Program Specialist

Quick Facts

• Role: Program Specialist (VA Grant and Per Diem Program oversight)

Description

Provide national oversight, guidance, and technical assistance for the VA Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program. You will design and coordinate systems for clinical case management, recordkeeping, program monitoring, and facility site inspections; assess compliance and recommend improvements. You will also serve as a primary point of contact for operational issues, develop written program guidance and training, and support grant application review and change-of-scope evaluations.

Responsibilities

• Provide national oversight, guidance, and technical assistance for GPD-funded liaison positions
• Design, implement, and coordinate systems for clinical case management, recordkeeping, program monitoring, and site inspections
• Assess project compliance with clinical grant plans, requirements, and program objectives; recommend policy and procedural improvements
• Serve as primary point of contact for VA field staff and grant recipients on operational issues
• Write and update program guides, directives, manuals, and other written materials
• Advise grant recipients on establishing projects and implementing program designs from applications
• Consult with GPD programs facing clinical or programmatic challenges and intervene as needed
• Develop and coordinate recurring training; organize and deliver webinars and learning sessions
• Participate in grant application processing, review, and evaluation (threshold, merit review, conditional selection)
• Review change-of-scope requests, assess clinical/programmatic impact, and draft recommendations/requests for approval or further action

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship
• Complete all required application steps, including an online assessment
• Selective Service registration required for eligible males
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for employment (REAL ID compliant required for certain IDs)
• Seasonal influenza vaccination requirement for VA Health Care Personnel
• Serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period
• GS-13 specialized experience: 1 year equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12) in relevant program and clinical oversight for community-based grant or per diem programs
• No educational substitution at this grade level
• Time-in-grade requirements apply for current Federal employees

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government offers a comprehensive benefits package; eligibility depends on position type and schedule.