Health System Specialist (Planner)

Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Facilities Planning (OFP), within the Office of Construction and Facilities Management (CFM) is recruiting a Health System Specialist (Planner), in providing critical expertise and program skills in the integration of health care operations and facilities planning to VA's departments and staff offices.

Duties

The Health Systems Specialist (Planner) serves in one of the Office of Construction & Facilities Managements' Regional Offices, which is responsible for executing the major construction and leasing programs, as well as providing technical support to field stations. The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Monitoring, evaluating, and responding to a substantive range of health care facility issues, as well as other departmental needs to support effective management of VA's facility assets. Applying lifecycle approaches that allow facilities to plan strategically to link day-to-day operations to facility investments and organizational missions. Embracing goals established by CFM and VA's Strategic Plan and major initiatives underway to improve the condition and capability of VA's health care delivery platforms to deliver optimal support to caregivers in delivering patient care. Participating and contributing to complex coordinative work with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and National Cemetery Administration (NCA) personnel to originate, evaluate, and improve program planning and space needs. Providing expert, front-line contribution to management in developing facilities investment solutions. Leading working groups to develop, implement, and refine effective facilities lifecycle management and capital investment programs which impact the entire VA enterprise. Coordinating collaborative group efforts for health facilities planning and programming, staff development and, maintenance of systems and methods supporting a joint Healthcare Capital Investment strategy. Representing CFM on standing working groups and is provided necessary authority and responsibility to plan and carry out required interactions with VHA officials and staff of the other services. Developing, refining, implementing, and improving decision tools and incorporates findings to inform the Strategic Capital Investment Program (SCIP) system. Coordinating closely with VHA and NCA officials to monitor changes to capital investment acquisition methods to execute approved appropriations. Performing significant duties and responsibilities as a senior expert reviewer and evaluator of all facilities planning and capital investment proposal justification documents submitted for review and approval, as well as subsequent submittals for annual appropriations consideration through Congress. Reviewing and evaluating complex health care delivery platforms, economic analyses, facility utilization studies, healthcare requirements analyses, and completed SCIP proposal submittals developed to support requests for new or replacement medical facilities as part of assigned health care facilities planning duties and responsibilities. Reviewing validated project documentation, facility costing methods, and underlying healthcare facility and utilization assumptions and study conclusions for executive decisional review. Providing oral and written responses for issues that arise from Congressional or higher-echelon inquiries which require detailed research and written and verbal communication. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance GS-14 level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower GS-13 grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in affect and selectees will be required to report to in person work unless they have an approved exemption already in place. Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. 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 (Planner)/PD14123A and PD14123A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two 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 one year probationary period or two year trial 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, 10/02/2026. 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. For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13. 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 some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Health Systems Administration Series, 0671, Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR): Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for entry into this job series, and it is something that can't be waived. To qualify for this occupational series, applicants MUST have one of the following: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major Study - hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. [NOTE: A TRANSCRIPT WITH NAME, SCHOOL NAME, AND DATE OF CONFERRAL MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] OR Specialized Experience: Progressively responsible 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 Successful completion of an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program: Successful completion of 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 for the GS-13 level: Performs analytical reviews of healthcare delivery systems to support VHA capital planning and facility lifecycle assessments. Assists in developing facility planning documents, conducting data analysis, and coordinating planning requirements with stakeholders. Applies VA/VHA laws, regulations, and policies to ensure compliance in facility planning and business case development. Prepares clear written reports, planning updates, and briefing materials for CFM/VHA stakeholders. Uses planning and productivity tools to research, analyze, and document facility planning requirements. Specialized Experience for the GS-14 level: Leads complex analyses of healthcare delivery systems to guide national VHA capital investment strategies. Serves as senior planning authority, overseeing enterprise facility planning and integrating national capital priorities. Interprets and integrates federal regulations, VA/VHA policies, and national planning standards into major capital proposals. Directs multidisciplinary planning teams and collaborates with senior VHA, VISN, and CFM leaders on national lifecycle strategies. Utilizes advanced analytical and planning tools to support strategic modeling, capital forecasting, and investment decision-making. 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. Note: Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list series and grade for each position held. Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 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. Physical Requirements: The work is principally sedentary. Field site visits may require long periods of standing, bending, stooping, and walking to observe and study proposed projects. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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 found well qualified, applicants must meet the following qualifications: Demonstrated ability to analyze and apply healthcare delivery and facility planning principles, interpret VA/VHA laws and capital investment policies, produce clear planning documentation, and use Microsoft Office and DoD SEPS planning software tools. 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/. Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from job duty station or from 810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20420.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office. How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. 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: Oral Communication Planning and Evaluating Written Communication Technical Credibility Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Your responses you provide on the application questionnaire. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be contacted for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. Area of Consideration: Eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred in the following order: All current, permanent VA Employees in the Office of Construction & Facilities Management (CFM) All other current, permanent VA employees All other applicants (if status) During the application process, you will 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. Benefits

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Receiving Service Credit or 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. 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 (HRA) at The Fair Chance Act. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. 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 here: https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information