Program Specialist

This Program Specialist position is with Veterans Health Administration (Department of Veterans Affairs) in Phoenix, AZ. The Clinical Program Specialist position is under the VA's National Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program, which is programmatically located within the Homeless Programs Office (HPO), VA Central Office (VACO), while being hosted and administratively supported by a host VA Medical Center. Key duties: • This job announcement will close on 11/24/2026. The first 100 applications received will receive first consideration. Applications that are submitted after the initial cut-off number has been reached will not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management. Major duties include but are not limited to: Provides oversight of approximately 300 Grant and Per Diem Program funded Liaison field positions nationwide. Designs and coordinates systems for clinical case management, records, and inspections at Grant and Per Diem Program sites. Assesses project compliance with clinical grant application plans and recommends policy and procedure improvements. Serves as the primary clinical liaison with Veterans Health Administration Central Office, Veterans Health Administration medical centers, and grant recipients. Analyzes federal legislation and regulations affecting the clinical administration of grants and per diem. Writes and updates clinical program guides, directives, manuals, and other written materials for Grant and Per Diem Program. Advises grant recipients on establishing projects and implementing program designs set forth in their applications. Coordinates VA Construction Management reviews, pre-disbursement reviews, and initial inspections. Consults with Grant and Per Diem Program-funded programs facing clinical or programmatic challenges and intervenes as needed. Develops and evaluates training for VA staff, Liaisons, and grantees. Reviews grantee change-of-scope requests and participates in grant application reviews. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible Schedules: Available Telework: May be eligible for ADHOC as determined by the agency policy. Will be required to report to either a VA Facility, Agency/VA approved leased space, or any Federal building designated by VA. Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA-owned or leased space. Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in-person work unless they are approved for an exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception, exemption, or extension will happen after a tentative job offer, but before a final job offer. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD02066A Bargaining Unit: This is not a bargaining unit position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/24/2026. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks as a GS-12. 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. GS-13 Specialized Experience: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 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 oversight, guidance, or consultation on clinical and programmatic operations for community-based grant or per diem programs, including serving as a primary point of contact for field staff, grant recipients, or VA medical center staff. Monitoring the compliance of grant recipients or service providers with federal laws, regulations, program handbooks, and approved project plans, and recommending corrective or preventive actions when issues arise. Analyzing program performance, clinical service, or grant data to identify trends, evaluate service effectiveness, and recommend policy or procedure changes that improve outcomes for homeless Veterans. Assisting community-based organizations with project development, reviewing grant or program requirements, and resolving operational, policy, or grant issues that delay or impede implementation. Developing or updating written guidance, handbooks, training materials, or reports for program staff, grant recipients, or external partners. 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. 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.