Program Specialist

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 include but not limited to: As the Program Specialist, incumbent will monitor and make recommendations to replace end of life equipment. Reviews requests for supplies from customers and provides supporting documentation as necessary. Contacts vendors to attain quotes for items to be requested. Validates quotes for accuracy consulting the requesting subject matter experts when necessary. 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. The incumbent will collaborate with the vendors, Engineering and IRM to determine the need for and completion of Form 6550 if access to the VA network is required. The Program Specialist will collaborate with facility subject matter experts to determine if requested equipment is laser, imaging, or x-ray equipment. 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. Upon delivery of requested items, the Program Specialist ensures timely activation of new equipment and receiving of all other acquisitions. Incumbent will serve as the liaison between the Specialty Care and Logistics services. Establishes, expedites, and reviews consolidation of all Specialty Care service procurement packages, including unique, emergent, and complex requirements, to meet timely and technical needs of assigned acquisitions 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. Utilizes initiative and experienced judgment to research and analyze the guidelines in developing, recommending, and implementing solutions. Strong Knowledge of cost and pricing data and contract proposals to evaluate the offers and responsibility, and to evaluate contractor responsibility and performance. Ability to perform cost benefit analysis, conduct gap analyses, and understanding of cost elements which go into the production, management or delivery of a healthcare resource service or product. Acts independently responsible, takes immediate actions to resolve issues. 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 To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/06/2026. 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. For a GS9 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. For a GS11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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: This experience includes: guiding, assisting, Independently develops performance work statements and objectives, cost benefit analysis, gap analysis, sole source justifications, past performance, quality assurance 2 of 8 surveillance plans (QASP), market research, independent government estimates, evaluation criteria, options, funding, delivery schedules, lead times, and reporting requirements. Reviews procurement documents for accuracy, adequacy, and completeness to ensure final documents are acceptable. Develops sole source justification in relations to cost, limited availability or unusual nature, when the health care resource need is either unique in the medical community or is subject to maximum utilization only through health care resources contracting and identifies other alternative sources that exist within the local regional or national geographical areas. 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 an combination of specialized experience and successfully completion of 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree qualification requirements for the grade level GS-07 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 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. 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/. 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. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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) 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. 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/.