Program Specialist

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/30/2026. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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.

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-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of Federal, VA, and VHA acquisition and contracting regulations to serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative, develop Statements of Work, and administer service and equipment contracts; knowledge of VA equipment planning processes (SEPG, EER) and space activation procedures to plan, coordinate, and execute clinical space and equipment projects from requirement identification through installation; knowledge of VA/VHA human resources processes, position management, and classification procedures to initiate and track personnel actions and serve as liaison to Human Resources Management Service; knowledge of inventory management, property accountability, and logistics procedures to manage the Eye Clinic and Optical Shop equipment and supply lifecycle; skill in analyzing administrative and operational data and preparing clear, accurate reports and recommendations for clinical and administrative leadership; skill in written and oral communication to prepare correspondence, policy documents, and presentations for facility and network-level audiences, and to negotiate effectively with contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders; working knowledge of Medical Support Assistant and Program Support Assistant scheduling systems and procedures to provide contingency administrative coverage limited to the Eye Clinic.

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 equivalent combination of specialized experience and education as stated above to meet total experience requirements. 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 Program Specialist performs a wide range of analytical, administrative, and program management functions in support of hiring and personnel actions, activation and space/equipment planning, equipment acquisition and inventory management, contract administration, and oversight of the Optical Shop.

Major responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to: Serves as Eye Clinic Contracting Officer's Representative, monitoring contract performance and deliverables and reconciling invoices against services rendered. Conducts market research, obtains vendor quotes, and prepares independent government cost estimates to support acquisition strategy and pricing. Serves as subject matter expert for clinic activation projects, coordinating space design, equipment outfitting, and clinical readiness timelines.

Conducts and reconciles periodic equipment inventories, documents and resolves discrepancies, and coordinates disposal of excess or obsolete equipment. Coordinates recruitment actions, prepares recruitment justifications, and manages onboarding logistics for staff. Serves as point of contact with Human Resources Management Service for classification actions and position description updates.

Reviews and updates Eye Clinic Standard Operating Procedures and outgoing correspondence for policy compliance, oversees training tracking, and represents the Eye Clinic on Medical Center committees as liaison to leadership and support services. Serves as program coordinator for the Optical Shop - overseeing administrative/logistical operations, tracking inventory and reconciling costs, and coordinating procurement of fabrication supplies.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD148890 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized