Program Specialist

Summary


The Program Specialist serves within Surgical Service at the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, providing administrative and operational support in personnel management, procurement, budgeting, resource management, and program improvement. The position coordinates administrative activities, analyzes operational processes, and supports the efficient delivery of surgical services.


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Duties


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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinates and manages administrative support functions for Surgical Service, ensuring timely processing of correspondence, inquiries, and administrative actions.
• Advises Surgical Service leadership on administrative operations, policies, procedures, and program requirements.
• Analyzes administrative processes,prepares reports, identifies operational deficiencies, and recommends improvements to program efficiency and effectiveness.
• Coordinates personnel-related actions and serves as a liaison with Human Resources regarding staffing, onboarding, and other personnel requirements.
• Performs procurement and contracting administrative functions, including reviewing purchase requests, monitoring receipts, and coordinating follow-up actions.
• Monitors the use of supplies, equipment, and services to support operational requirements.
• Identifies equipment and resource needs, coordinates replacement requests, and supports acquisition activities for Surgical Service.
• Coordinates administrative compliance activities, staff training requirements, and program reporting.
• Supports budgetary activities and monitors expenditures associated with departmental operations.

Work Schedule:Full Time; Monday-Friday; 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.


Virtual: This is not a virtual position.


Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist / PD528D-145530


Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized


Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved


Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized


Requirements


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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 ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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, 10/20/2026.


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 GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: coordinating administrative operations and support services; advising management on administrative policies, procedures, and program requirements; analyzing operational processes and preparing reports or recommendations for improvement; coordinating personnel-related administrative actions; processing and monitoring procurement requests; and identifying, monitoring, and coordinating equipment, supply, and resource requirements to support organizational operations. 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 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE : A transcript or course listing must be submitted if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Unofficial transcripts required. 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 of a master's or equivalent graduate education may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-11 level.

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: One year of administrative experience in a healthcare setting, preferably supporting surgical or clinical service.


Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for this occupation, see duty section for essential duties of this position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.


For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at


Education


A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.


Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:


Additional information


Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.


This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.


If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.


Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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.

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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.


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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.