Program Specialist
What you'd do
The incumbent functions as a Program Specialist in the office of the VHA Scholarship and Clinical Education Programs. The program office is under the organizational umbrella of the Workforce Management and Consulting Office. The incumbent serves as a program specialist for VHA scholarship programs including the Health Professional Scholarship Program, HPSP Readjustment and Counseling Service Scholarship Program and Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professionals Scholarship Program.
Major duties
This is a non-bargaining unit position. This is a non-bargaining unit position. The initial application review cut-off for this job announcement is 50 applications. The first 50 applications received will be considered first. Applications received after the initial cut-off number (50 applications) may not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management. If management requests additional certificates, applicants will continue to be reviewed in groups of 50 in the order they applied. This announcement will remain open until 50 applications have been received or for three calender days, whichever occurs first. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Available Telework: Available Duty Location Status: Location Negotiable After Selection, United States Position Description Title/PD#: Program Specialist/ PD01976A, PD01975A, and PD01974A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary. There are no special physical demands for this position. Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. (AD HOC). Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current employees that are already subject to the return to the in-person work mandate in their current position. Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA-owned or leased space. Return to office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report in-person work unless they are approved for an exception or an exemption. Any approval for RTO exception, exemption, or extension will happen after a tentative job offer, but before a final job offer. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-12. At the GS-09 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-12. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied. Major Duties: Perform initial reviews of applications submitted for new scholarship awards. Provide administrative support for the VHA Scholarship Program to include processing various documents/reports received by recipients during school, post-graduation, assigned locations, service obligations, breaches, bills of collection, and waivers. Perform frequent audits to ensure program compliance and data accuracy. Perform financial oversight in collecting, managing, and executing financial transactions, disbursements, and record keeping of financial activity. Respond to internal/external inquiries received from internal/external stakeholders, general public and academic institutions.
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/06/2026. 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: GS-09 position, current Federal employees must have completed 52 weeks at the GS-07 grade level. GS-11 position, current Federal employees must have completed 52 weeks at the GS-09 grade level. GS-12 position, current Federal employees must have completed 52 weeks at the GS-11 grade level. 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: GS-09 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 the administration of a scholarship, education, or similar program by reviewing applications for completeness and eligibility; applying established policies and procedures; maintaining program records, financial transactions, activity, breaches, bill of collections, waiver requests, and automated databases; preparing correspondence and reports; responding to customer inquiries; and coordinating administrative activities with internal and external stakeholders. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LLB or J.D. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position, such as business administration, public administration, management, organizational leadership, human resources, or other closely related fields (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) 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 one full year of graduate education. GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: applying federal regulations, policies, and procedures to administer a program; reviewing and evaluating applications to determine eligibility; coordinating program activities; preparing reports, correspondence, and selection packages; maintaining automated records, financial transactions, activity, breach occurrences, bill of collections, waiver requests; resolving routine program issues; and providing guidance to applicants and stakeholders on program requirements. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position, such as business administration, public administration, management, organizational leadership, human resources, or other closely related fields (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) 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 a master's degree. GS-12 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: administering a complex program by interpreting and applying federal regulations, policies, and procedures; evaluating applications and determining program eligibility; conducting program analysis and ensuring regulatory compliance; preparing reports, correspondence, and selection packages; maintaining and analyzing data in automated systems; coordinating with internal and external stakeholders; providing technical guidance on program operations and financial management, activity, breach occurrences, bill of collections, waiver requests; and recommending process improvements to enhance program effectiveness and efficiency. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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. There are no special physical demands for this position. 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/.
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