Prosthetic Representative (Assistant Chief)

The Prosthetic Representative (Assistant Chief) must administer supervise and perform work dedicated to rendering prosthetic and sensory aid services to disabled patients. The work may include: planning developing and directing a prosthetics and sensory aids program at the local Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) or national levels; advising clinicians on selecting prescribing and acquiring prosthetic devices; advise on new prosthetics field developments and supply sources; interpreting clinician prescriptions to ensure proper device selection; authorize purchase fabrication or repair; maintaining liaison with prosthetics supply manufactures and dealers inspecting their facilities and services and participating in awarding prosthetic appliance contracts; participating in investigative/research studies by selecting pilot wears of newly developed prosthetics items. and evaluating and compiling data on items usefulness and providing multiple facilities with prosthetic and sensory aids technical/administrative advice and assistance. This work requires applying and interpreting laws concerning benefits available to disabled patients and the regulations procedures and practices based on and in addition specialized knowledge of the medical and psychological problems directly related to the use of prosthetic devices. This position serves in the capacity of the acting Service Chief and/or in the absence of the Chief.

Duties include but not limited to:

• Develop local organizational policies and procedures consistent with national policies and procedures.
• Develop Statement of Work for Service Contracts.
• Possess and maintain Contracting Officer Representative (COR F AC) II certification.
• Establish long and short-term program goals.
• Responds to a variety of correspondence i.e. contractors home oxygen program issues and congressional.
• Assess and provide technical guidance concerning equipment and benefits to beneficiaries and other healthcare workers.
• Adjusts workload and develops performance measures. Implements new local and national guidelines.
• Develop 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.
• Interview veterans and inspect prosthetic equipment /appliances.
• Conduct home and vendor visits to determine contractor compliance with the Statement of Work and evaluations for recommendations regarding home modifications.
• Inspect and recommend approval of contractor prosthetic shops.
• Implement Joint Commission standards of care.
• Coordinate specialty clinics which include wheelchairs amputees Major Medical Equipment Committee (MMEC) Preventive Amputee Care Team (PACT) etc.
• Ensure clinic decisions are implemented.
• Manages maintains and controls inventory.
• Serves as technical advisor and subject matter expert
• Participate in team discussions about program goals for implementation purposes. Represents the department in public relations activities i.e. lectures town halls and In-services.
• Administers personnel management rules regulations procedures.
• Understands the unique characteristics of sites for which responsible.
• Participates in national initiatives intra-agency workgroups and/or committees.
• Assists in drafting/recommending national policies or directives.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday
Telework: Ad Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:10210F
Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

• 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.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 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 trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• 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 bachelors 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.
    • Note: 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). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a Prosthetic Representative on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-0672 occupational series as prosthetic representatives may be reassigned promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Prosthetic Representatives who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Employees who are retained as a Prosthetic Representative under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a prosthetic representative.

Grade Determinations: GS-12 Prosthetic Representative (Assistant Chief): At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level (see below Assignment and KSAs).

Assignment GS-11 Prosthetic Representative (Full Performance Level). Work at the full performance level is performed independently and with minimal supervision. Prosthetic Representatives provide oversight administration and coordination for a number of services including but not limited to procurement clinical services customer service/reception inventory management associated with medical rehabilitative and durable medical equipment devices; home durable medical equipment delivery/set-up/installation; visual or hearing devices; assistive technology; and orthotics/prosthetics. The Prosthetic Representative assists with management and oversight of contract programs such as home oxygen durable medical equipment and eyeglasses. They are responsible for the administration of benefit programs such as home and structural alterations automobile adaptive equipment and clothing allowance.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs) GS-11 Prosthetic Representative (Full Performance Level). Additionally applicants must demonstrate all of the following:
1. Ability to work independently to set priorities; delegate tasks; meet multiple deadlines; analyze organizational problems; and develop and implement effective solutions to optimize quality efficiency performance and productivity.
2. Ability to work with a team to provide technical guidance plan organize and coordinate activities to effectively complete job duties of assignment such as distributing workload; and monitoring the accuracy status and progress of work.
3. Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively both orally and in writing to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels.
4. Ability to assist in staff development outcome management and strategic planning.
5. Ability to act as liaison between staff to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns.
6. Knowledge of rehabilitative treatment goals and strategies that are unique to patients in specialized programs and knowledge of those specific program requirements

GS-12 Prosthetic Representative (Assistant Chief) KSAs.
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following:
1. Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties including responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; assessment of competencies; evaluation of performance; selection of staff; and recommendation of awards advancements and disciplinary actions.
2. Ability to analyze data and make recommendations to optimize quality efficiency performance and productivity within the service.
3. 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.
4. Knowledge of compliance and regulatory accrediting organizations.
5. Ability to manage interpret and present fiscal data (i.e. fund controls contracts and equipment expenditures) forecast resource and equipment needs and administer an allocated budget.

Preferred Experience: The ideal candidate demonstrates strong leadership experience within a Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) environment with proven ability to support service operations guide staff and uphold VHA standards of practice. Preferred candidates will have comprehensive knowledge of prosthetic clinical and administrative processes experience with workload management and skill in coordinating care with interdisciplinary teams. Candidates who hold relevant certifications have experience in process improvement and demonstrate excellent communication problem-solving and customer service skills are highly desired. A commitment to patient-centered care regulatory compliance and fostering a collaborative high performance work culture is essential.