What are the responsibilities and job description for the Health System Specialist (Strategic Planner) - Temporary Promotion (Not to Exceed 120 days) position at Tucson VA Medical Center?
Temporary Promotion NTE 120 days open to current, permanent VA employees.
The incumbent reports directly to an Executive Leadership Team (ELT) Member, and is a member of the management team, responsible for areas including development of VA HCS's organizational strategy, analysis of demography and epidemiology of the market area, focused studies on strategic issues, development of new organizational initiatives, coordination with long-range capital and facility planning and space optimization.
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.
Preferred Experience:
This position has an Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR). You must meet the following:
UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE EDUCATION: Have undergraduate or graduate education in a major field of 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: Have specialized experience that is progressively responsible for analytical or administrative, or clinical management, or supervisory experience in the health care field performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities where I forged close working relationships with facility managers and analysis/coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities which provided knowledge in the following areas: 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.
OR
SPECIAL PROVISION FOR INSERVICE PLACEMENT: Have successfully completed an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program, which included a formal individualized training plan. The training program was performed in an operating health care system and included: 1) Assignments providing a knowledge of basic health system administration philosophies, practices, and procedures, and basic government administrative policies and requirements; 2) 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 3) 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 IOR above, you must meet the experience as described below:
The incumbent is a senior health systems specialist with responsibility for a variety of planning functions. All tasks include but are not limited to research & data analysis, process design, stakeholder engagement, project management, & written & oral communication.
Development & Management of Initiatives, Programs, & Revenue Opportunities
Strategic Planner works with facility Executive Leadership Team (ELT) members, Service Chiefs & Program Managers in the formulation of strategic & business plans for their respective sections. Incumbent in this position works closely with Service Chiefs & Program Managers in establishing priorities for personnel, workforce development & education, safety, security, equipment, supplies, & allocation of resources as needed. Incumbent works with relevant clinical & administrative chiefs & their staff to identify & pilot new projects & programs that can maximize the value that VA HCS brings to Veterans.
Topics may include, but are not limited to, care in the community expenditures, outreach, Veteran & staff experience, & community partnerships. Incumbent coordinates & accomplishes special projects using own expertise & all available resources. Conducts a variety of studies & analyzes a wide variety of VA HCS management issues. Analyses will often require presentations (formal & informal) including narrative, graphic, & visual mediums.
Development of Strategic Plans
Incumbent works with relevant Executive Leadership Team (ELT) members, clinical & administrative Service Chiefs/Program Managers, & staff members to develop, deploy, track & communicate the strategic plan for the overall health care system. As a Strategic Planner, incumbent's managerial duties & responsibilities involve decisions which have a direct & substantial effect on the VA HCS. These include, but are not limited to, decisions affecting the physical & virtual nature, scope, quality, & operational functions of the VA HCS to create a healing environment for Veterans & supportive workplace for staff.
Long-Range Capital & Facility Planning, & Space Optimization
Incumbent will engage with regional, national, & other agency partners on as-needed tasks, program & policy development, & formal planning processes.
Serve as a VA Health Care System (VA HCS) liaison to the VISN22 & VA Headquarters staff for planning initiatives. The incumbent should be proficient with VA/DoD joint planning to include VA/DoD Resource Sharing Agreements, VA/DoD Joint Market Opportunities, & the Joint Incentive Fund program. They will be expected to facilitate & grow community relationships to increase planning & capital asset opportunities to meet the long-range goals of VA, VHA, VISN & VA HCS.
Incumbent has responsibility for accomplishing multiple projects related to agency healthcare planning & require them to develop & lead multi-disciplinary committees/teams/workgroups.
The incumbent develops written planning documents, prepare, & deliver presentations to multiple groups, conduct sophisticated analyses which may include statistical modeling & financial assessments, & lead project groups that may be large & multidisciplinary in nature. The incumbent is expected to be creative & use their background & technical knowledge to solve complex problems. The incumbent is a confident communicator; frequently briefs VISN & Executive leadership & other senior stakeholders.
Demographic & Market Analysis
Strategic Planner supervises planning activities that serve as a framework for decisions about projects & provides a basis for more detailed planning requirements. The incumbent guides field level staff through a systematic planning process involving steps that identify the status of health care system needs, prioritizes actions & strategies, & monitors plans to ensure that short & long-range goals established at higher levels in the organization are being met.
Ensures that VISN 22 Network Health Care Planning Model (HCPM) & priorities are fully integrated into the Facility Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP). Defines administrative & functional responsibilities & reporting, consistent with VISN policy.
Establishes procedures to secure adequate control in terms of deadlines, progress reports& directives & uses own initiative in developing procedures which will increase the general flow of information & overcome bottlenecks in the administrative process.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Ad-hoc. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (Strategic Planner) - Temporary Promotion (Not to Exceed 120 days)/PD14279A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
The incumbent reports directly to an Executive Leadership Team (ELT) Member, and is a member of the management team, responsible for areas including development of VA HCS's organizational strategy, analysis of demography and epidemiology of the market area, focused studies on strategic issues, development of new organizational initiatives, coordination with long-range capital and facility planning and space optimization.
Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/08/2026.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-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.
Preferred Experience:
- Experience in VA/DoD joint strategic planning, including Resource Sharing Agreements, Joint Market Opportunities, and Joint Incentive Fund programs.
