Problem Identification: Ability to identify and resolve optical issues, including prescription verification, transition lenses, optical center alignment, segment heights, and improper frame selections.
Identification Requirement: A current, valid REAL ID is required to work with the Veterans Canteen Service.
Education
Education Requirement: High school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) required.
Additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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 for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy. 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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package that includes:
- Resume
- Proof of licensure
The following documents are accepted and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal Employees), etc.
- Most recent SF-50
- Performance Appraisal
- Separation Notice (RIF)
Veterans' Preference: Since the Veterans Canteen Service falls under 38 U.S.C. 7802, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified Veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/06/2026 to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account, or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.