Program Specialist (Telehealth)

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 10/28/2026 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. 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 GS-07: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: work that involved analytical research and evaluation of diversified programs; development, administration and control of assigned projects; ability to access locate, and update information through the use of personal computer technology; serving as a program liaison to various administrative and clinical services in helping the Manager to develop information; conducts an ongoing analysis of the administrative support needed by the department and to influence adjustments necessary to assure effective resourcing; developing/maintaining/tracking training and educational programs; close working relationship with managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities.

OR, Education: One (1) Full year of graduate level education (beyond a Bachelor's degree). Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. A copy of transcript required (an unofficial copy is acceptable if it reflects the type of courses and number of credits earned at the graduate college level). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a Bachelor's degree. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-07.

For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e., 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e., 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position. Specialized Experience GS-09: 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: less managerial oversight of work that involved analytical research and evaluation of diversified programs; development, administration and control of assigned projects; ability to access locate, and update information through the use of personal computer technology; serving as a program liaison to various administrative and clinical services in helping the Manager to develop information; conducts an ongoing analysis of the administrative support needed by the department and to influence adjustments necessary to assure effective resourcing; developing/maintaining/tracking training and educational programs; close working relationship with managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Master's degree or LL.

B or J.D., if related to the position, Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree. [This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. Unofficial transcripts required.]. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a Master's degree.

Applicants qualifying based on education must submit a copy of transcripts (unofficial transcripts are ok). The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-9. Example: an applicant has 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 and 1 year of graduate level education.

The applicant meets 50 percent of the required experience but none of the required education, since he or she does not have any graduate study beyond that which is required for GS-7. Therefore, the applicant meets only 50 percent of the total requirement and is not qualified for the position.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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

The work is primarily sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform portions of the work. However, there is periodic walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as instructional material, books and manuals. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

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/.

The Telehealth Program Specialist serves as a Program Specialist in the Telehealth Program by directly supporting the management of operational components of Telehealth Care across the health care continuum. This position will serve as one FTE at each VISN 7 facility without collateral duties. He/she works closely with the Facility Telehealth Coordinator/ Nurse Manager and other health care professionals and team members, other clinics, internal services and community agencies.

The incumbent reports to the Facility Telehealth Coordinator/ Nurse Manager. The Program Specialist provides daily operational support to improve accessibility and achieve the overall goal of using both Telehealth scheduling and technology in establishing avenues of care that are timely, appropriate, of high quality and cost.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Develops and manages systems, processes, and procedures to organize and track a variety of important functions integral to the functioning of the Telehealth/Connected Care Programs, i.e., Telehealth Management Platform (TMP), the facility Telehealth SharePoint, Telehealth Service Agreements, tele-provider privileging system and data, remoted access to VISTA/CPRS systems for telehealth staff).

• Provides support with the establishment and/or control of Telehealth program data and records including Microsoft SharePoint, the primary database and sharing instrument for the Telehealth Program.
• Works with OIT staff to ensure continuity for end users when systems are updated.
• Coordinates SharePoint and TMP end-user training with the VHA CVT National Training Centers,.

Functions as a liaison with the VISN Telehealth Program Manager, VHA National Telehealth Training Centers and the local Telehealth staff to ensure training curriculums for these systems are current and effective by advising these entities of deficits/needed changes and collaborating to develop the materials. Creates, maintains, edits, calculates, retrieves, stores, prints and routes a wide range of documents in final form from handwritten drafts, electronic mail, and SharePoint document service.

Develops specific telehealth applications in collaboration with the facility telehealth oversight council, clinical, administrative, and technical staff as needed. Collaborates with telehealth staff members to develop and maintain a database for tracking and receiving of equipment. Performs administrative or technical duties associated with developing, revising, maintaining, telehealth initiatives and programs. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Tour subject to change based on agency needs.

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (Telehealth)/PD01752A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Promotion Potential: The GS-7 position is a developmental position leading to the full performance position GS-9.

Incumbent is required to satisfactorily complete both on the job training and related instructions from the immediate supervisor and/or higher graded professionals. In the developmental capacity, the incumbent will be responsible for performing that range of duties that generally conform to those given in the GS-301-9 target position description. If this position is filled at the GS-7 grade level, it has promotion potential to the GS-9 grade level.

However, promotion to the higher grade is not guaranteed, but dependent on the selectee's demonstration of the ability to perform the duties of the higher grade to the satisfaction of the supervisor, and there must be enough work at the higher-grade level to support the grade. In addition, the selectee must meet all legal and regulatory requirements for promotion.