Clarification from the agency

Open to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees only!

Duties include but are not limited too:

• Conducting advanced quantitative analyses and financial modeling to support strategic planning initiatives, including facility expansions projects, cost-benefit analyses, and program evaluations.
• Developing business plans in collaboration with service chiefs under the Assistant Director, including assistance with facility-level business planning.
• Preparing reports that may involve data analyses affecting space expansion, recovery/renewal initiatives, PPE data analysis in Logistics, and Occupational Safety and Health community/VISN safety concerns.
• Compiling final reports including comprehensive analyses, noting discrepancies and planned initiatives for effecting remedial actions.
• Establishing process controls to ensure recommendations and actions are completed as approved.
• Implementing resolutions after concurrence of leadership on facility issues/concerns that may arise affecting administrative services and/or clinical services.
• Monitoring action items within the organization to remedy problems and ensure risk management, including suspense items with short turn-around times from VISN, Central Office, and congressional staff requests.
• Identifying problems involving new or revised policies or procedures and bringing them to the attention of executive leadership for appropriate action.
• Assist the Assistant Director with preparing performance for all direct reports.
• Reviewing and editing outgoing correspondence by administrative services prior to the signature of the Director.
• Preparing issue briefs, memos, and other written documents utilizing VA standards.
• Coordinating meetings, agendas, and taking minutes for committee meetings.
• Creating databases that support benchmarking of data including financial data, patient population, and workload.
• Communicating directly, and on behalf of the Assistant Medical Center Director, with service chiefs, program managers, executives, external review boards, Veteran and political organizations, and others on matters related to programmatic initiatives.
• Assisting with facility reports and responding to organization correspondence, including acting as a liaison or handling communication with persons and/or groups within and outside of the organization.
• Providing in-depth knowledge of general systems, programs, and practices related to facility, VISN, and national goals.
• Collaborating with various departments to address uncertainties related to business planning, strategic initiatives, operations, and other administrative requests.
• Initiating interdisciplinary task forces or teams for problem-solving and serving as a positive catalyst in group settings.
• Conducting advanced program direction, including ongoing review and evaluation of operations, policies, and procedures to optimize efficiency, balance, and coordination among facility programs and services.
• Working closely with Executive Leadership Health System Specialists to resolve organizational challenges and propose options to executive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Organizational: Ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines to stay organized.
2. Communication: Proficient in engaging with executives, patients, and third parties.
3. Healthcare Knowledge: Understanding basic medical terminology and operations.
4. Tech Savvy: Command on software like Microsoft Office, and healthcare-specific systems, such as EHRs.
5. Problem-Solving: Quick thinking and resourcefulness in solving problems for smooth operation are required.
6. Attention to Detail: Observing skills to manage calendars to handle sensitive information accurately.
7. Emotional Intelligence: Empathy and resiliency is vital for the healthcare industry.
8. Project Coordination: Assisting in high-level projects and initiatives; ensuring deadlines are met and tracking progress

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework on an Adhoc basis
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD146110

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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)

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 or trial 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, 11/07/2025.

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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Individual Occupational Requirement:

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,

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): 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.

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.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Managing complex strategic priorities and initiatives for executive leadership. Possesses advanced problem-solving skills, the ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and strong multitasking capabilities to ensure timely accomplishment of numerous projects. Establishing project goals and objectives, conducts analyses, and provides findings and recommendations to executive leadership. Demonstrates critical thinking skills to address complex issues across administrative and clinical aspects of the 4 healthcare system. Serving as a problem-solving resource for executive leadership, managing various strategic priorities and initiatives, and collaborating with various departments to address uncertainties related to business planning, strategic initiatives, operations, and other administrative requests. Designing and optimizing work processes responsive to customer needs, analyzing customer feedback to develop targeted action plans, and identifies and addresses "broken" processes through continuous improvement initiatives. Possesses strong analytical and problem-solving skills to analyze complex situations, develop creative solutions, and implement changes to improve processes and outcomes.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management
• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Organizational Awareness
• Risk Management

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.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary but may include periods of prolonged walking. The work places no special physical demands on the employee, includes some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as paper and books.
Work Requirement: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted, quiet, and controlled atmosphere; however, there is some Veteran contact required possibly causing exposure to contagious diseases. The work involves everyday risk and discomfort of offices, meeting, and training rooms. There are frequent interruptions of telephone calls from the VASNHCS staff and others requesting information and assistance on various issues. 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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the 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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• License
• Other (1)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing 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
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Next steps