Program Specialist

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/15/2024. 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 GS 11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 09. 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 GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: One year of progressively responsible analytical, administrative, clinical management, or supervisory experience in the health care field. Knowledge and ability to implement; VA directives, regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to Controlled Substance Program and inspections. Ability to train and supervise the CSI pool documenting their competencies in accordance with policy. Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative techniques for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting a wide variety of data and to report results of studies in a concise, usable manner. Knowledge of ability to communicate mandates and regulations through written guidelines, policies, and procedures; and through oral communication with Medical Center staff including management, supervisors nursing staff, pharmacy staff, police officials and inspectors, VISN staff and other VA facilities as needed. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. Or LL.M, if related to position. OR, Combination of Experience & Education: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of successfully completed education beyond a masters degree, and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements. Note: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical Reasoning Compliance Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Teaches Others 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. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, and typically performed in an adequately lighted climate-controlled office; some visits to worksites to study and observe work operations which may requires walking, standing, some bending, stooping, and carrying light items such as paper, binders, and medical charts is required. Filing, telephone communications, and keyboarding are the principal activities. 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/.
This position is responsible for the hospital wide Controlled Substance Program, and serves as the Medical Center expert, ensuring that the facility meets mandated requirements. They will provide direct support as a Controlled Substance Program Manager responsible for the Control Substance Inspection Program (CSIP). Working independently to coordinate and monitor aspects of the CSIP for areas of the Orlando VA Healthcare Systems (OVAHCS).