Program Specialist

This position is located at the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). The incumbent serves as the Program Specialist for the Community Living Center/Palliative Specialty Programs within Nursing Patient Care Service (PCS). Also provides administrative and data analysis in support of the Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP) with a major focus on the preparation for the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Programs (CARF).

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/21/2026.

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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 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-07:

Specialized Experience:

You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Standard directives, administrative policies, and management and organizational theories. Uses judgment in choosing, interpreting, or adapting available guidelines to specific issues. Analyzes the situation against the current guidelines that cover it and makes recommendations for changes.

OR, Education:

Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of graduate level education 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 education beyond one year of graduate level. GS-09:

Specialized Experience:

You must have one (1) 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: Utilize a broad range of administrative and analytical principles, practices, and techniques with the ability to apply them to the specialized requirements of a healthcare delivery system in a rapidly changing environment. Abstract data from various computer databases and non-automated sources. Compile and analyze data; present the facts and background information in a logical, succinct manner.

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 combination of specialized experience and education beyond a graduate degree. 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. 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/ .