Duties

The primary responsibility is to provide executive program oversight, coordination and leadership in Just Culture, high-functioning clinical and non-clinical teams leading to a High Reliability health care system. The incumbent serves as the chief consultant to the Medical Center Director and Quality Manager in high reliability and coordination of quality, safety, and systems redesign for operations supporting High Reliability strategy and execution. Incumbent manages all aspects of the program and is responsible to collaborate directly with executive facility leadership, non-clinical and clinical services, the VISN and the National High Reliability Workgroup on the development, implementation and sustainment of a High Reliability processes and outcomes.
Executive Consultation and Program Oversight (50%)

• The incumbent serves as project manager for the executive management team with primary duties focused on high reliability initiatives and projects across clinical and non-clinical services. The incumbent performs duties directly contributing to the management of the healthcare delivery system by analyzing performance and developing improvement policies, procedures and methods aimed at preventing harm.
• Provides leadership for organizational design and cultural change, serving as an expert for Root Cause Analysis, Crew Resource Management and Clinical Team Training assuring continued readiness for internal or external accreditation reviews. The work includes coordinating and assisting in the preparation of policies related to high-quality health care delivery and providing expert consultation and advisory services to executive leaders in sustaining a High Reliability Organization.
• Designs, coordinates, conducts, and directs studies, using continuous improvement tools and concepts to assist in analyzing complex issues that may adversely affect health care delivery systems and patient care outcomes. Collaborates across multiple stakeholder groups to evaluate a service's practices/standards against national benchmarks then develops and implements plan to improve the healthcare delivery system. Researches, develops, and presents educational programs for clinical and non-clinical services regarding improving quality outcomes and continuous improvement of processes.

• Coordinates and evaluates process and quality improvement strategies for clinical and non-clinical services in the management of High Reliability and Just Culture. Establishes and sustains effective process improvement systems to facilitate comparability in the quality and timeliness of the health care delivery system's processes leading to Zero Harm.
• Facilitates the VHA patient care mission by ensuring cost effective quality patient care is provided within the framework of established policy, standards of care, standards of practice and regulatory requirements. Analyzes data from a variety of sources to include, but not limited to, balanced scorecard metrics, sentinel event statistics, reporting systems and Service Line key performance indicators. Maintains data and prepares reports for management; identifies problems, recommends, and tracks corrective actions; and develops reporting procedures and measurements. The purpose of studies is to identify systemic problems and/or improvement opportunities and assist the organization in meeting or exceeding published national standards. Incumbent utilizes study results to identify and set short- and long-range plans aimed at achieving goals.
• Designs, modifies, and implements systems compatible with professional standards, the mission, and the goals of the organization to improve the cost-effective use of resources. Uses resources to improve safety, the delivery of care and the overall patient experience.

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

How You Will Be Evaluated

• 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.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  Documents Accepted:

  • 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 01/19/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12261996.
  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. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  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.

  Agency contact information

  Sarah Cassidy

  Email

  Sarah.Cassidy1@va.gov

  Address

  Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center - Albany
  113 Holland Ave
  Albany, NY 12208
  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.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

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. First consideration will be given to internal applicants.