Health System Specialist

Summary

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.

Duties

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 and data analysis, process design, stakeholder engagement, project management, and written and oral communication. Development and Management of Initiatives, Programs, and Revenue Opportunities Strategic Planner works with facility Executive Leadership Team (ELT) members, Service Chiefs and Program Managers in the formulation of strategic and business plans for their respective sections. Incumbent in this position works closely with Service Chiefs and Program Managers in establishing priorities for personnel, workforce development and education, safety, security, supplies, and allocation of resources as needed. Incumbent works with relevant clinical and administrative chiefs and their staff to identify and pilot new projects and programs that can maximize the value that VA HCS brings to Veterans. Topics may include, care in the community expenditures, outreach, Veteran and staff experience, and community partnerships. Incumbent coordinates and accomplishes special projects using expertise and all available resources. Conducts a variety of studies and analyzes a wide variety of VA HCS management issues. Analyses will often require presentations (formal and informal) including narrative, graphic, and visual mediums. Development of Strategic Plans Incumbent works with relevant Executive Leadership Team (ELT) members, clinical and administrative Service Chiefs/Program Managers, and staff members to develop, deploy, track and communicate the strategic plan for the overall health care system. As a Strategic Planner, incumbent's managerial duties and responsibilities involve decisions which have a direct and substantial effect on the VA HCS. These include, but are not limited to, decisions affecting the physical and virtual nature, scope, quality, and operational functions of the VA HCS to create a healing environment for Veterans and supportive workplace for staff. Long-Range Capital and Facility Planning, and Space Optimization Incumbent will engage with regional, national, and other agency partners on as-needed tasks, program and policy development, and formal planning processes. Serve as a VA Health Care System (VA HCS) liaison to the VISN22 and 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, and the Joint Incentive Fund program. They will be expected to facilitate and grow community relationships to increase planning and capital asset opportunities to meet the long-range goals of VA, VHA, VISN and VA HCS. Incumbent has responsibility for accomplishing multiple projects related to agency healthcare planning and require them to develop and lead multi-disciplinary committees/teams/workgroups. The incumbent develops written planning documents, prepare, and deliver presentations to multiple groups, conduct sophisticated analyses which may include statistical modeling, cost benefit, return on investment, clinical restructuring, and financial assessments, and lead project groups that may be large and multidisciplinary in nature. The incumbent is expected to be creative and use their background and technical knowledge to solve complex problems. The incumbent is a confident communicator; frequently briefs VISN and Executive leadership and other senior stakeholders. Demographic and Market Analysis Strategic Planner supervises planning activities that serve as a framework for decisions about projects and 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 and strategies, and monitors plans to ensure that short and long-range goals established at higher levels in the organization are being met. Ensures that VISN 22 Network Health Care Planning Model (HCPM) and priorities are fully integrated into the Facility Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP). Defines administrative and functional responsibilities and reporting, consistent with VISN policy. Establishes procedures to secure adequate control in terms of deadlines, progress reports and directives and uses initiative in developing procedures. 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/PD14279A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements

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. 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 identification 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, 09/25/2026. 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-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Research and data analysis, process design, stakeholder engagement, project management, quality improvement and system redesign activities, and demonstrated skill leading multidisciplinary teams. 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 this grade level. How You Will Be Evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. Other 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/.