Health System Specialist (Investigations Coordinator and Risk Analyst)

Summary The Health Systems Specialist Investigations Coordinator and Risk Analyst (ICRA) exists to contribute to the fulfillment of the VHA mission and vision by prioritizing the identification and mitigation of emergent health care system risks. Responsibilities The Health Systems Specialist (ICRA) is responsible for coordinating and monitoring all incoming requests for investigations and/or fact findings related to Administrative Investigative Boards (AIB), Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of General Counsel (OGC), Government Accountability Office (GAO), Equal Employee Office (EEO), Harassment Prevention Program (HPP), small Tort Claims, and internal staff issues not resolved at the service level. The incumbent acts as the coordinator for the implementation and communication of investigations and/or fact findings relating to ethical business practices and associated regulatory obligations at the Health Care System level, and as a risk analyst. Incumbent coordinates, determines, evaluates, and conducts assessments for investigations and/or fact findings related to both clinical and non-clinical issues and, upon approval of the Executive Director, will organize and implement formal fact findings. Determination will be done by an Investigations Workgroup overseen by the ICRA and consisting of representatives from Compliance, Risk Management, EEO, HR, and the affected stakeholders (ad hoc). Coordination duties includes assistance with drafting appropriate charge letters, and setting up the required resources (i.e., supplies, interview rooms, Fund Control Point (FCP) management, scheduling interviews, obtaining, and paying for a Court Reporter, etc.). As member of the Executive Director's Office, the incumbent will have knowledge of and/or be involved in investigative and compliance activities of a highly sensitive nature. Incumbent will work independently to identify needs, potential problems, and develop actionable recommendations and present updates to the workgroup. Develop databases and monitors for tracking investigations, allegations, and trained resources to identify patterns that may be indicative of system-wide issues. Identifies indicators, progress measures, objectives and emphasis areas that are potentially noncompliant per the VHA rules and regulations. Maintains a dashboard to track investigation metrics including but not limited to, education and training, timeliness of response/completion, outcomes, allegation categories, and work area implicated. Uses a high level of quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify trends and risks to the EPVAHCS. Oversees the development and implementation of regular and effective education and training for EPVAHCS employees on issues relating to conducting fact findings and investigations. Regularly reviews feedback from provided trainings, training attendees, Service Chief comments, updates to VHA and station policies to ensure compliance with the fact-finding training process. The ICRA will implement changes and modification as needed based on this received feedback. Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (Investigations Coordinator and Risk Analyst)/PD006150 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 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, 10/27/2026. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. Individual Occupational Requirement: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 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. Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration, Transcript required. Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond master's degree or equivalent degree in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-11. Transcript required. 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 A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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/. If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. 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. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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/.