Medical Officer

About the role

This position is in the Office of Healthcare Inspections, Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs. Oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of the programs and operations of the Office of the Medical Inspector and other key quality assurance and patient safety offices of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Providing objective assessments of the effectiveness of VA's medical quality assurance programs and activities.

What you will do

• Current VA OIG employees will remain in current duty location.
• Other locations may be considered based on space availability at the time of close.
• The Medical Officer serves as the senior technical medical advisor to the IG, AIG for Healthcare Inspections, and other OIG officials across a full range of OIG health care inspections, investigations, and audits.
• The Medical Officer interacts with senior VA physicians, scientists, and outside medical consultants and health care organization; and their advice impacts the VA medical system and veterans seeking care.The Medical Officer is accountable for the following, but not limited to: Serving as a senior medical technical advisor to the Inspector General; AIG, PDAIG, and DAIG for Healthcare Inspections; and audit, investigative, and other OIG staff to provide expert and timely advice and recommendations on complex issues requiring extensive medical knowledge.
• Serving as a senior medical technical advisor in the oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of the effectiveness of VHA's quality assurance programs and services, and of the VHA Medical Inspector, Office of Research Compliance and Assessment, and the Center for Patient Safety.
• Developing policy proposals and recommending changes to current policies; updating procedures and clinical investigative techniques for health care inspection activities to the AIG, PDAIG, and DAIG for Healthcare Inspections.
• Analyzing and reporting on nationwide healthcare program issues such as posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, homeless veterans' health care, and women veterans' health care.
• Participating in all aspects of OHI activities, including planning, conducting on-site reviews; writing and editing reports; and monitoring follow-up actions.

Requirements

• The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service.
• One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.
• To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé.
• Key Requirements: Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
• Citizenship: The selected applicant must be a United States Citizen or United States National.
• Proof of citizenship will be required prior to a final job offer.
• Drug Testing: All applicants tentatively selected for an SL position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment.
• After appointment, the selectee will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• Background Investigation: This position is designated as High Risk and requires a background investigation and favorable adjudication for a Public Trust clearance.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9.
• Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. Financial Disclosure: Senior Level employees are required to comply with the Ethics in Government Act, as amended, which requires the submission of a public financial disclosure statement, OGE 278, upon assuming an SL position, annually, and upon separation from employment.
• Licensure: You must possess and maintain a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rice, or territory of the United States .

Education

If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration.

For further information, visit: *** EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent.

An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

How you will be evaluated

Your application includes your résumé, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your résumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your résumé may result in a "not qualified" determination.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Influencing/Negotiating, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: *** Applicants that are in the top tier will then be referred for an additional review. Category rating will be used to rank and select eligible candidates.

If qualified, you will be assigned to one of three quality level categories, A-Exceptionally Qualified, B-Highly Qualified, or C-Qualified, depending on your responses to the online questions, regarding your experience, education, and training related to this position.

Your rating may be lowered if your responses to the online questions are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your application. Veterans' preference is applied after applicants are assessed. Preference-eligibles will be listed at the top of their assigned category and considered before non-preference-eligibles in that category.

Qualified preference-eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest category. 1. Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration.

You may be required to participate in a selection interview and/or a writing assessment. Applicants who are selected for an interview may ask questions about the evaluation process at the time they are contacted for an interview. 2.

Ranking Panel: This position is Senior Level (SL), in the competitive service. Consistent with 5 C.F.R. §319.102 and §319.401, your application will be evaluated a panel of subject matter experts based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, training, and performance appraisals relevant to the duties of this position.

Your application will be evaluated for the following technical qualifications: Technical Analytical Communication If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)) you must be assigned the middle category or better to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.

Documents you must provide

• A complete application includes 1.
• A résumé - Resumes must be no longer than two-pages in length.
• The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement, 2.
• Technical Qualifications (TQ) Narrative (Required): You must submit written TQ narrative statements that clearly and concisely document specialized experience.
• Number each of your responses with the TQ number you are addressing and provide specific examples of your experience, education and accomplishments that are applicable.
• Please limit your responses to no more than 2 pages for each TQ and combine all responses into one PDF document.
• Vacancy question responses, and submission of any required documents.
• Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
• Education: You must provide a copy of your college transcripts, unofficial are acceptable, or a list of courses that includes school(s) attended, school address, course title, grades earned, completion dates, department, and quarter or semester hours earned.
• NOTE: Official education transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if you are selected, you must provide official transcripts before you start work with OIG.
• Foreign Institution (If applicable): If you are using foreign education or universities to meet the educational requirement, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services at the time of application.
• Licensure (Required): You must provide permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
• All applicants are required to submit a résumé either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing.
• (Cover letters are optional.) USA Jobs restricts resume uploads to a maximum of 2 pages.
• Resumes attached in other sections (such as "Documents" or "Other") will not be considered in the determination of specialized experience.
• To ensure readability, resumes must be formatted using an easy-to-read font (such as Lato, Calibri, or Arial) with a minimum font size of 10-points and margins no smaller than 0.5 inches.
• Failure to follow these formatting guidelines may result in disqualification from further consideration.
• To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your résumé.
• We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your résumé to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.
• For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
• Veterans' Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) or an official statement from your command if currently on active duty that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.
• If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) and the required supporting documents listed on that form.
• For more information on veterans' preference see *** and USA Jobs Help.
• CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits are very generous.

Our benefits package includes: - Challenging work, opportunities for advancement, competitive salaries, bonuses and incentive awards. - Eleven paid holidays, 13 days of sick leave, and 13 to 26 days of vacation time each year. - Access to insurance programs that may be continued after you retire. - A wide choice of health insurance plans, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and no waiting periods.

We pay a substantial amount (up to 75%) of the health insurance premiums. - A retirement program which includes employer-matching contributions. Learn more about Federal benefits programs at: USAJOBS Help Center - Benefits

What to expect next

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing USAJOBS. The status will be visible next to the corresponding position.

The four points of notification are: Application Received or Application Incomplete; Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met; Referred or Not Referred; and Selected or Not Selected By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application.

If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment.

The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring.

These authorities are subject to change. For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. If you are unable to apply online please contact ***.

Additional information

- We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

Applicants who apply for this position may be considered for other positions within the Office of Inspector General that require the same knowledge, skills, and abilities. - Office assignment may be at one of the locations listed on the announcement subject to availability and OIG management discretion. - Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.

If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

(***) This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. - Bargaining: This is a non-bargaining unit position. - Declaration for Federal Employment: If you receive a tentative off er of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. - Adverse Information Screening: Upon selection for this position, you are subject to inquiries as to any occurrences of misconduct, malfeasance, neglect of duty, or the appearance thereof.

Information gained in this check will be considered in the approval decision. - Reasonable Accommodation: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us.

The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation is made on a case-by-case basis. - False Statements: If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired aft er you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action. -Non-Discrimination: All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, age, sex, sexual orientation, disabling condition, membership in an employee organization, or any other non-merit factors.