Program Specialist

Job Title

Program Specialist

Duties

The duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as the facility's primary point of contact for the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) Program, advising Veterans and next of kin on burial, interment, cremation, and related benefits.
• Ensures Veterans with no identified family receive a dignified funeral and burial at VA expense, including locating next of kin and coordinating with funeral homes.
• Coordinates administrative aspects following a Veteran's death, including autopsy consent, organ/tissue/body donation, release of remains, and disposition of personal effects and funds.
• Identifies problem areas affecting patient/family services and recommends solutions or procedural changes, participating in resolution through committee/workgroup involvement as appropriate.
• Serves as an advocate for patients and families throughout the facility, identifying and helping remove institutional barriers to optimal care.
• Collaborates with palliative care and facility leadership to develop process improvements based on Bereaved Family Survey and other program data.
• Collects, analyzes, and reports program data, trends, and outcomes to local, VISN, and National SAMS Program leadership.
• Develops and maintains databases, spreadsheets, and statistics related to programs within incumbent's span of control.
• Performs organizational analysis, identifying data discrepancies and recommending corrective courses of action to ensure accuracy and timeliness of program reporting.
• Manages program budget functions, serving as fund control point clerk, purchase card official, and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for SAMS contracts.
• Conducts quarterly audits of deceased patient fund accounts and initiates disposition of funds in accordance with VA policy.
• Recruits, trains, and oversees volunteers in coordination with the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement, and supports "No Veteran Dies Alone" initiatives.
• Plans, develops, and implements programs in compliance with VA, VHA, and VISN 22 requirements, developing training materials and presentations to support continuous process improvement.
• Other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized.

Telework: This position is not authorized for telework.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/ PD14880LS

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): No authorized.

US Department of Veterans Affairs