Program Applications Specialist
The incumbent serves as the functional expert for matters relating to the Patient Information Management System (PIMS) core package. Additionally, the incumbent provides training on other service packages, such as Pharmacy, Radiology, Laboratory, and Health Summary, as they relate to the business office process. Duties include but not limited to:
Provides business oversight for a variety of software programs integral to the overall administration and operations of the business. Responsible for the coordination and training for service and facility staff in business and functional areas for various information technology VISTA packages and a multitude of other software modules. Coordinates with the responsible office(s) for medical center workload to ensure the accuracy of the data in VISTA. Provides testing of new options and software versions prior to implementation to gain familiarity with the new product features and confirm that software is working according to specifications. Provides staff support to OI&T by providing information and analysis of software functions within the service. Responsible for designating and preparing data management analyses, special studies, and reports for use by top management for budget preparation, workload projections, and quality assurance and utilization reviews. Incumbent is key point of contact responsible for assuring that all information technology equipment with the service is operational and functions and coordinates with OI&T equipment replacement/installation with all other services. Participates in the establishment of administrative qualitative standards; the objective of which is intended to improve programs, facilities and operations. Maintains a close working relationship with various program officials. Coordinates and provides recommendations in the application of standards that affect the service. Coordinates ongoing data collection and basic analysis and uses knowledge of System Redesign principles to determine organization performance. Conducts business process modeling, projects and studies that will impact on the overall functions of the services in such areas as, policy development and implementation, work methodology, processes, streamlining, etc. Provides training and troubleshooting for clinical and administrative staff in business processes and associated supporting software. Provides training for individual users on daily operational tasks and trains new users. Primary point of contact for OI&T for information technology initiative for hardware and software needs for the service. Responsible for assisting with the preparation and implementation of the business contingency plans for system failure specifically addressing manual system backup plans addressing how day to day business will be conducted for long and short-term outages. Collects physical and data security needs for the service areas. Collects individual needs to determine menu access for staff, Regional Office employees, and employees from VISN VA facilities. Perform other administrative duties as assigned. 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:
08:
00a-04:
30p, Monday-Friday Compressed/Flexible:
Not Available. Telework:
Not Available. Virtual:
This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#:
Program Applications Specialist/PD70552A and PD70553A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 10/23/2020. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-9 position you must have service 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. 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:
Specialized Experience GS-7:
You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
providing workload studies, associated with assigned programs and processes, to other services in the medical center; ensuring the accuracy of reports associated with assigned programs and processes, providing testing of new options and software versions prior to implementation to gain familiarity with the new product features and confirm that software is working according to specifications; serving as primary administrative resource to assist in improving access for quality care to the VHA healthcare population and responsible for program management as assigned. OR, Education:
Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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 as described above. Specialized Experience GS-9:
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:
knowledge of Veterans Integrated Systems Technology Architecture (VistA) packages that support the business processes is needed to ensure the success of this integration; applies knowledge and abilities to analyze, evaluate and make recommendations on major aspects of all assigned VISTA and commercial off the shelf computer packages; knowledge of the service software is required in training employees, identifying inconsistencies, discussions with management of capabilities of computer software feasibly toward meeting their objectives, validating new programs and options; knowledge of, and skill in applying user acceptance testing principles, methods, and approaches sufficient to test, debug and maintain software applications that meet functional requirements; knowledge of appropriate VA policies, VA directives, operating procedures, information flow and of prevailing automated practices in government agencies and the private sector sufficient to ensure applications are consistent with the current and planned infrastructure and data environments currently used at the supported VAMC; comprehensive knowledge in business metadata is needed to provide information related to continued business operations and external requests such as JCAHO, SOARS, and other internal audits; ability to communicate a clear, logical and concise explanation of information, both orally and in written format. 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 as described above. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Data ManagementData SystemsDatabase AdministrationDatabase Management SystemsTeaching Others 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:
Regular and recurring work is mostly sedentary involving sitting at a desk, although the position requires the ability to move from one geographic location of the facility to another. The incumbent works with a computer screen and keyboard. Some physical effort such as standing, walking, bending or prolonged sitting may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to walking to outlying areas. The work places no special physical demands on the employee. Work Environment:
