Megan Lopez

• Lead and manage the full-cycle recruitment process for a broad range of positions, with a focus on healthcare professionals including Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Nursing Assistants (NAs), and law enforcement personnel such as VA Police Officers.
• Draft, review, and post job announcements in USAJOBS, internal boards, and external job sites; ensure alignment with federal classification standards, occupational series requirements, and Veterans Affairs staffing policies.
• Conduct eligibility and qualifications reviews for healthcare candidates, interpreting Title 5, Title 38, and Hybrid Title 38 hiring authorities to ensure compliance and appropriate credentialing.
• Collaborate with Nurse Recruiters and service line managers to define critical staffing needs, develop recruitment strategies, and improve time-to-hire for mission-critical roles.
• Coordinate and schedule interviews, manage interview panels, and develop structured interview guides to ensure equitable candidate evaluation across all levels of healthcare recruitment.
• Oversee pre-employment processes for healthcare hires including physical exams, credential verifications, licensure checks, drug testing, and fingerprinting.
• Maintain accurate onboarding timelines to meet urgent staffing demands.
• Coordinate with state licensing boards and credentialing offices to validate healthcare provider qualifications and expedite onboarding, especially for temporary or emergency hires.
• Manage pay-setting and offer negotiation for healthcare positions, factoring in prior service, special salary rates, locality pay, and market comparisons to attract top-tier clinical talent.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for healthcare applicants throughout the hiring process — providing detailed guidance on onboarding, expectations, federal employment requirements, and benefit options.
• Maintain accurate applicant tracking and hiring status in HR Smart, USA Staffing, and Salesforce, while generating weekly reports on healthcare hiring progress, bottlenecks, and open vacancies.
• Work closely with Medical Center leadership, Nurse Executives, and HR Business Partners to present recruitment metrics and staffing forecasts to support workforce planning initiatives.
• Train hiring managers and panel members on fair hiring practices, Veterans Preference, and structured interviewing for healthcare roles to ensure consistency and compliance with Merit System Principles.
• Facilitate continuous onboarding and communication with new healthcare hires, ensuring timely submission of required documents such as transcripts, certifications, BLS/ACLS cards, and licensure verifications.
• Attend national and local HR training related to healthcare recruitment, Title 38/Hybrid hiring, and credentialing to stay current on federal healthcare staffing policies and strategies.

• Provided critical support for the onboarding and recruitment process for clinical, administrative, and law enforcement hires, ensuring all documentation and pre-employment requirements were completed accurately and in compliance with federal hiring standards.
• Reviewed and processed new hire documents, including SF-50s, OF-306, I-9 verification, tax forms, resumes, transcripts, and veterans’ preference documentation. Uploaded and maintained personnel files electronically using HR Smart, USA Staffing, E-Verify, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Scheduled and tracked completion of pre-employment requirements such as physical exams, drug screenings, fingerprinting, and background checks, ensuring no delays in onboarding timelines.
• Coordinated psychological and polygraph evaluations for law enforcement candidates by working closely with external vendors. Managed communication, appointment scheduling, documentation, and payments in alignment with budget restrictions.
• Developed and maintained digital tracking systems (Excel, SharePoint, Salesforce) to monitor onboarding progress, background check status, and training compliance, ensuring all steps were completed before start dates.
• Served as a key liaison between HR leadership, hiring managers, new hires, and external service providers—effectively managing expectations and resolving onboarding issues quickly.
• Trained and mentored new HR Assistants, creating job aids, onboarding manuals, and process documentation to promote consistency and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Led the development and delivery of onboarding and compliance training sessions for new hires; coordinated logistics, materials, and communications to ensure participation and completion.
• Worked directly with HR Specialists to create and revise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to hiring workflows, helping to standardize and improve the recruitment and onboarding process.
• Coordinated travel and reimbursement for candidates required to travel for interviews or pre-employment evaluations, following federal guidelines for travel authorizations and expense processing.
• Managed and tracked the HR budget for pre-employment services, including external vendor contracts for psychological and polygraph exams. Ensured cost-effective allocation and timely payment processing.
• Monitored records retention for personnel files, making sure digital and physical records were stored securely and aligned with VA and federal record-keeping regulations.
• Consistently delivered excellent customer service to candidates and hiring managers by providing timely updates, clear communication, and professional support throughout the hiring process.
• Recognized by leadership for improving onboarding efficiency, standardizing tracking tools, and maintaining a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality in all personnel actions.

