About this role
Job SummaryThis position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) Salt Lake City, Utah, in the Anesthesiology Service. The Program Specialist provides comprehensive staff support and assistance to the Chief of Anesthesiology and the Administrative Officer (AO) of Anesthesiology.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/14/2026. 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. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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: One full 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: knowledge of VA policies and directives and will develop a knowledge of management theories and principles including administrative practices and procedures to effectively collaborate with physicians/medical staff, managers, administrators, and internal and external stakeholders to apply analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or opportunities for improvement. Pulls standard reports, performs reconciliations, documents data sources and limitations. Drafts internal management reports and updates SOP. Tracks assigned indicators and open encounters; escalate deficiencies. Maintains orderly files; follows retention and destruction procedures. Validate timesheets, support premium pay requests, and maintain attendance. OR, Education: - Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Equivalent combination of successfully completed education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position. Only education beyond a bachelor's degree may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-07 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. GS-09 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One full 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: Knowledge of the VA policies and directives, management theories and principals including administrative practices and procedures to effectively collaborate with physicians/medical staff, managers, administrators, and internal and external stakeholders to apply analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or opportunities for improvement. Gather information/data; research, analyze, validate data and develop reports for the Anesthesiology Service and local management meetings. Knowledge of agency databases, healthcare systems (databases), computer processing equipment and programs, healthcare productivity dashboards, Excel spreadsheets (developing, manipulating, creating, editing, etc.) to research, track, trend, and integrate data; to develop recommendations for access plan improvement strategies; and to develop reports. Ability to prepare and deliver briefings to the Anesthesiology Service leadership relating to study findings and provide recommendations. Skill and ability to communicate orally and in writing to disseminate information to Section Chiefs, AOs, and leads as it relates to staff & space utilization, appointment management, quality improvement, and clinical assessment data. Knowledge of Quality Assurance (QA) fact finding techniques and the skill to analyze and evaluate facts relative to unsatisfactory clinic or provider performance. General knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulations and VA Acquisition. Basic writing skills, including a command of English grammar is required. A qualified typist is required for this position. OR, Education: Successfully completed two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or masters or equivalent graduate degree, or LL.B. or J.D., in a related field of the position to be filled. Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Equivalent combination of successfully completed education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position. Only education in excess of the first year (18 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. 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/.
Major DutiesDuties: Maintain and update policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) relevant to Anesthesiology. Provide status updates to departmental leadership, regarding expense mapping to the Anesthesiology AO, ensuring accurate reporting of information for Anesthesiology Service activities. Reviews, and reports on MCA, Pyramid analytics, and VISN/VACO data sources for volume data inconsistencies, providing recommendations to the AO of Anesthesiology, and the Chief of Anesthesiology. Coordinates systematic reviews, internal management reports, program planning documents, and assigned projects to support Anesthesiology operations, reporting both in written and verbal form to departmental leadership Acquire and develop programmatic information and resource materials to support Anesthesiology policy development and technical activities. Perform data collection utilizing medical center files and databases. Using white belt or higher lean principles. Collect and review relevant clinical and administrative data to identify and resolve Anesthesiology service issues. Develop tools and utilize databases to support providers in healthcare delivery, quality management, and clinical oversight within Anesthesiology. Functions as the key administrative liaison for Anesthesiology, supporting new personnel onboarding, orientation, and credentialing efforts for staff, residents, fellows, and students. Prepares, issues, and tracks onboarding packets, and assists with PIV card and key issuance, computer and software access, and completion of credentialing paperwork. Serve as administrative liaison for Anesthesiology sections, helping resolve issues and providing information as appropriate. Serves as primary timekeeper for the Anesthesiology and Pain Services, collaborating with the AO of Anesthesiology and Section Chiefs of Anesthesiology as needed to ensure accurate and compliant timekeeping. Perform additional related duties as assigned, supporting the Anesthesiology and PMT Pain Services in administrative, program, and operational capacities. 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 07:30-4:00 or 08:00-4:30 Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (Anesthesiology & Pain)/PD11158A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: This position is classified as semi-sedentary. While much of the work is performed in an oUice or administrative setting, the role also requires frequent standing and walking throughout the workday. Duties routinely include rounding on assigned areas, conducting equipment inspections, and collecting and delivering documents or packages between buildings on campus. The employee must be able to walk moderate distances, occasionally ascend/descend stairs, and carry light materials (up to 25 pounds). The ability to remain on your feet for portions of the day and adapt to varied walking surfaces is essential to successfully perform the duties of this role.RequirementsYou 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 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.