Program Specialist

This position is located in the Admin Office within the Surgery Service Line, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC. This is a complex organization providing surgical services across 13 operative subspecialties at the main medical center and CBOCs throughout South Carolina and Georgia. The incumbent performs work related to equipment budgeting and procurement, contracting and procurement administration, and complex human resources management supporting Surgery Service operations.

**Qualifications:**
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/27/2026. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, April 13, 2026. You will be considered for the grade level(s) for which you apply and meet qualifications. Time-in-grade requirements apply to current Federal employees. Time-in-Grade Requirement: At the GS-07 Level: Time-in-Grade: Must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level (or equivalent) in the Federal service. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service that demonstrates developing knowledge of administrative procedures, procurement processes, contracting requirements, or human resources principles. Experience must demonstrate ability to perform routine to moderately complex administrative assignments under supervision, including activities such as: Assisting with procurement or purchasing processes, including processing transactions and maintaining records Supporting contract monitoring or administration functions Assisting with human resources-related administrative tasks (e.g., tracking personnel actions, preparing documentation) Preparing administrative correspondence, reports, or justification materials Using automated systems for budget tracking, procurement, or records management At the GS-07 level, this is a developmental position (PD# 534-11492-A). The incumbent works under closer supervision and is building toward full-performance capabilities. The GS-07 selectee may be non-competitively promoted to GS-09 upon meeting all qualifications and performance requirements. At the GS-09 Level: Time-in-Grade: Must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level (or equivalent) in the Federal service. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service that demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of administrative, procurement, contracting, and/or human resources management principles sufficient to independently perform complex assignments. Experience must demonstrate: Managing equipment procurement or contracting administration, including developing specifications, processing procurements, and monitoring compliance Serving as or supporting a COTR function, including monitoring contractor performance, reviewing invoices, and ensuring compliance with contract terms Independently preparing complex administrative documents, justification packages, or management analyses requiring interpretation of regulations Managing or supporting human resources compensation programs such as market pay reviews, recruitment or retention incentives, or other special pay programs Applying federal procurement regulations (FAR/VAAR), VA directives, or Title 5/Title 38 authorities to varied and complex administrative situations Working with VA administrative systems (e.g., IFCAP, IPPS, VistA, FMS, USA Staffing) or comparable procurement/HR systems The GS-09 is the full performance level (PD# 534-11491-A). The incumbent works under general supervision with substantial independence, exercises sound judgment on complex matters, and serves as a technical resource for Surgery Service administrative functions. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Experience Credit 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, religious, 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 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 clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours per week spent in each role. Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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/.