What are the responsibilities and job description for the Program Specialist position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Program Specialist works within Environmental Management Services (EMS) and is responsible for developing and maintaining the Quality Assurance Program for all EMS operations to ensure a safe and supportive healing environment. The incumbent creates and delivers training - assess effectiveness - and updates content to keep the program aligned with industry standards and technological advances - emphasizing biological cleanliness and infection prevention.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 06/08/2026. 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. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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. GS-9: 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: Skill in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification - consideration - and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature. Posses a level is knowledge of the theory and principles of management and organization - including administrative practices and procedures. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Mater's or equivalent degree or 2 full years if progressively higher level graduate education leading to such degree; or LL.B or J.D.. in the related field of the position to be filled. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work. Transcripts must be provided. OR Combination: Possess a combination of successfully completed graduate education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level. Specialized Experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Develops and maintains as a component of the Quality Assurance Program - a comprehensive inspection regimen to be utilized by supervisory staff. Plans - coordinates - and carries out the successive steps in fact-finding and analysis of issues necessary to complete each phase of assigned projects. Develops a comprehensive Quality Assurance Program to ensure the service meets all regulatory requirements - including JCAHO - OSHA - EPA - and applicable quality standards - in alignment with EPS VACO guidelines. Advises the service chief on all aspects and matters pertaining to the Environmental Management Service Quality Assurance Program. Performs quality assurance work focused on preventing deficiencies - ensuring compliance with regulations and standards - and identifying unsatisfactory trends and conditions. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Education and Training Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Oral Communication Problem Solving Quality Management 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: See Directive and HANDBOOK 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for 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/.
Duties
The Program Specialist works within Environmental Management Services (EMS) and is responsible for developing and maintaining the Quality Assurance Program for all EMS operations to ensure a safe and supportive healing environment. The incumbent creates and delivers training - assess effectiveness - and updates content to keep the program aligned with industry standards and technological advances - emphasizing biological cleanliness and infection prevention.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 06/08/2026. 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. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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. GS-9: 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: Skill in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification - consideration - and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature. Posses a level is knowledge of the theory and principles of management and organization - including administrative practices and procedures. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Mater's or equivalent degree or 2 full years if progressively higher level graduate education leading to such degree; or LL.B or J.D.. in the related field of the position to be filled. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work. Transcripts must be provided. OR Combination: Possess a combination of successfully completed graduate education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level. Specialized Experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Develops and maintains as a component of the Quality Assurance Program - a comprehensive inspection regimen to be utilized by supervisory staff. Plans - coordinates - and carries out the successive steps in fact-finding and analysis of issues necessary to complete each phase of assigned projects. Develops a comprehensive Quality Assurance Program to ensure the service meets all regulatory requirements - including JCAHO - OSHA - EPA - and applicable quality standards - in alignment with EPS VACO guidelines. Advises the service chief on all aspects and matters pertaining to the Environmental Management Service Quality Assurance Program. Performs quality assurance work focused on preventing deficiencies - ensuring compliance with regulations and standards - and identifying unsatisfactory trends and conditions. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Education and Training Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Oral Communication Problem Solving Quality Management 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: See Directive and HANDBOOK 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for 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/.
Duties
- Duties include - but are not limited to: Monitors - inspects and documents functions of all operational segments of EMS to ensure efficiency - productivity - and compliance in accordance with the Department of Veterans Affairs mission - regulations - and directives in addition to Kansas City VA Medical Center (VAMC) policies
- Compiles reports for submission to VISN - VACO - and other federal departments - state agencies - and private organizations
- Provides consultant services which improve the effectiveness - resource efficiency - and resource savings
- Addresses unsatisfactory conditions and/or deficiencies in service operation by developing action plans to correct any contributing factors to defective work processes
- Performs quality management tasks designed to improve quality of transaction processing - customer service processes and all EMS operational procedures
- Analyzes data collected during inspection activities to evaluate quality of overall frontline sanitation - waste management - recycling - textile/linen - and contracted operations and compiles reports for management review
- Utilizes the most current information and visual aids to provide basic orientation to all new employees - organizational and procedural education - ongoing in-service and refresher training for veteran employees - and remedial training
- Plans - coordinates - and carries out the successive steps in fact-finding and analysis of issues necessary to complete each phase of assigned projects
- Develops and maintains as a component of the Quality Assurance Program - a comprehensive inspection regimen to be utilized by supervisory staff
- Develops a comprehensive Quality Assurance Program to ensure the service meets all regulatory requirements - including JCAHO - OSHA - EPA - and applicable quality standards - in alignment with EPS VACO guidelines
- 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: 8:00am - 4:30pm - Monday - Friday (Hours may vary based on operational needs
- Trainer may be assigned to various shifts as required.) Telework: This position may be authorized for telework
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD09996-0 and PD09997-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Salary : $62,729 - $98,671