Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open only to current, permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Health Administration ONLY.

THIS IS A DETAIL OPPORTUNITY - NOT TO EXCEED 120 DAYS

Serves as the Veteran Integrated Service Network Prosthetic Representative performing supervisory duties. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates and assigns work based on priorities. Provides direction and guidance in accomplishing major milestones, goals, and objectives. Evaluates work performed by employees; interviews candidates for positions and makes selections; hears and resolves employee complaints and grievances.

Identifies developmental and training needs to ensure organizational proficiency. Develops performance standards and evaluates performance. Manages time and leave. Recommends promotions, and special advancements for performance and advancements for achievements. Adjusts workloads and projects and forecast future work.

Manages and provides oversight for multiple programs at the VISN level and interacts with other government agencies and standard organizations. Develops organizational policies and procedures consistent with national policies and procedures.

Advises the VA Central Office in the 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 goals to ensure that programs are managed in a manner that enhances the achievement of goals and objectives. Ensures the effective utilization of resources to include space, equipment, supplies, and personnel.

Plans, develops, and prepares budget estimates. Executes and controls established spending plans.

Guides developing new and renovated space for PSAS, quality and performance metrics, staffing and workload distribution, contract development. Ensures compliance with accreditation bodies, such as the ABC and Joint Commission, and stakeholder's satisfaction.

Provides advice and guidance to clinicians regarding the selection, prescription, and acquisition of prosthetic devices.

Represents VA with other agencies on issues regarding prosthetic and sensory aids services. Responds to Congressional inquiries and other correspondence dealing with the assigned program area.

Leads projects and project teams on activities related to prosthetic and sensory aids service activities. Completes a variety of ad hoc projects and assignments personally as needed.

Keeps abreast of VA and VHA's directives, handbooks, clinical practice guidelines, and regulations regarding Prosthetic and Sensory Aid Service.

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.

Serves as a Chairperson of national committees and workgroups and participates in national initiatives and intra-agency and inter-agency workgroups.

Collaborates with key VACO stakeholders including Veterans Service Organizations and VISN Prosthetic Representatives. Communicates with various stakeholders regarding complex clinical and technical issues.

Furnishes information concerning such matters as new developments in the field of prosthetics and sources of supply for such devices. Keeps abreast of current issues in the health care industry and technological advances.

Maintains continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies, inspecting their facilities and services, and participating in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts.

Serves as the lead on all aspects of PSAS operations within a network, such as developing policies and standard operating procedures, communications documents, and reports for VACO, VISN, and the Facility Leadership.

Analyzes results across facilities in the VISN and recommends changes to procedures to enhance services and correct deficiencies. Coordinates oversight of VISN level reviews and monitors specialty programs that include clothing allowance, home oxygen, automobile adaptive equipment, home improvement and structural alterations.

Assures all program activities are carried out under eligibility requirements and VHA regulations. Ensures that Joint Commission standards of care are implemented.

Develops Statement of Work and/or Performance Work Statements for contracts. Confers with contractors and other healthcare workers on organizational requirements.

Responds to a variety of correspondence to include contractor concerns, and specialty program issues, and equipment needs. Ensures that issues are resolved timely. Conducts ad-hoc home and vendor visits.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Ad Hoc telework may be available per supervisory discretion
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55031-F
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.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
• 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.

Grade Determinations: GS-14 Veteran Integrated Service Network Prosthetic Representative

Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Displaying the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

1. Ability to build and maintain partnerships with top management and stakeholders.
2. Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals.
3. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues.
4. Knowledge of directives, handbooks, clinical practice guidelines, and regulations that apply to Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service to develop and implement operational programs.
5. Ability to conduct regional reviews of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service.

Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Veteran Integrated Service Network Prosthetic Representatives (VPRs) are supervisory or non-supervisory program managers responsible for the administration and management of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service for an entire network comprised of varying complexity level facilities. They serve as an advisor to the VA Central Office for development of PSAS policies. VPRs manage and provide VISN level oversight to facility PSAS Programs to achieve mission goals by standardizing policies, standard operating procedures, and best practices utilizing available resources; adjust workloads; develop/implement/monitor quality and performance measures; and ensure accountability. Serves as the VISN lead on all aspects of PSAS operations within a network, such as development of policies and standard operating procedures, communications and reports for VACO, VISN, and facility Leadership. Additionally, the VPR provide guidance on developing new and renovated space for PSAS, quality and performance metrics, staffing and workload distribution, recruitment, staff training requirements, contract development, and ensuring compliance with accreditation bodies such as the ABC and Joint Commission; and stakeholder satisfaction. They analyze results across facilities in the VISN and recommend changes to procedures to enhance services and correct deficiencies. They coordinate VISN level review and monitoring of specialty programs that include clothing allowance, home oxygen, automobile adaptive equipment, home and structural alterations to assure all program activities are carried out in accordance with eligibility requirements and VHA regulations. They develop VISN level proposals, business, and action plans. VPRs serve as lead for PSAS interactions with Veteran Service Organizations; respond to Congressional inquiries; cooperate with General Accounting Office, Office of the Inspector General, ABC, and Joint Commission audits; and collaborate with other Federal agencies or organizations outside the Federal health care system. They report to VISN Leadership and have interactions with VA Central Office, VISN, and facility level Leadership in the execution of responsibilities. Each VISN may establish only one VISN Prosthetic Representative position.

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-14.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary and is usually accomplished while seated at a desk or table, typically is an adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated and requires safe office practices. Requires visits to warehouse and storage areas, loading docks and other facilities. There is no unusual physical demands. The work is performed in an office setting.

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 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
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps