Prosthetic Representative (Assistant Chief)

About the role

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

PLEASE READ THE COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET.

What you will do

• The incumbent will share full responsibility with the Chief; supervising all phases of prosthetic operations, and will serve as Chief of the service in the Chief's absence.
• The incumbent serves as an expert advisor analyzing, evaluating, planning, developing, and administering work concerned with prosthetic and sensory aids services to patients.
• Other duties and responsibilities 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, and activities independently to meet PSASs long-and-short term program goals.
• Plans, develops, and directs a Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Program at the national, VISN, or local level.
• Advises the VA Central Office for the development of PSAS policies and manages and provides national-level oversight to a VISN or facility PSAS program to achieve VHA's overall mission goals.
• Leads projects and project teams on activities related to prosthetic and sensory aid activities.
• Completes a variety of non-supervisory ad hoc projects and assignments personally as needed.
• Manages a health care program that provides home medical equipment, rehabilitation services, home oxygen, visual or hearing impairment devices, assistive technology, orthotics, or prosthetics.
• Serves as an Assistant Chief located at larger facilities that provide specialty services to smaller facilities and report to a PSAS Service Chief.
• Shares with the Chief full responsibility for managing and supervising all phases of prosthetic operations.
• 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.
• Serves as liaison between Prosthetic Service and other departments.
• 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.
• Maintains continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies, inspecting their facilities and services and participating in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts; Analyzes data and make recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within the service.
• Assures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements.
• Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations.
• Identifies and selects national CMS/ Health Care Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) codes are entered for every item purchased through and/or billed to ensure proper reporting.
• Collaborates with clinical staff and Supply Chain Management to ensure surgical implants are Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved; Collaborates with clinical staff when devices and equipment require repair or replacement and takes necessary actions to resolve issues Contributes to the effective utilization of resources, budgetary allocation, and fiscal management.
• Develops cost-containment measures for prosthetic equipment and services; to authorize benefit payment and reimbursement.
• Authorizes the purchase, fabrication, fitting, or repair of prosthetic devices.
• Serves as a VHA and PSAS representative on local facility committees, workgroups, and teams to address a variety of PSAS's issues, initiatives, and projects.
• Drafts, develops, and implements new local organizational policies, directives, and procedures that are consistent with national policies, procedures, programs, and processes.
• Provides documents to the supervisor for final approval after the incumbent submits final, review, comments, and recommendations.
• Maintains awareness of VA's, VHA's, and PSAS's requirements regarding the Joint Commission standards of care implementation.
• 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.
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor).
• Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Maybe Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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, 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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 one or two-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.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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: *** 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: ***

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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 for this position: 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.

Documents you must provide

• To complete your application, please use the following link *** to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• NOTE: Incomplete packets will not be considered.
• Failure to submit the required documentation may make you ineligible for this position.
• The following documents are required from all applicants: Résumé / CV: For each job/position listed, you must include a job title, detailed duties, month and year for each start/end date and if full-time or part-time status with the number of hours worked each week.
• Responses to the questionnaire Certification: Must provide a copy of your ?? certification(s) as listed above for this position.
• Transcript(s): Must provide a copy of all education transcripts if you are using education to qualify for this position.
• SF-50: All VA/Federal employees should submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (that is not an award SF-50) that shows you're a current, permanent VA/Federal employee.
• You may get your SF-50 directly from your eOPF.
• VA employees may go to: ***
• Other Federal employees must contact your current HR Office for assistance assessing your eOPF/personnel folder.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.