- Ability to serve as a DoD liaison and build partnerships with military, academic, and community stakeholders.
- Proficiency with VA enterprise planning tools such as HCPM, SCIP, and related analytics platforms.
- Demonstrated skill leading multidisciplinary planning teams, managing complex initiatives, and delivering high quality products under tight
- deadlines.
- Strong analytical capabilities, including statistical modeling, financial assessments, market analysis, and long range capital planning.
- Exceptional communication and political acumen, with the ability to brief executive leadership and translate complex data into actionable recommendations.
- Deep understanding of VA and federal health care planning processes.
This position has an Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR). You must meet the following:
UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE EDUCATION: Have undergraduate or graduate education in a major field of 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: Have specialized experience that is progressively responsible for analytical or administrative, or clinical management, or supervisory experience in the health care field performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities where I forged close working relationships with facility managers and analysis/coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities which provided knowledge in the following areas: 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.
OR
SPECIAL PROVISION FOR INSERVICE PLACEMENT: Have successfully completed an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program, which included a formal individualized training plan. The training program was performed in an operating health care system and included: 1) Assignments providing a knowledge of basic health system administration philosophies, practices, and procedures, and basic government administrative policies and requirements; 2) 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 3) 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 IOR above, you must meet the experience as described below:
- Specialized Experience: 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 in strategic planning; ability to serve as a liaison and build partnerships with military, academic, and community stakeholders; proficiency with enterprise planning tools, financial assessments, market analysis, long range capital planning; and demonstrated skill leading multidisciplinary planning teams.
Responsibilities:
Duties include but are not limited to:The incumbent is a senior health systems specialist with responsibility for a variety of planning functions. All tasks include but are not limited to research & data analysis, process design, stakeholder engagement, project management, & written & oral communication.
Development & Management of Initiatives, Programs, & Revenue Opportunities
Strategic Planner works with facility Executive Leadership Team (ELT) members, Service Chiefs & Program Managers in the formulation of strategic & business plans for their respective sections. Incumbent in this position works closely with Service Chiefs & Program Managers in establishing priorities for personnel, workforce development & education, safety, security, equipment, supplies, & allocation of resources as needed. Incumbent works with relevant clinical & administrative chiefs & their staff to identify & pilot new projects & programs that can maximize the value that VA HCS brings to Veterans.
Topics may include, but are not limited to, care in the community expenditures, outreach, Veteran & staff experience, & community partnerships. Incumbent coordinates & accomplishes special projects using own expertise & all available resources. Conducts a variety of studies & analyzes a wide variety of VA HCS management issues. Analyses will often require presentations (formal & informal) including narrative, graphic, & visual mediums.
Development of Strategic Plans
Incumbent works with relevant Executive Leadership Team (ELT) members, clinical & administrative Service Chiefs/Program Managers, & staff members to develop, deploy, track & communicate the strategic plan for the overall health care system. As a Strategic Planner, incumbent's managerial duties & responsibilities involve decisions which have a direct & substantial effect on the VA HCS. These include, but are not limited to, decisions affecting the physical & virtual nature, scope, quality, & operational functions of the VA HCS to create a healing environment for Veterans & supportive workplace for staff.
Long-Range Capital & Facility Planning, & Space Optimization
Incumbent will engage with regional, national, & other agency partners on as-needed tasks, program & policy development, & formal planning processes.
Serve as a VA Health Care System (VA HCS) liaison to the VISN22 & VA Headquarters staff for planning initiatives. The incumbent should be proficient with VA/DoD joint planning to include VA/DoD Resource Sharing Agreements, VA/DoD Joint Market Opportunities, & the Joint Incentive Fund program. They will be expected to facilitate & grow community relationships to increase planning & capital asset opportunities to meet the long-range goals of VA, VHA, VISN & VA HCS.
Incumbent has responsibility for accomplishing multiple projects related to agency healthcare planning & require them to develop & lead multi-disciplinary committees/teams/workgroups.
The incumbent develops written planning documents, prepare, & deliver presentations to multiple groups, conduct sophisticated analyses which may include statistical modeling & financial assessments, & lead project groups that may be large & multidisciplinary in nature. The incumbent is expected to be creative & use their background & technical knowledge to solve complex problems. The incumbent is a confident communicator; frequently briefs VISN & Executive leadership & other senior stakeholders.
Demographic & Market Analysis
Strategic Planner supervises planning activities that serve as a framework for decisions about projects & provides a basis for more detailed planning requirements. The incumbent guides field level staff through a systematic planning process involving steps that identify the status of health care system needs, prioritizes actions & strategies, & monitors plans to ensure that short & long-range goals established at higher levels in the organization are being met.
Ensures that VISN 22 Network Health Care Planning Model (HCPM) & priorities are fully integrated into the Facility Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP). Defines administrative & functional responsibilities & reporting, consistent with VISN policy.
Establishes procedures to secure adequate control in terms of deadlines, progress reports& directives & uses own initiative in developing procedures which will increase the general flow of information & overcome bottlenecks in the administrative process.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Ad-hoc. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (Strategic Planner) - Temporary Promotion (Not to Exceed 120 days)/PD14279A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Salary : $108,455