About this role
Job SummaryThis position serves as the Program Specialist (Navigator) in support of the Veteran Engagement Service at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS) Reno, NV.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/05/2026. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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: 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: Ability to meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions, provides consistent information per established policies and procedures, handles conflicts, responds to all inquiries in person, by email, and telephone, informs supervisor or management official of any issue or potential incident where a customer is dissatisfied or angry, interacts with patients, supervisors, staff, visitors and non-VA personnel, protects data from unauthorized release or loss, uses MS word, MS excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Experience directly interacting with Veterans in VHA environment, familiarity with the wide range of services available in VHA & experience providing external customer service within the VHA environment. 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 successfully completed graduate level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and transcripts must be submitted with application, or ( superior academic achievement). Education cannot be credited without documentation.. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of 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 bachelors 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. Physical Requirements: The work will involve a laptop computer at docking stations in staff cubicles/office space, outpatient treatment rooms, and group/conference rooms. The work will involve walking around to different workspaces within the clinic and thus conveying a patient-centered environment where providers go to the patient. The physical demands include presenting oneself in an energetic way to create positive attitudes about health and well-being for Veterans, families, VA employees, and stakeholders. 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 DutiesMajor duties and responsibilities include, but not limited to: Responsible for speaking directly to with Veterans and Family members, identifying barriers and concerns with care and providing resolutions to these concerns. Acts as a quality assurance specialist, helping assure accuracy of data entered in the Patient Advocate Tracking System. Performs analytical and evaluative work associated with line and/or program activities. Welcomes Veterans into the local system, orienting them to Veteran health education and health promotion, offering a variety of points of entry into partnership with VHA, coordinating and connecting Veterans to resources and programs based on preferences, assisting Veterans in articulating their goals for health, supporting them in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services, and providing tools and resources to assist in navigating the Health Care System. Directly supports the mission of the Veteran Engagement team. Provides information, liaison, and advocacy services to support Veterans' personal health goals and shared goals with clinical care team. Collaborates with Veteran Experience Coordinator in establishing and implementing policies and procedures and assures that programs and services are incompliance with patients rights. Makes inquiries into patient complaints, initiates action or changes necessary to correct problem situations, and reports on corrective measures taken. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 07:30a.m.- 4:00p.m. Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD03470-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not requiredRequirementsYou 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 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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.