Prosthetic Representative (Service Chief)

Summary

This Position functions as the Chief, Supervisory Prosthetic Representative in the Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Service. The incumbent provides direct support in the provision of services, products, supplies, and or equipment. The primary focus of this leadership role is to monitor and manage even distribution of the workload among the prosthetic staff, and to assist with the provision of training for this staff.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/13/2024 to 07/05/2024

• Salary

$115,793 - $150,535 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 13

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Seattle, WA 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0672 Prosthetic Representative

• Supervisory status

Yes

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBSV-12438915-24-TP

• Control number

795619600

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This job is open to

• Federal employees

• Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Federal employees

• Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

Applicants will be referred in the following order: First

• Current Portland VA Health Care System Employees; Second

• Current Permanent VA Employees Nationwide; Third

• Current Permanent Federal Employees Other Agencies

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Duties

This Position functions as the Chief, Supervisory Prosthetic Representative in the Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Service. The incumbent reports to the V20 Prosthetics Program Manager, VISN Prosthetic Representative (VPR). The incumbent performs work in direct support of clinical areas such as Primary Care, podiatry, PM&R, Surgical Services, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, hospital wards, nursing homes (VA , state and community)etc. The incumbent provides direct support in the provision of services, products, supplies, and or equipment requiring a practical knowledge of applicable operations, products, procedures, programs, policies and regulations.

This work requires the application and interpretation of laws concerning benefits available to disabled patients and of the regulations, procedures and practices based thereon and, in addition, a specialized knowledge of the medical and psychological problems directly related to the use of prosthetic devices; and a specialized knowledge and understanding of the fabrication and satisfactory fitting of prosthetic devices.

The administrative aspects of the work require an understanding of statistics, budgeting, contracting, procurement, human resources, the National Prosthetic Patient Database, inventory management and a knowledge of the Prosthetic national software package.

A Prosthetic Representative must have analytical ability, social awareness, tact and diplomacy, and good communication skills. S/he must possess knowledge of established management principles, concepts and methodology to identify, analyze and resolve managerial and administrative issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature. The Representative must be able to anticipate the need for action. S/he must also possess the ability to deal effectively with individuals and groups and to adjust to difficult or stressful situations.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Development of local organizational policies and procedures consistent with national policies and procedures

• Authorize/ Approve purchase orders

• Acts as an intermediary between the Prosthetics Centralized Purchasing Unit (PCU) Purchasing Agents and the local clinicians and vendors to procure the appropriate supplies, equipment or device for the Veteran

• Development of Statements of Work (SOW) for service contracts

• Monitor contracts for compliance to statement of work

• Planning, development and preparation of annual budget estimates

• Analyzing costs to develop cost containment initiatives

• Receive, analyze and process requests for prosthetic equipment and services

• Identify and select national CMS/ Health Care Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) codes are entered for every item purchased through and/or billed to ensure proper reporting

• Establishing long and short term program goals

• Responds to a variety of correspondence i.e. Veterans, Congressmen, contractors, Home Oxygen program

• Chairperson in local facility committees, workgroups, teams

• Assess and provide technical guidance concerning equipment and benefits to beneficiaries and other health care workers

• Adjusts work load; recommends new performance measures; measures effectiveness against existing performance measures, review of workload and study workload/forecasting for future program growth.

• Implementation of new National and Local guidelines/policy

• Developing tools that allow monitoring of a quality assurance program

• Analyze, review and evaluate the results of various monitors and databases

• Confers with contractors and other health care workers

• Inform Veterans and family on different appliances and services available

• Analyze costs to develop cost containment initiatives

• Coordinates specialty programs which include Clothing Allowance, Home 02, AAE, and HISA, Wheelchair, Amputee, Major Medical Committee (MMEC), Prevent Amputation for Veterans Everywhere (PA VE), etc., by scheduling Veterans and providing necessary documentation as applicable

• Direct supervision of PSAS staff.

• Ensures adherence to personnel management rules, regulations, and procedures and develops functional statements, performance standards and competencies for staff

• Evaluate and assess performance of supervised staff.

• Determine eligibility

• Inform Veterans and family on different appliances and services available

• Analyze costs to develop cost containment initiatives

• Coordinates specialty programs which include Clothing Allowance, Home 02, AAE, and HISA, Wheelchair,

Reminder: per the position qualification standards (VA HANDBOOK 5005/94 PART II APPENDIX G34), the incumbent must have at least ONE year of fully successful experience at the GS-0672 to be eligible for this position

Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1630

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 0000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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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.

• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

• 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

• English Language Proficiency. Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

• Experience and Education. Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below.

• (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience that demonstrates: Knowledge of basic anatomy and medical terminology; knowledge of accounting methods; ability to research, analyze, comprehend, and apply decisions; basic knowledge of inventory management procedures; ability to use computer software packages for word processing, spreadsheet development, and database management; and ability to work independently and as a member of a team; OR,

• (2) Education. A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution AND at least 24 semester hours in course work related to health care, public administration, or business. The 24 semester hours could include but is not limited to any combination from the following fields: occupational therapy, physical therapy, kinesiotherapy, social work, psychology, prosthetics, orthotics, respiratory therapy, assistive technology, business law, leadership, healthcare, public administration, or business management. This course work may have been completed within the degree or in addition to the degree; OR,

• (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying

• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the United States must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials, and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to experience gained in conventional United States programs.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:GS-13 Prosthetic Representative (Service Chief)

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.

• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• 1. Knowledge of directives, handbooks, clinical practice guidelines, and regulations that apply to Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service to resolve complex, controversial, or precedent-setting matters.
  
  
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  2. Ability to manage specialty prosthetic services. This includes the ability to provide specialty services based on the unique needs of the patient.
  
  
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  3. Skill and ability to effectively advise senior management officials.
  
  
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  4. Ability to manage a health care program that provides home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, orthotics, or prosthetics.
  
  
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  5. Ability to supervise/manage through subordinate supervisors the activities of prosthetic representatives that have diverse functions.
  
  
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  6. Ability to establish and monitor productivity standards and production and performance priorities.
  
  

• Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Service chiefs have full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service operations. This is the highest level professional position, at the facility, with responsibility for the professional practice of all facility PSAS staff. Individuals at the GS-13 level are typically assigned as Chiefs at a complex facility that provide multiple specialty services such as those described in paragraph 2.g and may manage more than one facility through subordinate supervisors. The chief has full management and supervisory responsibility for the PSAS program. Service Chiefs plan, develop, organize, direct, manage, control, implement and evaluate programs for the Service. They have overall responsibility to ensure proper coordination between care delivered by PSAS and the overall delivery of healthcare within the facility. They are responsible for all supervisory functions, including recruitment and hiring, administering employee leave requests and ensuring all requests for hiring, promotions, awards and disciplinary actions are justified and carried out according to appropriate VA Human Resources policies and procedures. The Chief is a member of the senior leadership team providing advice for integrated care programs for a diverse Veteran population with multiple diagnoses, and other needs. The Chief is involved in management planning to achieve medical center, VISN, and national goals.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/94 January 18, 2018 PART II APPENDIX G34

Physical Requirements :Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. Exceptions: A pre-placement examination is required for any occupation or assignment that requires the operation of a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties. Examinations may also be required for any occupation or assignment that requires a pre-placement examination by virtue of another policy, regulation, or statute

Education

IMPORTANT: 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

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

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

Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.