Program Specialist

Summary The position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Southern Arizona VA Medical Center which is affiliated with the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. This department is comprised of six specialty sections, Inpatient Pharmacy, Outpatient Pharmacy, Ambulatory Care, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, Research, and Education. The primary purpose of this position serves as the Program Specialist for the Pharmacy Service. Responsibilities Applies appropriate analytical methods to assigned studies from planning through data gathering and reporting. Handles assignments of limited complexity, using standard analytical techniques to resolve conventional problems. Identifies and verifies essential facts, determines when sufficient information has been collected, and connects findings to effective solutions. Designs studies, training programs, and organizational strategies to identify opportunities for improving customer service and process quality. Reviews key steps in business processes to pinpoint areas with potential for significant quality improvement. Assists managers and subject matter experts in developing realistic improvement plans. Conducts studies to assess customer needs, enhance patient service quality, and recommend specific solutions. Reviews feedback data, performs targeted analyses, identifies trends, and proposes and implements improvements. Prepares required reports and analyzes workflows, workload distribution, and reporting requirements to identify problems and recommend solutions that measure operational effectiveness against goals. Identifies redundant procedures, simplifies processes, investigates issues, and provides recommendations for resolution. Uses detailed analytical skills and performance improvement tools to conduct management studies focused on performance and productivity, evaluating program efficiency and outcomes. Provides comprehensive administrative support for the Pharmacy Service, overseeing continuing education, accreditation, budgeting, contracting, records management, IT coordination, training administration, equipment oversight, and timekeeping. Leads planning and administration for the Pharmacy continuing education program, ensuring compliance with ACPE and PTCB requirements. Manages accreditation processes, documentation, calendars, attendance recording, and tracking to ensure staff maintain required certifications. Oversees residency accreditation records and supports student rotations. Serves as the primary budget and financial management point of contact, handling formulation, execution, reconciliation, reporting, and invoice tracking. Acts as COR for Pharmacy contracts, prepares procurement packages, monitors BPAs, and provides guidance on contracting procedures. Tracks and analyzes service operations, preparing monthly reports and supporting quality improvement initiatives. Manages equipment inventory and procurement, ensuring accurate tracking of all Pharmacy Service equipment. Oversees records management for all administrative files, ensuring compliance with federal and VA policies. Processes correspondence, maintains files, prepares reports, coordinates meetings, and supports Pharmacy committees. Functions as the ADPAC and IT access coordinator, providing system access, training, and oversight of software modification requests. Coordinates with IT on VistA deviations and waiver reviews. Manages NARS requests and ensures timely account creation for new staff. Administers staff training programs as TMS Coordinator, maintains training records, schedules sessions, and tracks compliance. Serves as PIV sponsor for all related badge functions. Performs timekeeping for Pharmacy staff, residents, and students, ensuring accuracy and compliance. Supports the Chief, Pharmacy Service with varied administrative tasks, serves as backup to the Pharmacy secretary, and assists with special projects and events. Acts as alternate point of contact for pharmaceutical representatives, ensuring proper registration and compliance with facility policies. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD14515O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job elective 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 dentification 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, 06/01/2026. 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 assisting with administrative issues; planning and preparing for meetings including scheduling, mailings, travel and lodging arrangements; maintaining calendars; providing agendas; preparing responses to correspondence; scheduling appointments and meetings; answering phones; tracking time and attendance; and maintaining all paper and electronic file. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate level education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and more than one year of graduate level education in a subject area related to the position to be filled. 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: For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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 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.