Summary Functions as the the Health System Specialist to the Deputy Network Director and Chief Operating Officer. As the Health System Specialist at the Network level, the work performed will focus on Network-wide results and outcomes. Responsibilities This job opportunity not to exceed (NTE) 1 year may result in a detail or temporary promotion which may become permanent without further competition. This position works closely with the Deputy Network Director and Chief Operating Officer in performing duties directly contributing to the administrative management of a healthcare delivery system. The overall responsibilities includes but are not limited to: Ability to apply specialized principles and practices of health care managements in directing or supporting a healthcare delivery system. Provides full staff assistance and have full delegated responsibility for the study, analysis, evaluation, and formulation of recommendations for the development and improvement of administrative and healthcare operating programs. Exercises independent judgment in the development of communication briefings and remarks for community events and speaking engagements with congressional officials, Veterans Service Organizations and other internal and external stakeholders. Serves as the VISN 8 lead for the Compensation and Pension (C&P) Program. Fully responsible for daily operation of both C&P and Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) portions of the program within the network office. Analyzes and evaluates program statistics for reports and making recommendations for improvement and increasing program and reporting efficiency. Coordinate resource requests, ensure appropriate processes exist for review, discussion and monitoring of appropriate subsidiary committees that the Deputy Network Director and Chief Operating Officer serve. Assist with maintaining the calendar, organizing meetings, scheduling travel and coordination of activities. Provide analytic support, lead projects, research data, and complete ad hoc reports. Works closely with both administrative and clinical network level executive and senior leadership officials, program managers, and their counterparts at the facility-level to develop, analyze, evaluate, advise on, or improve the effectiveness of work methods or procedures, organizations, manpower utilization, distribution of work assignments, delegations of authority, management controls, information and documentation system, and similar functions of management. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, From 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (Detail/Temporary Promotion Not to Exceed 1 Year)/PD107140 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/31/2026. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. Individual Occupational Requirement: The 0671 series requires specific education or experience to be met in order to be appointed into a position of this series. You must meet the pre-determined Education or Experience Individual Occupational Requirement below as set by Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Education: Undergraduate and Graduate in a Major study of hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. --OR-- Experience: Experience of 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-- Special Provision for In-service 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. In addition to the Time in Grade and Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR), you must meet the following grade level requirement: GS-13 Grade Level Requirement -You must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level. Specialized Experience: The position requires knowledge of health care delivery systems, management principles, practices, methods, and techniques of medical center operations, policies, and procedures as well as VA regulations, policies, and program guidelines. Applicants must have knowledge of quality improvement concepts, team facilitation skills, statistical processes, VHA Healthcare delivery system(s) and understanding of local activities to improve performance in such areas. Qualifying Specialized experience includes: Develops administrative and strategic operational initiative of the organization to identify problems, analyze data, and recommend resolutions. Coordinates and participates in strategic planning. Assist in prioritizing resource allocations. Applying advanced qualitative and quantitative techniques to perform management analysis of current programs. Leads and participates in task force or research groups to analyze problem areas and recommends adjustments to improve existing policy or procedures. Provides guidance and advice on program matters to include handling legislative issues, development and implementation of policy or program initiatives, protocol issues, and other important correspondence or VISN/VACO related matters. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. The work is performed in a typical office setting. Some travel between sites of care may be required to coordinate initiatives and to represent the agency at meetings and events and to do demonstrations and presentations. 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/. Education There is no educational substitution for the specialized experience requirement at this grade level. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/. 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. 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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 for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about 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/.
