Summary This Program Specialist is assigned to Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehab (PMR) service of the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO). This position works directly with the Facility Pain Management Opioid Safety PDMP (PMOP) Coordinator, Pain Consultant, PACT Pain Champion, and VISN PMOP Coordinator, through the direction of their supervisor, Service Chief of Pain Medicine. Responsibilities Management and Administration: Identifies and/or implements program policies, procedures, and processes that help monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of Pain Medicine/PMR and PMOP Program. Interfaces with the PMOP Triad and management officials within VHSO to ensure they are fully apprised of Pain Medicine/PMR and PMOP concerns and perceptions, and to assist with addressing such concerns in the management decision making process. Develops and updates program materials that inform Veterans and their families of Pain Medicine services and benefits available to them within VHSO, as well as educate VA staff on Pain Medicine services. Customer Service and Organizational Analysis: Conducts progressive outreach to locate and identify Veterans in need of pain services and PMOP Program Initiatives provided by VHSO. This includes travel within the VHSO catchment area that help to identify and maintain relationships within those local communities. Identifies resources and programs within local communities. Coordinates calls with stakeholders. Direct and indirect patient care services: Coordinates enrollment and helps veterans and pain to apply for and understand applicable VA benefits specific to healthcare in pain management and other PMOP initiatives. Acquaints new admissions and veterans in pain to pain Medicine/PMR & PMOP program. Engages directly with veterans and pain to help address patient care and service delivery concerns assist with responding to inquiries from the P-mop program office and specialty ICC, 2 include direct follow up with veterans in pain. Efficiency/Effectiveness Studies/Special Projects: Performs program analysis that involves collection, tracking, compilation and trending of statistical information in support of the Pain Medicine Section programs and PMOP services. Prepares, executes and/or tracks program specific information, such as mandatory training, missed opportunities, and team educational needs to promote effective and efficient growth of the Pain Medicine Section, PMOP Program, and the Pain Management Team. Established protocols for incoming data and develops/organizes computerized datasets for clinical and administrative initiatives. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, subject to change based on needs of the facility. Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD033260 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/05/2024. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience with the implementation of Pain Management initiatives in compliance with national guidance, policy, clinical practice guidelines, and regulatory requirements; Experience serving as an advisor and analyst for the delivery of training, utilization management and patient flow; Specialized knowledge of healthcare planning, project management, organization, and evaluation of care delivery routines; Experience with multidisciplinary collaboration and coordination. NOTE: This experience must be supported by your resume to be creditable. OR, Substitution of Education: I have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. if related (Transcripts required). NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination of Experience and Education: I have a combination of specialized experience as described above and education in excess of a master's degree or equivalent graduate education may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-11 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. **Preferred Criteria: Experience in pain management, opioid safety, and PDMP preferred. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem Solving Customer Service Manages and Organizes Information 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: The work is primarily sedentary and accomplished in an office environment. The incumbent may occasionally need to walk/travel to other sites or affiliates to procure documents, provide training, attend meetings or aid. 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/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.