Summary The incumbent serves as a Program Analyst (Informatics) located at the medical centers, in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The primary purpose of the position is to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care by integrating clinical and information processes necessary to achieve successful adoption and application of new technologies throughout the VHA. Responsibilities Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Uses communication, education, and leadership to support comprehension of and adaptation to organizational updates. Guides the evolution of clinical software and processes by ensuring clinical software are available for staff use in addition to training on these programs. Contributes to the development of software enhancements, guides process improvement activities, and partners with colleagues working on information technology (IT) for the better provision of patient care by clinical and business staff. Cultivates a healthy working relationship between the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) and Health Informatics, allowing for routine dialog to enable the sustainment and optimization of our health IT solutions and workflows, for the benefit of all staff and Veterans. Evaluates content quality and assures access to knowledge resources, eliminating redundancy in duplicate data sources, and improving information interoperability across the organization. Applies statistical (quantitative information derived mathematically), machine learning (use of artificial intelligence to derive knowledge from data to predict outcomes), visualization (representation of data via a chart or other image), inferencing (a way to understand cause-and-effect relationships) and other techniques to enable decision support. Utilizes or develops reports and information tools using a variety of methods and tools such as Structured Query language (SQL), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) from the VISN and the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. Enables healthcare capabilities and the evolution of technology adjoined to the electronic health record (EHR) to deliver quality care by developing, implementing, monitoring, maintaining, and optimizing informatics tools and access to them. Serves as a subject matter expert in the visual depiction of process flow diagrams, assisting end-users with correct interpretation of symbols and diagrams that reflect their work activities. Ensures clinical input in the development and management of the VHA business architecture. Participates in actions to evaluate, test, and report on errors found when working with systems and applications. Applies a true end-to-end process to evaluate workflows, identify issues, develop solutions based on best practice guidelines, and resolves and communicates changes to maintain and optimize processes that deliver Health Information Technology (HIT) solutions. Uses communication, education, and leadership to support comprehension of and adaptation to organizational updates. Performs activities that support the management and delivery of educational experiences using information solutions and technology in all areas of healthcare. Performs other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8am to 430pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Available on ad hoc basis only Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst (Informatics)/PD99399-S, PD99372-S, and PD99397-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Qualifications 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07, and for the GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09, and for the GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 (This does not apply to Wage Grade employees). 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. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 Basic Requirements Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: training, leading, coordinating or supervising others in related duties such as: Skill in applying a wide range of established practices, theories, and emerging information in health care delivery, informatics and applications; knowledge and use of clinical software packages; broad knowledge of VHA operations, national databases, EHR architecture and file structure; analytical techniques, and clinical applications development techniques; in order to provide general informatics consulting services and to develop and deliver segments of appropriate informatics educational and training programs to VHA employees. Qualifying Based on Education: You may qualify for this position based on education. To qualify for this position based on education, you must demonstrate you have: Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D., if related, Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable. Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. You MUST submit transcripts if you are using education to qualify. GS-11 Basic Requirements Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge and skill in applying a wide range of advanced practices, theories, and emerging information in health care delivery, HI and applications; knowledge in the use of clinical software packages; experienced knowledge of VHA operations, national databases architecture and file structure, analytical techniques, and clinical applications development techniques; in order to be able to provide knowledgeable and professional health informatics consulting services and to develop and deliver appropriate HI educational and training programs to all levels of employees, internal and external to the VA thorough in-depth knowledge of the clinical environment, including practices, procedures, policies, strengths, and weaknesses to effectively use data to track and manage patient care. Qualifying Based on Education: You may qualify for this position based on education. To qualify for this position based on education, you must demonstrate you have: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related Education and Experience: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable. Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. You MUST submit transcripts if you are using education to qualify. GS-12 Basic Requirements: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Comprehensive knowledge and skill in applying a wide range of advanced practices, theories, and emerging information in health care delivery, HI and applications; knowledge in the use of clinical software packages; experienced knowledge of VHA operations, national databases architecture and file structure, analytical techniques, and clinical applications development techniques; in order to be able to provide knowledgeable and professional health informatics consulting services and to develop and deliver appropriate HI educational and training programs to all levels of employees, internal and external to the VA thorough in-depth knowledge of the clinical environment, including practices, procedures, policies, strengths, and weaknesses to effectively use data to track and manage patient care. 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Continued in Education... Education ...Continued from Education Physical Requirements: Performance of the incumbent's duties may require extensive walking per day to meet with the facility managers and other clinic personnel. Trips to satellite outpatient clinics are sometimes necessary and will involve transportation via automotive vehicle. The work performed is of a precise nature requiring long periods of concentration that is often interrupted. Incumbent is often faced with changing priorities and with meetingdeadlines. Work Environment: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. The employee's work may require occasional travel. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. If you are attempting to qualify based on your educational accomplishments, you must submit transcripts with conferred dates or you will be found ineligible. Additional Information Preferred Experience: Preferred candidates should have VHA specific experience with electronic health systems and demonstrate ability to conduct program evaluations, analyze complex data, and provide clear, actionable recommendations to leadership, and effectively train on the complexities of an electronic health record. Ideal applicants will have applied experience with health informatics standards such as Health Level Seven (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI), and requirements established by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Applicants should have familiarity with enterprise electronic health record systems such as VHA CPRS and Oracle Health/Cerner and demonstrated ability to develop high quality analytic products using tools like Power BI, VA Fileman, SQL Server Management Studio, Excel, PowerPoint, One Note, Experience in data governance, HIPAA compliant data handling, and process improvement methods such as Lean Six Sigma is also strongly preferred. Candidates should also show skill in coordinating cross functional informatics initiatives, preparing formal reports and briefings for senior leadership, and translating technical data into clear operational insights. This must be demonstrated within your resume This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