Work is performed in an office setting with occasional visits to areas within the service as well as throughout the Medical Center. Work area is adequately lighted, heated and air conditioned. The normal risks and discomforts typical of an office and clerical work area are included. There are no unusual risks or safety hazards associated with 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/.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Provides business oversight for a variety of software programs integral to the overall administration and operations of the business. Responsible for the coordination and training for service and facility staff in business and functional areas for various information technology VISTA packages and a multitude of other software modules. Coordinates with the responsible office(s) for medical center workload to ensure the accuracy of the data in VISTA. Provides testing of new options and software versions prior to implementation to gain familiarity with the new product features and confirm that software is working according to specifications. Provides staff support to OI&T by providing information and analysis of software functions within the service. Responsible for designating and preparing data management analyses, special studies, and reports for use by top management for budget preparation, workload projections, and quality assurance and utilization reviews. Incumbent is key point of contact responsible for assuring that all information technology equipment with the service is operational and functions and coordinates with OI&T equipment replacement/installation with all other services. Participates in the establishment of administrative qualitative standards; the objective of which is intended to improve programs, facilities and operations. Maintains a close working relationship with various program officials. Coordinates and provides recommendations in the application of standards that affect the service. Coordinates ongoing data collection and basic analysis and uses knowledge of System Redesign principles to determine organization performance. Conducts business process modeling, projects and studies that will impact on the overall functions of the services in such areas as, policy development and implementation, work methodology, processes, streamlining, etc. Provides training and troubleshooting for clinical and administrative staff in business processes and associated supporting software. Provides training for individual users on daily operational tasks and trains new users. Primary point of contact for OI&T for information technology initiative for hardware and software needs for the service. Responsible for assisting with the preparation and implementation of the business contingency plans for system failure specifically addressing manual system backup plans addressing how day to day business will be conducted for long and short-term outages. Collects physical and data security needs for the service areas. Collects individual needs to determine menu access for staff, Regional Office employees, and employees from VISN VA facilities. Perform other administrative duties as assigned. 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:
08:
00a-04:
30p, Monday-Friday Compressed/Flexible:
Not Available. Telework:
Not Available. Virtual:
This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#:
Program Applications Specialist/PD70552A and PD70553A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 10/23/2020. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-9 position you must have service 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. 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:
Specialized Experience GS-7:
You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
providing workload studies, associated with assigned programs and processes, to other services in the medical center; ensuring the accuracy of reports associated with assigned programs and processes, providing testing of new options and software versions prior to implementation to gain familiarity with the new product features and confirm that software is working according to specifications; serving as primary administrative resource to assist in improving access for quality care to the VHA healthcare population and responsible for program management as assigned. OR, Education:
Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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 as described above. Specialized Experience GS-9:
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:
knowledge of Veterans Integrated Systems Technology Architecture (VistA) packages that support the business processes is needed to ensure the success of this integration; applies knowledge and abilities to analyze, evaluate and make recommendations on major aspects of all assigned VISTA and commercial off the shelf computer packages; knowledge of the service software is required in training employees, identifying inconsistencies, discussions with management of capabilities of computer software feasibly toward meeting their objectives, validating new programs and options; knowledge of, and skill in applying user acceptance testing principles, methods, and approaches sufficient to test, debug and maintain software applications that meet functional requirements; knowledge of appropriate VA policies, VA directives, operating procedures, information flow and of prevailing automated practices in government agencies and the private sector sufficient to ensure applications are consistent with the current and planned infrastructure and data environments currently used at the supported VAMC; comprehensive knowledge in business metadata is needed to provide information related to continued business operations and external requests such as JCAHO, SOARS, and other internal audits; ability to communicate a clear, logical and concise explanation of information, both orally and in written format. 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 as described above. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Data ManagementData SystemsDatabase AdministrationDatabase Management SystemsTeaching Others 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:
Regular and recurring work is mostly sedentary involving sitting at a desk, although the position requires the ability to move from one geographic location of the facility to another. The incumbent works with a computer screen and keyboard. Some physical effort such as standing, walking, bending or prolonged sitting may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to walking to outlying areas. The work places no special physical demands on the employee. Work Environment:
Work is performed in an office setting with occasional visits to areas within the service as well as throughout the Medical Center. Work area is adequately lighted, heated and air conditioned. The normal risks and discomforts typical of an office and clerical work area are included. There are no unusual risks or safety hazards associated with 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/.
- Department:
0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program - Salary Range:
$43,251 to $68,777 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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