Prosthetic Representative (TCF Trainee)

Summary

The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. This is a trainee position that aims to train an incumbent to a Prosthetic Representative within the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS).

Duties

• The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions.
• The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field.
• Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor.
• Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service
• This is a developmental position leading to a GS-07, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision.
• You will ultimately acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11.
• Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.
• Duties and responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to the following:
• Serves as a Prosthetic
• Representative completing segments of prosthetic and sensory aids assignments, projects, activities, and long-and-short term program goals. Performs technical, administrative, and analytical prosthetic related assignments for the
• PSAS. Serves on local facility committees, workgroups, and teams to address a variety of
• PSAS's issues, initiatives, and projects. Works closely with senior
• PSAS's staff to draft, develop, and implement new local organizational policies, directives, and procedures that are consistent with national policies, procedures, and programs. Maintains awareness of
• VA's, VHA's, and
• PSAS's requirements by governing bodies, i.e. The Joint
• Commission (JC), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
• Facilities (CARF) and American Board for Certification in
• Orthotics, Prosthetics and
• Pedorthics (ABC). Keeps abreast of current issues in the health care industry and technological advancements. Completes contracting and procurement assignments to prepare and authorize purchase orders for a wide variety of prosthetic and orthotic devices. Works in collaboration with supervisor to oversee the operation of the
• Prosthetic, Orthotic and Optical
• Laboratories. Keeps the supervisor informed of procurement/contract issues as they arise. Ensures requests for items or services are complete and received under established timeframes. Confers independently with contractors, vendors, and other health care workers as needed regarding procurement needs. Monitors contracts for compliance with
• PSAS's statement of work; and receives, analyzes, and completes requests for prosthetic equipment and services. Monitors and analyzes
• PSAS compliance reports, Delayed Order
• Report, aged credit card transactions, compliance metrics and scorecards. Develops tools that monitor
• VHA's quality assurance program.
• Analyze and interpret data for trends and provide guidance to improve quality assurance, policies and procedures.
• Works in collaboration with supervisor and senior staff to plan, draft, develop, and prepare budget estimates; to develop cost-containment measures for prosthetic equipment and services; to authorize benefit payment and reimbursement.
• Procures materials, supplies, and equipment; familiar with inventory stock and works collaboratively with Supply
• Chain to provide oversight of prosthetic service inventories; and refers veterans to proper clinical area for evaluation with guidance from supervisor and senior staff. Enters every item purchased through and/or billed to ensure proper reporting. Conducts data analysis to prepare various VHA and
• PSAS reports regarding prosthetics and sensory aids. Ensures surgical implants are Federal Drug
• Administration (FDA) approved/cleared; collaborates with Supply Chain
• Management to establish local procedures and to disposition implants appropriately.
• Collaborates with clinical staff when devices and equipment require repair or replacement and takes necessary actions to resolve issues.
• Uses analytical abilities, communication skills, and social awareness to identify, analyze, and resolve routine prosthetic issues or problems to effectively complete assignments.
• Reviews, interprets, and applies laws concerning benefits available to disabled patients.
• Maintains awareness regarding medical and psychological problems related to patients need to use prosthetic devices.
• Work Schedule: Monday
• Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• You must be a U.S.
• Citizen to apply for this job 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.
• See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
• In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment.
• The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• 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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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
• Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

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: 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/.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Special Note for
• Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume
• 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.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former
• Federal employees)/ documentation to support Veterans
• Preference claims. You will not be contacted for additional information. Cover Letter Full resume Other (2) Resume Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript
• SF-50, Notification of Personnel
• Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or
• Eligibility): Most recent
• SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee An
• SF-50 showing 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
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. Examples of appropriate
• SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
• Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
• SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old. Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible
• Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor
• Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your
• DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable,
• General, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible
• Veterans) must also submit an
• SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran
• Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on
• Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets
• 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.
• It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
• 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.