Supervisory Prosthetic Representative (Assistant Chief)

The incumbent serves as a Prosthetic Representative (Assistant Chief); sharing full responsibility with the Chief for supervising all phases of prosthetic operations. The incumbent serves as an expert advisor analyzing, evaluating, planning, developing, and administering work concerned with prosthetic and sensory aids services to patients throughout the VHA.

Major Duties and Responsibilities to include but are not limited to:

• Serves as a Prosthetic Representative (Assistant Chief) completing a variety of supervisory and non-supervisory prosthetic and sensory aids assignments, projects, activities independently to meet PSASs long-and-short term program goals.
• Leads projects and project teams on activities related to prosthetic and sensory aid activities.
• Manages a health care program that provides home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, orthotics, or prosthetics.
• Completes human resources assignments independently, including drafting and developing functional statements, performance standards, and competencies. Makes PSAS's staff selections; assigns personnel; and provides direction to subordinate staff. Manages the training and evaluation of staff. Assesses competencies; evaluates performance; and recommends awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions.
• Works closely with human resources and senior management to counsel employees and initiate disciplinary actions in a timely fashion; engages in the veteran's appeal process. Oversees time and attendance and leave requests.
• Serves as an advisor to clinicians regarding the selection, prescription, and acquisition of prosthetic devices involving furnishing information concerning such matters as, new developments in the field of prosthetics and sources of supply for such devices.
• Interprets prescriptions of clinicians to make certain that proper prosthetic devices are selected for, or by, the patients. Authorizes the purchase, fabrication, or repair of prosthetic devices.
• Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations. Gives technical and administrative advice and assistance on prosthetic problems to other facilities.
• Contributes to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation, and fiscal management. Manages, interprets, and presents fiscal data (i.e. fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecasts resource, and equipment needs; administers an allocated budget.
• Oversees the staff completion of contracting requirements, procurement, and inventory management assignments independently to prepare and authorize purchase orders for a wide variety of prosthetic and orthotic devices
• Responds to a variety of policy and correspondence inquires related to contractors, congressional inquiries, Veteran concerns, specialty benefit program issues, new local and national guidelines implementation, and develops tools that allow monitoring of a quality assurance program, etc.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:30pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation Incentive up to $12,500 with a 2-year service agreement may be authorized.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade level and position concerned.
• 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 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.

Grade Requirements: In addition to the basic requirements, you must meet the following grade requirements.

GS-12 Prosthetic Representative (Assistant Chief). At least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: 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.

AND

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

• 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.
• Ability to analyze data and make recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within the service.
• 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.
• Knowledge of compliance and regulatory accrediting organizations.
• 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

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/.

• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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 interest. In 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.