Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent Federal employees (serving on a career/career-conditional appointment or covered under OPM's Interchange Agreement); Preference eligible veterans or veterans separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three or more years of continuous active service; and CTAP/ICTAP eligibles.

Major duties include, but not limited to:

• Reviewing, planning, and coordinating healthcare delivery programs and administrative initiatives across the medical center.
• Providing analytical and evaluative support to executive leadership in monitoring performance measures, productivity indicators, access metrics, and strategic outcomes.
• Participating in and advancing short- and long-range strategic planning efforts aligned with facility priorities and directives from the Veterans Health Administration.
• Designing, conducting, and presenting comprehensive analyses of complex clinical and administrative operations to assess effectiveness, efficiency, compliance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Developing executive-level reports, briefings, issue papers, white papers, congressional responses, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Establishing, tracking, and evaluating performance metrics and management controls to measure program and organizational goal attainment.
• Developing and implementing comprehensive business plans and operational improvement strategies to enhance productivity and service delivery.
• Conducting organizational performance and root cause analyses; identifying systemic issues; and recommending data-driven corrective actions.
• Coordinating implementation of healthcare initiatives, expansion efforts, workflow redesign projects, and executive priorities; monitoring milestones and reporting outcomes.
• Reviewing proposed organizational changes involving establishment, consolidation, transfer, or regrouping of functions and providing recommendations to executive leadership.
• Monitoring and analyzing contract expenditures, resource sharing agreements, physician market pay processes, and other executive-level administrative actions.
• Interpreting and adapting administrative policies, regulatory guidance, and management principles to resolve complex operational challenges.
• Utilizing VA data systems, reporting platforms, and analytical tools to produce reliable decision-support products for leadership.
• Serving as liaison and representative of the Deputy Director in meetings, workgroups, and engagements with internal stakeholders, VISN leadership, community partners, and Veteran Service Organizations.
• Providing consultation and guidance to service chiefs and administrative leadership to strengthen business operations, analytical capability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Exercising increasing discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance, with full autonomy expected at the GS-13 level.

Performs other related 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-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency needs.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD11384-0 and PD10819-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 may 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, 03/16/2026.

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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 and for the 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 (IOR): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the 0671 occupational series. Education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

Education:

• Undergraduate and Graduate Education with major study in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. NOTE: You will be required to provide a copy of your transcript

~OR~

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.

~OR~

• Successfully completed an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program that 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. NOTE: Any and all claimed experience must be outlined in the content of your resume.

In addition to the above IOR requirement, you must also meet the specialized experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience (GS-12):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: Experience performing analytical and evaluative work related to healthcare systems, healthcare administration, or large organizational operations; assisting senior leadership with performance monitoring and strategic planning; preparing executive-level reports, briefings, and correspondence; conducting operational reviews to assess productivity, efficiency, and compliance; utilizing data systems to analyze trends and support management decisions; coordinating healthcare or administrative program initiatives; and applying administrative management principles to improve organizational effectiveness.

• Specialized Experience (GS-13): 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: Experience serving as a senior advisor to executive leadership within a healthcare system or similarly complex organization; independently conducting comprehensive organizational performance analyses; developing and implementing strategic initiatives and business plans; establishing and evaluating performance metrics tied to healthcare operations; advising on resource allocation, physician compensation processes, or high-level administrative programs; leading complex operational improvement initiatives; interpreting and adapting policies to address systemic management challenges; and representing executive leadership in high-visibility internal and external engagements.

Preferred Experience: Documented VA/VHA experience and proven skills related to healthcare systems. At least 5 years documented experience as an Administrative Officer with high-level administrative, critical thinking and operational systems skillset.

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


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 requires frequent walking through the Uptown and Downtown Divisions of the medical center. The work takes the incumbent to every major department and unit in the facility. The work requires community contacts and authority to use government vehicles. Must have vision adequate to use a computer, read printed material and charts as required. Must be able to hear normal voices and able to speak to in audience effectively.

Work Environment: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. 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

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
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• 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.

Next steps