Summary The Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Cheyenne VA Medical Center is looking to recruit (1) Prosthetic Representative to join there team. The PSAS provides support to optimize the health and independence of the Veteran services provided within various settings.
Duties
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Serves as an advanced trainee Prosthetic Representative performing a variety of technical, administrative, and analytical prosthetic related assignments.
- Obtains formal and informal on-the-job-training and exposure on the full range of Prosthetic Representative duties.
- Receives review, advice, and guidance complex, developmental assignments, projects, activities, and long-and-short term program goals, as it relates to prosthetic and sensory aids.
- Gains PSAS program exposure that is designed to build upon the advanced trainee knowledge, skills, and abilities while receiving detailed training and instruction. Serves as a team participant on local facility committees, workgroups, and teams to learn and obtain additional PSAS training and exposure.
- Serves as a trainee representative at the Department's public relations activities, (i.e. lectures, town halls, and in-services).
- Completes advance developmental assignments and receives guidance as need on a variety of administrative areas, including statistics, data analysis, budgeting, contracting, procurement, inventory management, human resources, etc.
- Works closely with senior PSAS's staff to draft and develop organizational policies and procedures that are consistent with national policies and procedures.
- 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).
- Completes advance trainee contracting and procurement assignments working closely with supervisors and/or senior Prosthetic Representatives to prepare and authorize purchase orders for a wide variety of prosthetic and orthotic devices.
- Ensures requests for items or services are complete and received under established timeframes. Confers with contractors, vendors, and other health care workers regularly regarding procurement needs, referring to senior staff for guidance as needed.
- Monitors contracts for compliance to the statement of work; and receives, analyzes, and completes requests for prosthetic equipment and services.
- Works closely with supervisor or senior staff to plan, draft, and prepare budget estimates; to develop cost-containment measures for prosthetic equipment and services; to assist with authorizing 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.
- Enters codes for every item purchased through and/or billed to ensure proper reporting. Conducts data analysis using statistical data 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.
- Authorizes the purchase, fabrication, fitting, or repair of prosthetic and orthotic devices.
- Prepares minutes and/or correspondence to veterans, health care officials regarding prosthetics needs and requirements, and clinic decisions and recommendations.
- Assists in preparing local standard operating procedures/policies
- Assists with processing Veteran appeals and drafting responses.
- Refers to supervisor and/or PSAS's senior staff as needed for guidance.
- Communicates and coordinates specialty programs, which include clothing allowance, Home O2 program, Automobile Adaptive Equipment (AAE), Home Improvement & Structural Alterations (HISA), etc.
- Interacts with Veterans, caregivers, and clinical staff by answering questions related to benefit programs, including questions about the provision of prosthetic items, home care equipment, benefits, or service issues, and discharge planning requirements.
- Participates in home and vendor visits, with a supervisor and/or senior Prosthetic Representative, to authorize benefit payments, reimbursement, and contract compliance.
- Reviews, monitors, analyzes, and evaluates the results of various databases.
- Completes advanced trainee developmental human resources assignments, including developing functional statements, performance standards, and competencies.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Situational Adhoc only- as determined by the agency policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 54218A; 54129A; 54220A; 54221A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedQualifications
Basic Requirements:
- United States Citizenship:
- Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- English Language Proficiency.
- Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
- Experience and Education
- 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
- 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.
OR
- Experience/Education Combination:
- Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
Grandfathering Provision.
- All persons employed in VHA as a Prosthetic Representative on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
- Employees grandfathered into the GS-0672 occupational series as prosthetic representatives may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
- Prosthetic Representatives who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
- Employees who are retained as a Prosthetic Representative under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a prosthetic representative.
Foreign Education.
- To be creditable, education completed outside the United States must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials, and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to experience gained in conventional United States programs.
Grade Specific Requirements
GS 5 Prosthetic Representative (Entry Level)
Experience.
- None beyond the basic requirement
GS-7 Prosthetic Representative (Developmental Level)
Experience:
- In addition to the basic requirements, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level, directly related to the position to be filled.
GS 7 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to meeting the experience for the GS-7 level, the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities must be obtained.
- Ability to understand and apply processes, procedures, regulations, and laws as it applies to purchasing and the provision of prosthetic items/services.
- Ability to coordinate multiple requests for durable medical equipment (DME), including repairs, services, and benefits.
- Ability to act as a liaison with and work effectively with health care providers, patients, caregivers and vendors to ensure that the most appropriate device and services are received timely.
- Ability to monitor contractors and vendors for compliance with contract requirements.
GS-9 Prosthetic Representative (Developmental level)
Experience.
- In addition to the basic requirements, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level, that is directly related to the position to be filled.
OR
Education.
- Education equivalent to two full years of progressively higher level graduate education or Master's or equivalent graduate 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 may 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.
GS 9 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to meeting the experience and or education for the GS-9 level, he following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities must be obtained.
- Knowledge of methods to identify trends and causation factors sufficient to analyze prepared data and gather information to inform and advise management.
- Ability to organize, prioritize, and monitor actions to ensure timeliness.
- Ability to understand and articulate the benefits program options available. This includes communicating with patients, caregivers, health care providers and vendors.
- Ability to apply and educate others about national, VISN, and facility directives, policies, procedures and regulations.
- Ability to work effectively with a clinical team and provide recommendations for prosthetic devices.
GS-11 Prosthetic Representative (Full Performance Level)Experience.
- In addition to the basic requirements, one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level, that is directly related to the position to be filled.
GS 11 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's): In addition to meeting the experience for the GS-12 level, the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities must be obtained.
- Ability to work independently to set priorities; delegate tasks; meet multiple deadlines; analyze organizational problems; and develop and implement effective solutions to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity.
- Ability to work with a team, to provide technical guidance, plan, organize, and coordinate activities to effectively complete job duties of assignment, such as distributing workload; and monitoring the accuracy, status and progress of work.
- Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, to meet program objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels.
- Ability to assist in staff development, outcome management, and strategic planning.
- Ability to act as liaison between staff to resolve informal employee complaints and concerns.
- Knowledge of rehabilitative treatment goals and strategies that are unique to patients in specialized programs and knowledge of those specific program requirements.
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 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 5-11.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service, paragraph 2.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/.Requirements
- 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.
- 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 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.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.
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.
Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
- Current permanent VA employees of the facilityHow to apply All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/16/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13114247.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. Other 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.