• Coordinated and processed comprehensive pre-employment background investigations for federal applicants, with a focus on high-security roles such as Veterans Affairs Police Officers, medical staff, and contractors.
• Served as the primary point of contact for candidates during the background check phase, ensuring timely submission of required forms and resolving issues related to adjudication or clearance delays.
• Reviewed SF-85 and SF-86 forms, personal history statements, and employment records to assess candidate eligibility and identify discrepancies requiring further investigation.
• Collaborated closely with Personnel Security Specialists, HR Specialists, and hiring managers to ensure background checks were completed in accordance with federal security protocols, sensitivity levels, and agency timelines.
• Utilized federal systems such as PIPS (Personnel Investigations Processing System) and CVS (Central Verification System) to conduct checks and retrieve investigation dates, clearance history, and risk designations.
• Managed fingerprinting appointments and biometric screenings, ensuring law enforcement and healthcare candidates met all pre-appointment security requirements prior to onboarding.
• Reviewed and summarized results from criminal history reports, credit checks, and other investigation components, escalating any flags to adjudicators and ensuring final clearance decisions were documented accurately.
• Maintained an organized, auditable tracking system for all security actions, investigations, and clearance statuses — contributing to operational transparency and regulatory compliance.
• Issued and managed federal access cards (PIV badges) for new hires, ensuring ID creation followed eligibility verification and proper documentation.
• Provided high-level customer service to a wide range of stakeholders, including new hires, contractors, medical residents, and internal leadership, addressing inquiries regarding clearance timelines and requirements.
• Supported orientation processes for newly cleared employees by coordinating security briefings, access permissions, and department onboarding requirements in collaboration with HR teams.
• Worked with HR to verify clearance status before onboarding, preventing improper access or premature start dates for candidates not meeting position sensitivity levels.
• Tracked and documented all actions using Microsoft Excel, SharePoint, and internal VA systems to ensure consistent communication between HR, Security, and Hiring Teams.
• Attended department briefings and training sessions to stay informed on updates to federal background investigation policy, security clearance protocols, and HR coordination best practices

• Provided comprehensive support to veterans, their families, and service providers, addressing a wide range of inquiries related to healthcare services, medical claims, and benefits.

• Assisted veterans with processing and adjusting medical claims, ensuring accurate information was provided and that claims were resolved efficiently.

• Facilitated authorization requests for healthcare services and benefits, guiding veterans through the process and helping to expedite approvals for services.

• Managed adverse credit reporting cases, working closely with veterans and healthcare providers to resolve billing discrepancies and mitigate any negative impact on the veteran's credit report.

• Reprocessed and tracked claims that required further review, ensuring accurate information was sent for additional processing, and maintaining clear communication with veterans about the status of their claims.

• Ensured compliance with HIPAA regulations, maintaining strict confidentiality while handling sensitive personal and medical information to protect veterans’ privacy rights.

• Accessed and updated veteran records using systems such as CPRS, VISTA, and JLV, to obtain medical histories, payment information, and provide real-time support for veterans' inquiries.

• Delivered exceptional customer service to both veterans and their families, consistently demonstrating empathy and professionalism while helping to resolve complex issues, often in emotionally sensitive situations.

• Documented and created detailed Adverse Credit Reports (ACRs), ensuring that all entries were clear, accurate, and grammatically correct so that the next agent could effectively continue resolving any outstanding issues.

• Worked with various departments within the VA to ensure that veterans' claims were handled in a timely manner, regularly communicating with medical staff, billing offices, and claims examiners to expedite claims

• Conducted thorough and consistent security screenings of passengers, carry-on items, and checked baggage using advanced technology including X-ray scanners, metal detectors, and explosive trace detection devices, ensuring strict compliance with TSA protocols and federal aviation regulations.
• Played a critical frontline role in maintaining national security by identifying and mitigating potential threats, including prohibited items, unauthorized behavior, and security breaches.
• Provided exceptional customer service in high-pressure environments, de-escalating tense situations with professionalism, empathy, and clarity — often assisting travelers with special needs, language barriers, or complex travel issues.
• Served as Lead TSO on designated shifts, overseeing up to 14 officers and ensuring all screening operations were conducted in line with policy. Responsible for maintaining staff coverage, resolving procedural issues, and coaching team members in real-time.
• Coordinated daily shift schedules, station rotations, and equipment assignments using Microsoft Excel and internal scheduling tools, ensuring optimal staffing coverage during peak travel periods and emergencies.
• Conducted and documented pre- and post-shift briefings, communicating procedural updates, emerging threats, and incident reports to team members and supervisors.
• Monitored and maintained operational readiness of screening equipment, reporting malfunctions and ensuring prompt resolution to avoid delays in passenger screening.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of identification verification, passenger behavior detection techniques, and emergency response protocols; participated in drills and readiness exercises.
• Audited and maintained radio communication logs, ensuring secure and uninterrupted communication across screening teams and responding to emergency calls or alerts promptly.
• Completed detailed incident reports for security events, policy violations, or passenger interactions, maintaining accurate records for internal investigations or audits.
• Participated in the implementation of new TSA programs, technologies, and screening techniques, adapting to frequent procedural changes and maintaining up-to-date training certifications.
• Delivered peer mentoring and on-the-job training to newly hired TSOs, sharing expertise on customer interaction, screening accuracy, and federal compliance procedures.
• Recognized by supervisors for reliability, attention to detail, and ability to maintain composure and accuracy in high-stress environments such as holiday travel surges or emergency security escalations.