Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This is an internal job announcement. This is announcement is open to current permanent facility employees, current permanent VA employees, and current permanent Federal Employee.

Major Duties:

• Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates and assigns work based on priorities. Provides direction and guidance and accompanying major milestones, goals, and objectives. Evaluates work performed our employees; interviews candidates for positions and makes selections; hears and resolves employee complaints and grievances; councils employees and initiates disciplinary actions.
• Identifies developmental and training needs to ensure organizational proficiency. Manages time and leave. Develops functional statements, performance standards and competencies. Recommends promotions, and special advancements for performance and advancements for achievements. Adjusts workloads to projects and forecasts future work. Ensures all supervisory functions are carried out in accordance with VA Human Resources rules regulations policies and procedures.
• Develops, organizes, directs, manages, controls, implements, and evaluates programs for the Service. Manages and provides oversight for multiple programs at the local level and interacts with other government agencies and standards organizations. Develops local policies and procedures consistent with the national policy and procedures.
• Ensures proper coordination between care delivered by PSAS and the overall delivery of healthcare within the facility. Assists in drafting and/or recommending national policies. Implements new, local, and national programs, guidelines, policies, and directives.
• Oversees the operation of Prosthetic, Orthotic and Optical laboratories including restorations.
• Responsibility for the professional practice of all facility PSAS staff. Individuals at the GS-13 level are typically assigned as Chiefs at a complex facility that provide multiple specialty services. The Chief is a member of the senior leadership team providing advance advice for integrated care programs for a diverse Veteran population with multiple diagnosis and other needs.
• Advises the VA central office and VISNNV development of PSAS policies. Implements new local and national guidelines and directives. Provides oversight to facility PSAS programs to achieve mission goals.
• Establishes short and long term strategic plans to ensure that programs are managed in a manner that enhances the achievement of goals and objectives. Develops proposals business plans and action plans to improve effectiveness. Ensures the effective utilization of resources to include space, equipment, supplies, and personnel.
• Ends and prepares budget estimates. Manages special proposed prosthetics funding and ensures proper cost controls and spending procedures throughout the service.
• Represents VA with other agencies on issues regarding prosthetic and sensory aid services. Response to congressional inquiries and other correspondences dealing with the assigned program area. Communications with management and stakeholders may be face-to-face meetings or in writing.
• Serves as a technical advisor and subject matter expert in prosthetic and sensory aids. Advises clinicians with regards to selection prescription and acquisition of prosthetic devices. Furnishes information on developments in field of prosthetics and sources of supply for such devices. Keeps abreast of current issues in the healthcare industry and technological advances.
• Provides advice and guidance to clinicians regarding selection prescription and acquisition of prosthetic devices.
• Interprets prescriptions of clinicians to make certain that medically indicated prosthetic devices and/or services are prescribed for patients. Authorizes the purchase, fabrication, or repair of prosthetic devices.
• Maintains continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies. Inspects their facilities and services and participates in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts. Coordinates Facility level reviews and monitoring of specialty programs that include Clothing Allowance, Home Oxygen, Automobile Adaptive Equipment, and Home and Structural Alterations to assure all program activities are carried out in accordance with eligibility requirements and VHA regulations.
• Conducts home and vendor visits to authorize benefit payments, reimbursement and contract compliance. Processes and authorizes services and payment of monthly home O2 program. Reviews, monitors, analyzes, and evaluates the results of various databases' prosthetics data referring to staff for guidance.

Major Duties will continue in Qualification section below.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30 PM *Note hours may shift depending on the needs of the Service.
Telework: Ad-Hoc only.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55445-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 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, 04/03/2026

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Experience and Education. Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below.
  1. Experience. One year of creditable experience that demonstrates: Knowledge of basic anatomy and medical terminology; knowledge of accounting methods; ability to research, analyze, comprehend, and apply decisions; basic knowledge of inventory management procedures; ability to use computer software packages for word processing, spreadsheet development, and database management; and ability to work independently and as a member of a team; or
  2. Education. A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution AND at least 24 semester hours in course work related to health care, public administration, or business. The 24 semester hours could include but is not limited to any combination from the following fields: occupational therapy, physical therapy, kinesiotherapy, social work, psychology, prosthetics, orthotics, respiratory therapy, assistive technology, business law, leadership, healthcare, public administration, or business management. This course work may have been completed within the degree or in addition to the degree; or
  3. Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
• Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a Prosthetic Representative on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
  1. Employees grandfathered into the GS-0672 occupational series as prosthetic representatives may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
  2. Prosthetic Representatives who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
  3. Employees who are retained as a Prosthetic Representative under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a prosthetic representative.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the United States must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials, and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to experience gained in conventional United States programs.
• Physical Requirements. Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job including their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: GS-13 Prosthetic Representative (Service Chief)

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  1. Knowledge of directives, handbooks, clinical practice guidelines, and regulations that apply to Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service to resolve complex, controversial, or precedent-setting matters.
  2. Ability to manage specialty prosthetic services. This includes the ability to provide specialty services based on the unique needs of the patient.
  3. Skill and ability to effectively advise senior management officials.
  4. Ability to manage a health care program that provides home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, orthotics, or prosthetics.
  5. Ability to supervise/manage through subordinate supervisors the activities of prosthetic representatives that have diverse functions.
  6. Ability to establish and monitor productivity standards and production and performance priorities.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is at the GS-13.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.


Major Duties Continued:

• Determines eligibility for prosthetic services items for veterans. Reviews veterans medical and administrative files; interview veterans; inspects equipment and appliances; and authorizes benefit payments and reimbursements. Ensures that the Joint Commission standards of care is implemented.
• Develops statement of work or performance work statements of contracts. Confers with contractors and other health care workers on organizational requirements. Inspects and recommends approval of contractor prosthetic shops.
• Coordinates and participates in team and clinic discussions with the major medical equipment committee (MMEC ), the preventative amputee care team (PACT), and home improvement and structural alterations (HISA) to ensure the most appropriate items are issued and to ensure cost effectiveness. Insurers clinic decisions are based on national PSA S policy.
• Responds to a variety of correspondence to include contractor concerns, and specialty program issues, and equipment needs. Ensures that issues are resolved timely. Conducts home and vendor visits.
• Serves as a chairperson of local committees, work groups, and teams. Participates in team discussions and represents the Department in public relations activities such as lectures, Town Hall Meetings, and in-service meetings. Participates in national initiatives, interagency workgroups and non-VA forums.

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

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.

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

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

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.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Hybrid Resumes
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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