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 Specialty Care Service. The Program Specialist serves as the service-level liaison and advisor on equipment and product acquisition and equipment/instrumentation service contracts for a wide variety of items to include specialized services.

Duties

• Duties include but not limited to: As the Program Specialist, incumbent will monitor and make recommendations to replace end of life equipment. Contacts vendors to attain quotes for items to be requested. Using the Electronic Equipment Request (EER) portal, will enter all equipment requests, track progress of the acquisition, ensure delivery, and ensure timely readiness of acquisitions for the Specialty Care service. 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. Incumbent monitors and enters new equipment into the Strategic Equipment Planning Guide (SEPG) to enable entry into the EER. Once the data has been entered and uploaded into the EER, and the request has been approved, the incumbent will work with the Logistics service to clarify any information needed to successfully send instrumentation, scope, accessory, supply and equipment requests to Contracting. Tracks data, provides updates and advises leadership with best actionable recommendations on contracting and equipment procurement on behalf of Service in the best interest of the VA as procurement technical authority for Specialty Care Service. Independently develops performance work statements, cost benefit analysis, gap analysis, sole source justifications, quality assurance, surveillance plans (QASP), market research, and other contract documents. Establishes and maintains controls to ensure that contracts are executed in accordance with terms. Reports on deviation from contract terms: and manages a record system that includes contractor information and key contractual due dates to ensure that contractual actions are completed timely. Recommends contract termination and need to exercise option years of the contract based on contract performance, funds availability, and the need for the continuation of the services being rendered. Verifies contract interim payments after verifying accuracy and may certify payments for services rendered. 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 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/PD144140 and PD144150 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/09/2026. 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 GS9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7.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. For current Federal employees, the SF-50 must be effective the first pay period of the current year. 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: GS9 : Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS7 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 Specialty Care service. In-depth knowledge and skill of Microsoft applications to include MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Adobe PDF. Ability to develop reports, documentation, spreadsheets, graphs, and presentation materials when needed. 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. - COR Contracting and purchasing/tracking equipment preferred. 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 from an accredited college or university; OR, two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR, an LL.B. or J.D., if related. NOTE: A transcript or course listing must be submitted if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Unofficial transcripts required. Applications submitted without this information will not be considered. OR, Superior Academic Achievement. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience. Unofficial transcripts must be submitted with your application. GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Comprehensive detailed knowledge and understanding of acquisition statutes, regulation, directives and procedures as well as business practices associated with supporting the Salt Lake City VA Specialty Care service to effectively analyze, advise, and serve as the Program Specialist and Liaison to Logistics. Extensive 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 facility, CBOCs, MOU affiliates and stakeholders business processes. 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 Specialty Care service. In-depth knowledge and skill of Microsoft applications to include MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Adobe PDF. Ability to develop reports, documentation, spreadsheets, graphs, and presentation materials when needed. Knowledge and skill of the following computer programs, but not limited to: Veterans Health Information & Technology Architecture (Vista) to access information in the Medical Center Computer System; Electronic Equipment Request (EER) portal to enter equipment and CPRC requests and to track the progress of those requests; Strategic Equipment Planning Guide (SEPG) to access and update equipment end-of-life status and enter new equipment into the EIL; and coding website to access current medical coding information. COR Contracting and purchasing/tracking equipment preferred. 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. Unofficial transcripts must be submitted with your application. 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/.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Requirements

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. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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) Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee -Official Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) noting your current position or most recently held position, tenure, type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive), grade level and duty location. For current Federal employees, the SF-50 must be effective the first pay period of the current year or later. 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.

Grade: GS 9 to 11. . Telework eligible. Apply by 2026-11-09 on USAJOBS.