Program Manager (Operations Chief)

Veterans Affairs$90K — $120K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of specialized experience in program management at the GS-13 level or higher
  • Demonstrated knowledge of planning, development, and execution of international programs
  • Ability to prepare program justifications and various documentation
  • Strong analytical skills for evaluating program performance metrics
  • Experience in supervising teams and mentoring employees
  • Excellent communication skills for advising senior management
  • Capable of collaborating with multiple stakeholders including contracting offices and health organizations.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and assign tasks within the operations team while ensuring compliance with policies
  • Monitor work progress to meet deadlines and adjust priorities as needed
  • Evaluate and analyze program performance metrics, providing insight to leadership
  • Ensure contract exam providers comply with Performance Work Statements
  • Advise on program policies and recommend improvements for contract effectiveness
  • Draft and implement procedures and directives for effective program management
  • Consult on complex issues that may affect the MDE program's future direction.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package for federal employees available
  • Access to federal health programs and retirement plans
  • Opportunities for professional development and career advancement
  • Job security and stable work environment as a government employee
  • Paid time off and federal holidays observed.
Full Job Description
Summary

How MDEO Accomplishes Our Mission: Administer and oversee multi billion dollar international federal contracts; Develop DBQs and examination procedures; Audit vendor performance; Provide error trend feedback; Monitor examination data and create training. Additionally, MDEO serves as VBA's primary POC for C&P exams.

Duties

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Specific duties include:

  • Carrying out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Plans and assigns work, sets priorities, advises employees on program goals and objectives, and makes decisions on work problems presented by subordinate employees.
  • Assuring timely accomplishment of the assigned tasks by keeping in touch with the progress of work and adjusting in accordance with established priorities. Checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to see that supervisor instructions on work sequences, procedures, methods and deadlines have been met.
  • Evaluating program performance metrics, whether internally or externally produced, and briefs leadership on the implications of status, trends, and risk insights gained through the incumbent's analysis.
  • Responsible for leading the operations team who monitors and evaluates performance of MDEO contract exam providers to ensure compliance with the Performance Work Statement.
  • Serving as a key advisor to the Assistant Director and/or Deputy Executive Director on program policies, procedures, and contract effectiveness.
  • Collaborating with VA/VBA contracting office(s), Veterans Health Administration, Office of Field Operations, and District Offices.
  • Responsible for oversight of drafting procedures, directives, and guidelines, as necessary; develop and coordinate efforts between all employees and management to build consensus on the establishment of appropriate procedures; responsible for shepherding proposed procedures through the appropriate process and the final dissemination and implementation of newly devised procedures.
  • Regularly advising senior management officials on complex, sensitive, controversial and highly sensitive issues which may impact or shape the future direction of MDE program.


Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Manager (Operations Chief); PD 389790

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selectees are required to service a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process


Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 07/20/2026.

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.

  • For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13 level.


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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

GS-14 Grade Level:

  • Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience: The applicant must document knowledge of program management pertaining to planning, development and execution of worldwide programs and be able to prepare various documents including program justifications.


Volunteer Experience: 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.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Additional information

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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.

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

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

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 or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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