Program Applications Specialist

This Program Applications Specialist position is with Veterans Health Administration (Department of Veterans Affairs) in Phoenix, AZ. The primary purpose of this position is to perform Program Analyst duties, responsible for providing a high level of administrative and data support. Personnel assigned to this role fill a Clinic Profiler position, responsible for ensuring accurate creation, validation, and management of clinic profiles. Incumbent is responsible for service level clinical data reporting as requested, accurate and timely data retrieval pertaining to clinic management, providing technical advice and guidance. Key duties: • 30 Day Hiring Model The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination, faster assessments, and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty. What Applicants Can Expect Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes, Human Resources will quickly review applications, issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration. Quick Interviews & References HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager. Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer, applicants should be prepared to complete required steps, such as fingerprinting and background check, credentialing, and medical examination within 3 days of the offer. Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones, including referral, tentative offer, and onboarding instructions. After meeting pre-employment requirements, candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting, with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service. If selected, applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing. Major duties include but are not limited to: Being involved in an extremely complex blend of computing technology, medical information, communication skills, and leadership qualities in a rapidly changing environment. Being responsible for all aspects of new clinical establishment in VISTA, and is expected to have an in-depth understanding of the complexities of clinic set up and provide technical guidance as necessary to ensure clinics operate as requested. Reviews active clinics and provide detailed analysis of findings to management on an annual basis as requested. Performs audits using locally produced, management approved worksheets, and submitted as requested on a regular, recurring basis. Review clinic cancellation, clinic remapping, clinic deactivation, and clinic reactivation requests, ensuring all requests for clinic maintenance adhere to local PVAHCS policies and procedures. Assists clinics and services review clinic utilization data using either VISTA or VHA Support Service Center (VSSC) reports. Retain responsibility for researching and identifying training needs for Phoenix VA Health Care System staff in areas of clinic set up, maintenance, utilization, and all other Data Management systems or special projects as directed by management. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Applications Specialist/PD00135A Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/30/2026. 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-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: Specialized Experience: 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: Computing technology and medical information, have in-depth understandings of the complexities of clinical set ups, and provide technical guidance as necessary; have a comprehensive knowledge of the VA and Data Management policies and procedures as they relate to the scheduling and delivery of healthcare, Thorough knowledge of health administrative services computer software, as it relates to profiles and the scheduling systems, possess thorough knowledge of varied functions of computer spreadsheets, database computer applications, and organizational tools to produce and maintain a wide variety of documents. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level education leading to such a degree OR an LL.B. or J.D., if related. (Transcript documentation required).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 1 full year of graduate level education. (Transcript documentation required). Preferred Experience: Systems Analysis, Database Administration Management, Administrative, Microsoft Suite, Office, and Excel. Customer Service, Communications, CPRS/VISTA, Clinic Set-up, Accuracy Reviews. 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/. View the full announcement and apply on USAJOBS.gov.