Lead Program Specialist

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/02/2026. 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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Performing routine contract or agreement oversight tasks, such as reviewing deliverables, tracking contractor performance, and maintaining documentation to support compliance. Supporting program or project activities by gathering data, monitoring timelines, preparing reports, and assisting with coordination across teams or stakeholders. Contributing to administration of service contracts by validating completion of work, reviewing invoices or supporting documentation, and reporting performance issues to senior staff. Researching and interpreting applicable laws, regulations, or organizational policies to resolve standard operational issues or provide guidance to colleagues. Preparing professional correspondence, responding to inquiries, and providing analytical or administrative support that improves workflow, communication, or operational efficiency. Preferred Experience: 3 years of experience handling contract related services as a Contracting Officers Representative (COR). 3 years of experience performing project management duties that include project scheduling, developing and administering risk management plans, supporting execution of communication plans, supporting and creating training delivery, and creating/supporting project documentation (charter, scope, resource plan, etc.) 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/.

Major Duties: Serves as the designated Contracting Officer Representative (COR) on one or more large-scale contracts, providing day-to-day technical oversight of contractor performance. Reviews, analyzes, and interprets contractor-submitted performance reports, Quality Program descriptions, and Work Plans to assess compliance with contract requirements and Minimum Performance Standards (MPS). Identifies performance deficiencies and prepares written findings; initiates and monitors Corrective Action Plans (CAPs), documenting milestones and contractor progress in the official contract file. Participates in and leads quarterly quality review meetings with contractors; prepares meeting agendas, records minutes, and tracks action items through resolution. Coordinates with the Contracting Officer (CO) to escalate unresolved performance issues, recommend contract remedies, and support past performance evaluations at option year renewals. Serves as a technical advisor to the CO and program leadership on healthcare quality trends, emerging managed care standards, and industry best practices. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm EST Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to in person work mandate in their current position. Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA owned or leased space. Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in person work unless they have an approved exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception, exemption, or extension will happen after a tentative job offer, but before a final job offer. Position Description/PD#: Lead Program Specialist/PD62251A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized This is a bargaining unit position.