Health System Specialist (Associate Group Practice Manager) Job in San Diego, CA

Vacancy No. CBSX-12805071-25-BAB Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $101,234.00 to $131,610.00 Grade 12 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/1/2025 Close Date 10/14/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
San Diego, CA


Summary

The VA San Diego Healthcare System is currently recruiting for a Health System Specialist (Associate Group Practice Manager). They will serve as an administrative liaison/coordinator providing clinical and administrative services support with access to care, consult management, Veteran and employee experience, and facilities management under the direction of the Assistant Medical Center Director and Group Practice Manager

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Works collaboratively with the clinical and administrative services to achieve strategic goals and initiatives.
  • Responsible for coordination of daily operations for a wide range of services necessary to provide a continuum of care for Veterans. The work directly involves a wide range of responsibilities including human resources, logistics, acquisition, access, consults, encounters, fiscal matters, equipment, policies/procedures, space, etc.
  • Assists in the design, implementation, modification, and maintenance of quality management and risk management programs and applies specialized knowledge of health care management to the planning, organization, and evaluation of the delivery of services.
  • Responsible for tracking, monitoring, evaluating, developing, and implementing action plans to ensure achievement of VA standard for performance measure at the CBOC sites. This includes utilization and throughput monitoring, overall review of clinical/administrative reports and systems, all analytical and action plans reported to higher management, frequent briefings to the GPM and Assistant Director, responsibility for full compliance with national policies and directives regarding outpatient care procedures and business rules, and full administrative responsibility for customer service at the CBOC sites.
  • Frequently meets with the clinical and administrative service leadership, advising on issues that affect the delivery of primary care, mental health, and specialty care in the CBOCs. Analyzes problems unique to the VA system with its broad program missions, complex administrative management problems, rapid fluctuation in various program priorities and requirements, and numerous conflicts between program requirements and available resources.
  • Consistently reviews productivity standards for the above-mentioned clinics which will include the past, present, and future workloads. Productivity improvement analysis is a must. Mastery in ability to analyze, evaluate and execute improved access for Veterans with thorough analysis is essential.
  • Provides oversight to ensure that local practices and processes within the assigned ambulatory clinics are aligned with planning and policies at the network and national access leadership levels.
  • Recommends improvement strategies, policy, and process changes to the GPM and Assistant Medical Center Director to share with the executive leadership at the VAMC, VISN, and VACO levels as appropriate.
  • Identifies, defines, and prioritizes customer service tools, process improvement and training opportunities that will support front line employees in providing predictable, consistent, and easy customer service experiences for Veterans, their caregivers, and survivors.
  • Builds and leads local program planning and execution for VHA-approved program of clinic practice management at the assigned campus and CBOC level.
  • Uses Advanced Principles and Strategies for Access Improvement to review and provide guidance to clinical leads, including reviewing and providing guidance to identify strategies to reduce backlog, oversee and monitor consult management issues and provide guidance to clinical and administrative leads when needed.
  • Works with local personnel to integrate data analytics and measures with continuous process improvement utilizing LEAN, Six Sigma, and other improvement methodologies to meet and sustain ambulatory care goals and objectives.
  • Works independently with the GPM, Assistant Medical Center Director, and personnel at the VAMC, CBOCs, and other facilities to implement national and VISN standards, and address administrative process/system issues and other areas of concern.
  • Provides administrative management for ambulatory care clinical support services at the assigned facility and CBOCs including interpreting policies, developing and implement local policies, defining administrative requirements, and/or providing advice to executive leadership on related issues.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Health System Specialist (Associate Group Practice Manager)/PDS0021A
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 meeting deadlines.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • May serve a probationary period
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
  • 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/14/2025.

GS-12 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-XX grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: experience performing a wide range of qualitative/quantitative tasks as well as analytical/evaluative methods for the assessment and improvement of program effectiveness; making recommendations for process improvement; and planning, organizing, and leading teams in implementing recommendations.

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.

Education

There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Required Documents

Documents Accepted:

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • Resume
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Documents Required:
  • Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/14/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12805071.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.

Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.

Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.

Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume:

  • Prioritize most relevant and recent experience
  • Use concise, results focused language
  • Align language from the job announcement
  • Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies
  • Remove outdated or unrelated experience
  • Use the USAJOBS resume builder

Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at:

Agency contact information

Bernice Boey
Address
San Diego VA Medical Center
3350 La Jolla Village Drive
San Diego, CA 92161
US

Next steps

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.