Summary This position is being filled under the Pathways Recent Graduate Program. This program provides recent graduates with work experience directly related to their degree and career goals while offering eligibility for conversion to permanent employment upon completion of the program requirements. Click here for more information about the Department of Veterans Affairs's Recent Graduate Program. Responsibilities The major duties of the Health System Specialist (Graduate Healthcare Administrative Training Program (GHATP) Trainee) position include, but are not limited to: - The person who serves as a GHATP Trainee functions as a Health System Specialist in the Office of the Director of the Medical Facility and will manage projects and assist in the coordination of daily office activities. They are responsible for all program matters under the direction of the Medical Center Director that are delegated to them. - They serve as a Health System Specialist (GHATP Trainee) within a one year formalized national training program. The GHATP training program is designed so that the person in the position acquires the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary to assume progressively more complex responsibilities and assist the Office of the Medical Center Director in successfully meeting its mission and strategic goals. He/She will develop an individual development plan (IDP) and receive recurring progress reviews by the supervisor. - The Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program (GHATP) is intended to build upon and enhance basic knowledge, skills, and abilities previously obtained through higher education and experience related to the management of a VA Healthcare Delivery System. - Utilizes data and reporting tools to develop health-planning service line strategies impacting the operations of components of medical centers, network offices, and/or VHACO program offices. - Analyzes data trends in budget and fiscal expenditures supporting the preparation and execution of budget and committee meetings for identified components within the whole organization. - Researches laws, regulations, and policies related to budget and fiscal administration displaying knowledge of service line or component operations within the health care system or oversight office. - Participates on project teams in lead or support roles identifying and improving operational processes impacting service lines or components of the VA health care system or oversight office. - Displays knowledge of VA priorities and mission statements to recommend improvements to policy and procedures related to service line budget and administrative processes. - Observes, analyzes, and reports under professional service direction the areas of discipline, rewards and recognition, reassignment, staff adjustments and realignments, labor/management relationships, affirmative employment, and alternative dispute resolutions and grievances to understand processes for conducting projects and studies. - Performs rotations and on-site visits to make recommendations to the issues and opportunities present at the Network and other V ANHA facilities and program offices. - Analyzes org charts, policies, VERA and SAIL data to represent the service line of the facility or program office priorities during resource allocation committee meetings. - Participates in disaster preparedness and emergency management planning meetings to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of policies and procedures at the service line level. - Attends facility/Network/and VHACO program office strategic and succession planning meetings to observe techniques and methodologies in VHA personnel management. - Gathers organizational data from reports and TRIP packs in preparation for media and community events either separately or in conjunction with the Public Affairs Office. - Reviews and explores VHA relationships and processes with affiliated education programs. - Participates in local hospital council, veteran organization, and community organization meetings with VHA senior leader staff members. -Manages, leads, and administers project plans which include meeting objectives, assigning resources, giving briefings and presentations as project representative, maintaining quality assurance processes, creating project documentation, and completing after action review reports and follow-up procedures in conduct comprehensive project management. - Reviews and reports on service line policies in preparation for surveys, audits, and inspections in quality assurance, compliance, and procedures governed by internal and external organizations. - Develops and presents an innovative project recommending improvements to policies, procedures, and services provided by VHA at the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). - Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available. Telework: Ad-Hoc per agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (Graduate Healthcare Administrative Training Program); S0001-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:05/29/2026. RECENT GRADUATE REQUIREMENT: The Pathways Recent Graduates Program is open to recent graduates who are legally permitted to work in the U.S. To be eligible. You must have obtained one of the following qualifying degrees, certificate, career, or technical education programs: associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctoral, or technical/vocational degree or certificate (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps) from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years. This program is for one year. Preference eligible veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which the degree (certification and/or career/technical program) was completed. Minimum Qualification Requirement: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-9 Grade Level: Individual Occupational Requirements. 1. Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. OR, 2. Specialized Experience: Progressively responsible analytical or administrative, or clinical management or supervisory experience in the health care field. This work may have been performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities. Work must have involved a close working relationship with facility managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities, and provided knowledge of the following: Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and Government-wide, agency; and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. 3. Special Provision for Inservice Placement: Successful completion of an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program may be substituted for qualifying experience, provided it included a formal individualized training plan. Such a training program must have been conducted in an operating health care system and included: Assignments providing a knowledge of basic health system administration philosophies, practices, and procedures, and basic government administrative policies and requirements; Practical assignments providing an opportunity to apply health system administration skills and principles (as the individual progresses, work assignments must be characteristic of the grade level to which he or she is assigned); and Oversight by an experienced health system administrator with periodic evaluation of the individual's progress and appropriate adjustment of the training program. GS-9 Grade Level Requirements: In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements listed above, applicants must also meet the grade level requirements for this position. Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. OR, Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service that includes performing the following duties: - Progressively responsible analytical or administrative, or clinical management or supervisory experience in the health care field. This work may have been performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities. Work must have involved a close working relationship with facility managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities, and provided knowledge of the following: Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. OR, Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education (beyond 18 semester hours) as described above. Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information. 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. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. Education Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit. Additional Information 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. VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. 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. 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. 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 view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
