Program Specialist (Food Procurement)

Summary

This Program Specialist position is in the Food and Nutrition Services at the Boston VA Healthcare System located in Brockton, MA. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

04/19/2024 to 05/06/2024

• Salary

$67,743 - $88,065 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 9

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Brockton, MA 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBTD-12388327-24-KS

• Control number

787567200

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This job is open to

• Federal employees - Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

Clarification from the agency

Current permanent employees of the Boston VA Healthcare System including permanent Veterans Canteen Service employees, current permanent full-time Hybrid Title 38 and permanent full-time Title 38 employees.

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Duties

The Food I Supply Procurement and Management Specialist is assigned to the Central Food Production Unit of Nutrition and Food Services and is responsible for the procurement, handling, and accounting/budget functions for all food and supplies according to Federal Government regulations, policies, and procedures. The incumbent is a subject expert and demonstrates mastery for Nutrition and Food Service procurement of subsistence, supplies and equipment. Analyzes requirements and forecasts to determines appropriate lead times and quantities of items as well as funds required with recommendations for action. Considerations advised are most often fully implemented.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Procurement of subsistence, supplies, and equipment.

• Placement of orders and directing the unloading and putting away of all shipments received in the inventory locations.

• Responsible for Prime Vendor orders and Electronic payment system.

• Resolving complex problems of prediction and forecasting which result from changes in the operating program, develops and implements necessary changes and improvements.

• Responsible for preparation and dispatch of all monthly, quarterly, annual, and special budgetary reports to VACO, Fiscal, and the VISN.

• Collects and submits data for the ration report to Central Office.

• Determines necessary funding for 13 5 8 's and approves payment of said invoices.

• As designated Purchase Card holder, makes appropriate purchases according to rules and regulations of the Purchase Card Program.

• Assures that contractual obligations are met and payments are billed and paid accordingly conducts physical inventory, calculates cost of inventory, and meal cost.

• Prepares billing submitted to Fiscal Service for all receiver sites.

• Completes all necessary reports for the Prime Vendor survey.

• Monitors control points to insure adequate funds for purchases and requests fund as needed after securing approval of Service Chief.

• Uses a variety of computer programs and develops spreadsheets as needed to carry out duties and maintain necessary records.

• Back up timekeeper for Nutrition and Food Services.

• Trains necessary personnel, on an ongoing basis as needed in inventory, purchasing, and record keeping procedures.

Work Schedule: Full-Time; 7:00am-3:30pm.

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available.

Telework: Available for Ad-hoc.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (Food Procurement)/PD080320

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Notifications:

• This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position.

• This position is in the Competitive Service.

• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

• You may be required to travel to other Boston Campuses.

• Time-in-Grade Restriction: 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. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service.

• Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment.

• Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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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, 05/06/2024.

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-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-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: applies the theory and principles of management and organization, including administrative practices and procedures common to organizations, such as those pertaining to areas of responsibility, channels of communication, delegation of authority, routing of correspondence, filing systems, keep records of time and attendance, and storage of files and records; utilizes qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques such as: literature search, work measurement, task analysis and job structuring, productivity charting, determining staff to workload ratios (e.g., span of control), organization design, space planning; provides administrative coordination to senior managers on confidential financial and human resources tasks; utilizes databases and online survey tools for collecting, organizing, and analyzing large data sets; communicates verbally and in writing with a wide range of administrative staff, trainees, clinical providers, and high-level external stakeholders regarding a variety of technical and procedural matters (NOTE: The specialized experience must be well-documented on your resume.)

OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Degree must be relevant to the position to be filled.

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 year of graduate level education may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-09. The education and experience must be directly related to the work of the position to be filled.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Budget Administration

• Communication

• Food Service

• Technical Competence

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 majority of the work is sedentary but may require occasional lifting and moving of boxes.

Preferred Experience: Experience working in food service industry and/or demonstrated knowledge of VHA fiscal policies preferred.

Work is performed in a typical office setting that is well-lighted, heated, cooled, and equipped with necessary office furniture and tools.

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.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.