Health System Specialist

Summary The primary purpose of this Health Systems Specialist position is to provide management and program analysis support to the Chief of Quality and Patient Safety and clinical services aligned under the Chief of Quality and Patient Safety. Learn more about this agency Duties Directs and performs all administrative functions including administration, human resources management, budget and finance, management and program analysis, office support services, document control, logistics, and a variety of related administrative matters in support of administrative and day to day management for the Chief of Quality and Patient Safety. MAJOR DUTIES - GS-12 Management and Program Analysis Provide technical and overall administrative management for the Chief of Quality and Patient Safety. Serve as principal advisor on all administrative management matters associated with the clinical services. Develop, initiate, and implement administrative policies and procedures. Review and evaluate completed staff actions for quality, appropriate coordination, consistency, logic, soundness of recommendations, and compliance with policy. Develop, recommend, and implement new or modified guidelines, work processes and operations. Plan and conduct detailed management studies and analyses. Prepare comprehensive reports with findings and recommendations based on varied management and administrative considerations. Responsible for analysis and resolution of a wide variety of complex management problems encompassing administrative and professional aspects of the Hospital and Quality service. Participate in high-level conferences and special meetings, providing data and information for critical decisions and implementation of changes. Contracting and Procurement Analyze program, budgetary, and fiscal data and make budget recommendations to management. Monitor expenditures and forecast changes that require reprogramming of funds. Review workload reports and prepare and assemble charts, data reports, and narrative and statistical materials. Assist in coordination and development of Annual Business Plan, addressing workloads, capital needs, IT needs, workforce succession strategic planning, educational needs, challenges and threats, performance measures, and external surveys. Develop and maintain information/data in various forms. Assists in the preparation of Strategic Planning-related reports. Responsible for procurement and contracting and serving as primary delegated Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Fund control management requires planning, implementation, and oversight of services performed by a contractor or vendor. Quality/Productivity Program Administration Assist in providing guidance on tasks to support administration of quality and productivity programs. Develop short and long-range goals related to quality assurance plan. Assist with variety of employee and human resources management administrative matters. At the GS-11 level, incumbent will serve in a developmental capacity. Key functions will be similar to those described at the full performance level (GS-12). However, during the developmental assignment, full performance range and level of selected functions will not be completely delegated until proper orientation and training have been completed and there is demonstrated knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to accomplish the work at the full performance level. 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, 7:30am to 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD240860 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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 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, 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, 05/26/2026. Qualification Requirements: The Health System Specialist occupation has a Individual Occupation Requirement that must be met to qualify for the position. Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR): 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 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 meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement, you may qualify for this position based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-11 Qualification Requirements: Specialized Experience GS-11:You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal Service in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization, that is typically in or related to the work of this position and has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully duties of the Health System Specialist. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as 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: (1) Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; (2) Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and (3) Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. At this level, applicants would have obtained this experience working within a health care setting, coordinating with managers, clinical service lines, and other organizational components, to plan studies, organize projects, analyze, evaluate, and make recommendations for improvement in the effectiveness, efficiency, and appropriateness of operational functions and find solutions for management in support of the delivery of Quality and Patient Safety. -OR- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR, 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR, LL.M., if related. -OR- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. GS-12 Qualification Requirements: GS-12 Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal Service in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization, that is typically in or related to the work of this position and has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully duties of the Health System Specialist. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as 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: (1) Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; (2) Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and (3) Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. At this level, applicants would have obtained this experience working within a health care setting, as a recognized authority with responsibility and discretion to provide analysis and evaluations of programs, operations, and policies and resolve complex management and administrative problems. Directly provides critical data and information for decisions and implementation of changes affecting the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care system's mission and delivery of care and services. 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 at the GS-12 grade level. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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 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 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 ICTAP and 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/. Expand Hide  additional information 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.