Program Specialist

Summary The position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) Salt Lake City, Utah in the Surgery Service. The Program Specialist serves as the surgical liaison and advisor on equipment and product acquisition and equipment/instrumentation service contracts for a wide variety of items to include specialized services. Responsibilities The duties of the Program Specialist may include but are not limited to the following: Incumbent will monitor and make recommendations to replace end of life equipment. Reviews requests for supplies from customers and provides supporting documentation as necessary. Contacts vendors to attain quotes for items to be requested. Validates quotes for accuracy consulting the requesting subject matter experts when necessary. Researches and prepares documentation of salient characteristics, market research, sole source requirements, like or exact requirements, item descriptions, justification, reusable medical equipment (RME) cleaning instructions, Instructions for Use (IFU), and technical specifications. Independently develops performance work statements and objectives, cost benefit analysis, gap analysis, sole source justifications, past performance, quality assurance surveillance plans (QASP), market research, independent government estimates, evaluation criteria, options, funding, delivery schedules, lead times, and reporting requirements. Reviews procurement documents for accuracy, adequacy, and completeness to ensure final documents are acceptable. Works collaboratively with clinical chiefs, healthcare professionals at affiliates or within the community to discuss clinical needs to develop health resources, direct sharing agreements with Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs), and Department of Defense (DoD) organizational components. Coordinates with legal counsel to resolve unique situation that may impact procurement actions if needed. Monitors contract expenditures requiring funds control. Performs equipment, instrumentation, consignment, and scope audits to ensure compliancy with VA policy and will develop a quality assurance program to identify and correct issues related to all Surgical and Anesthesia acquisitions. Performs other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: no Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD12923A and PD12922A The VA Salt Lake City Health Care System mission is: "To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors." We accomplish this by serving and honoring the Veterans of the intermountain west. We offer a balance of professional and clinical complexity that stimulates growth, but still also allows the professional an opportunity to enjoy life outside of work. The health care system serves 70,000 Veterans in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada with the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center and 10 community clinics. The medical center is a teaching a hospital, with state-of-the-art technology, education and research, making it an ideal career choice for many clinical and administrative professionals. Our main facility is in Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains and adjacent to the University of Utah. Salt Lake is close to five National Parks, creating limitless year-around outdoor recreation. Dubbed the "Silicon Slopes," the area has a buzzing technology scene, performing arts scene, and a diverse culture. Salt Lake offers the perfect mix of social activity, modern businesses and family life, making it an ideal location to start a career, raise a family, or ease into retirement. If you are interested in a career that offers an integrated patient-centered approach while providing compassionate and state of the art care to Veterans, we welcome you to apply. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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, 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, 09/14/2026. 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. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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: GS-09: 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: Developmental working knowledge and understanding of the functions and processes required to maintain healthcare, maintenance operations, supply and support services in sufficient depth to be able to perform contract liaison work as a technical authority on contracting services for the Surgical & Anesthesia services; Skill in written and oral communication sufficient to explain the service's position when interacting with senior leadership and to address contractual issues impacting the delivery of medical services, mission or funding; Provides expertise as the contract analyst responsible for furnishing advice, reviews, and services concerning a wide variety of service procurements requiring in-depth analysis and resolution; Developmental knowledge of commonly used contracting methods and contract types relating to the pre- and post-award contract functions to administer and monitor contractor compliance. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. 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 the requirements of the GS-07. GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Extensive working knowledge and understanding of the functions and processes required to maintain healthcare, supply and support services in sufficient depth to be able to maintain adequate levels of instrumentation, supply, scope, and equipment needs while working as a procurement technical authority for the Surgical & Anesthesia services; Skill in written and oral communication sufficient to explain the service's position when interacting with senior leadership and to address equipment and supply impact to patient care; Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the interrelationships of the organization and organizational functions, such as the operating budget, available resources, manpower utilization, and similar functions, sufficient to obtain appropriate funding and plan and coordinate work efforts; Exercises judgment, experience, logic, and reasoning in analyzing and recommending purchasing requests. Additionally, work involves urgent responses to requests for medical services, equipment, and supplies in response to urgent requirements within the Surgery & Anesthesia services; assist stakeholders in the research and compilation of the request documents; provide advice regarding procurement regulations for negotiations; Advises project managers, management, executive officials and stakeholders of procedures and recommend proper and supportable courses of action. 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 LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. (Only graduate education in excess of 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education may be used to qualify in combination of experience). (Transcripts are required for proof of qualifying education). 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 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.