What are the responsibilities and job description for the Health System Specialist position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Health System Specialist serves as a leader who translates organizational policies - and priorities into effective partnership with the Deputy/Chief of Staff - Pentad - Service Chiefs - and staff. This role drives adaptability and change while overseeing critical decisions. Responsibilities include planning and allocating resources such as FTE - salary and supply budgets - equipment and space contracts - and overtime to ensure the organization operates efficiently.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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. 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): The 0671 series require specific education or experience to be met in order to be appointed into a position of this series. You must meet one of the pre-determined Education or Experience Individual Occupational Requirements listed below as set by Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Undergraduate and Graduate Education in a Major study of hospital administration - public health administration - or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. ( TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR Specialized Experience of 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. Research and development of new products - processes - and services in a health & science setting Conducting risk assessments and reviews of proposals and projects. Data analysis - project management - and stakeholder engagement. Execution of innovative strategies with project submissions. Organizing and managing project timelines and costs OR 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 - you must also meet the specialized experience as described below: Specialized Experience GS-12: You must have one (1) 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. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Provide full staff assistance on administrative matters affecting patient care and organizational policy and serve as a staff member directly supporting the top management team responsible for planning - organizing - developing - directing - and evaluating operations; Use advanced quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques to analyze data/ information; formulate findings - conclusions - and recommendations; Plan and accomplish special projects and perform staff support work in short and long range planning efforts; Apply the principles and practices of health care management in directing or supporting a health care delivery system. Expert level knowledge of health care service administration - continuous quality improvement; data analysis; healthcare principles - theories and practices; budgeting - planning - administration - and labor/union relationships - or other key administrative support functions; sufficient to analyze and evaluate broad and difficult problems - apply extensive qualitative and/or quantitative methods for program improvement - make recommendations for complicated solutions; and the related ability to apply health care management principles to complex problem-solving situations. Developing specialized knowledge in areas such as GEMS and EOC - while interpreting new standards and disseminating them to various departments across the healthcare system. Requires professional level health care administrative experience and knowledge of the health care system. Responsible for translating policies - theories and strategies related to compliance of quality and safety standards into action within the complex interrelationships that currently exist. 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. 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/.
Duties
The Health System Specialist serves as a leader who translates organizational policies - and priorities into effective partnership with the Deputy/Chief of Staff - Pentad - Service Chiefs - and staff. This role drives adaptability and change while overseeing critical decisions. Responsibilities include planning and allocating resources such as FTE - salary and supply budgets - equipment and space contracts - and overtime to ensure the organization operates efficiently.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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. 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): The 0671 series require specific education or experience to be met in order to be appointed into a position of this series. You must meet one of the pre-determined Education or Experience Individual Occupational Requirements listed below as set by Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Undergraduate and Graduate Education in a Major study of hospital administration - public health administration - or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. ( TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR Specialized Experience of 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. Research and development of new products - processes - and services in a health & science setting Conducting risk assessments and reviews of proposals and projects. Data analysis - project management - and stakeholder engagement. Execution of innovative strategies with project submissions. Organizing and managing project timelines and costs OR 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 - you must also meet the specialized experience as described below: Specialized Experience GS-12: You must have one (1) 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. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Provide full staff assistance on administrative matters affecting patient care and organizational policy and serve as a staff member directly supporting the top management team responsible for planning - organizing - developing - directing - and evaluating operations; Use advanced quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques to analyze data/ information; formulate findings - conclusions - and recommendations; Plan and accomplish special projects and perform staff support work in short and long range planning efforts; Apply the principles and practices of health care management in directing or supporting a health care delivery system. Expert level knowledge of health care service administration - continuous quality improvement; data analysis; healthcare principles - theories and practices; budgeting - planning - administration - and labor/union relationships - or other key administrative support functions; sufficient to analyze and evaluate broad and difficult problems - apply extensive qualitative and/or quantitative methods for program improvement - make recommendations for complicated solutions; and the related ability to apply health care management principles to complex problem-solving situations. Developing specialized knowledge in areas such as GEMS and EOC - while interpreting new standards and disseminating them to various departments across the healthcare system. Requires professional level health care administrative experience and knowledge of the health care system. Responsible for translating policies - theories and strategies related to compliance of quality and safety standards into action within the complex interrelationships that currently exist. 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. 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/.
Duties
- Duties include but not limited to: In this role - this individual provides essential support to the Deputy/Chief of Staff by preparing a wide range of daily - weekly - monthly - and annual reports
- These reports highlight key accomplishments - strategic goals - emerging trends - resource utilization - compliance with external standards - educational initiatives - research activities - community engagement - committee involvement - and quality management efforts
- This individual also prepares Issue Briefs to keep VISN and VACO leadership informed of significant events and developments
- In addition - they play a vital role in ensuring timely follow-up and resolution of action items identified during operational meetings
- This role oversees administrative staff across clinical service lines by assessing productivity - managing workload distribution - and assigning tasks based on operational needs
- This individual will track completion - enforce deadlines - and conduct ongoing evaluations of staffing alignment
- In addition - this person will reassign personnel across service lines when needed to maintain coverage and meet operational requirements
- The Health System Specialist serves as the management official for Deputy/Chief of Staff on many councils and committees within the formal governance structure
- The Health System Specialist serves as the management official for Deputy/Chief of Staff on many councils and committees within the formal governance structure
- In this role the incumbent is required to make well informed - effective - and timely decisions even when data are limited - or solutions produce unpleasant consequences
- Incumbent must perceive the impact and implications of decisions
- Incumbent makes clear and convincing oral presentations - listens effectively - and clarifies information as needed to advocate for Deputy/Chief of Staff in governance meetings
- Incumbent provides written communication that is clear - concise - organized - and convincing in high level governance meetings
- He/she provides staff assistance to the Deputy/Chief of Staff in all matters - and in addition - provides staff assistance to senior management in the area of professional services
- He/she must fully understand the mission - organization and programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Delivery System
- This position requires incumbent to interact with all levels of Medical Center personnel - personnel from Network Directors Office - VA Central Office - and other federal and non-federal agencies
- He/she provides advice and assistance to staff members and speaks for senior management in many instances
- He/she helps formulate and participates in the development of health care management policies - programs - and operations
- Analyzes and evaluates - on a quantitative or qualitative basis - the effectiveness of programs or operations within the medical center in meeting established goals and objectives
- Incumbent conducts special studies and surveys employing the principles of scientific management to assist and advise the Deputy/ Chief of Staff as to the most effective method for accomplishing the Medical Center's mission and goals
- The incumbent analyzes management techniques - processes - and styles for improving organizational effectiveness
- Analyzes multifunctional programs within the medical center - functions - and organizations to determine whether the management system in current use efficiently accomplish objectives sought and whether they provide controls necessary for sound management
- Evaluates and makes recommendations for effective organizational changes
- Work Schedule: Full Time 8:00am-4:30pm
- Work schedule subject to change based on agency needs
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD103730 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Salary : $89,508 - $116,362