Program Specialist (Employee Experience Specialist)

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Develops organizational goals and objectives for the Employee Experience and Customer Service programs with the system that complements the goals and strategic plan for the VALBHCS VISN 22 and VHA.
• Oversees and monitors an effective implementation of facility assessments and uses these assessments to effect changes across the HCS to achieve goals related to the Employee Experience and Customer Service.
• Works with HCS external affairs/Network communications in development of promotional materials about the LBVAHCS.
• Develops and implements organizational assessments management reports and feedback mechanisms to monitor and measure systems improvement activities in all areas and at all organizational levels within the HCS.
• Assures that data systems are in place and effectively measuring progress and efforts across the system as it relates to Customer Service.
• Provides support to DEEO relating to leadership coordination and oversight of the organizations Employee Experience program meeting the intent of the national Employee Engagement Council. Promotes an organizational culture of Patient-Centered Care and customer service.
• Utilizes interdisciplinary committees to identify opportunities to enhance the employee experience. Committee updates are presented to the EEC monthly.
• Assists with all leadership development programs including Leadership Development Institute (LDI) and Emerging Leaders.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory qualification and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:30am-4:00pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (Employee Experience Specialist)/PD12181A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 10/02/2026.

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 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: administrative requirements of healthcare delivery systems knowledge of clinical practices procedures and standards distribution requirements for appropriated funds and government purchase cards planning programming and budgeting requirements to support office operations personnel management processes and procedures to include submission and processing of various personnel actions. OR
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: masters 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.

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 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 work is primarily sedentary although some slight physical effort may be required.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at