Health System Specialist

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/08/2024. 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. 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. Basic Requirements: The occupational series 671 includes an Individual Occupational requirement (IOR). Candidates may not hold a position in this series without meeting one of the following IOR requirements. Undergraduate and Graduate Education: major study in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. (Transcripts Required) OR, Experience: 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. Experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. 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 and oversight by an experienced health system administrator with periodic evaluation of the individual’s progress and appropriate adjustment of the training program. AND In addition to the Time in Grade and IOR requirement listed above, you must also qualify based on your 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: Analyzes, documents, and conducts Local Management Reviews, in accordance with the requirements defined in VHA Handbook 1730.2, reviews will include analysis of financial audits, which cover human resources management requirements. Develops management improvement programs or revised policy and procedural requirements for more effective application of various administrative management systems, such as work measurement, work simplification, incentive awards, performance evaluations, management reports, communication analysis etc. Knowledge and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues related to the efficiency and effectiveness of the program operations. Develop project plans in conjunction with senior management to identify work in need of completion, scope of projects and deadline for its completion. Responsible for planning and organizing the study, estimating costs, coordinating with staff and line management personnel, and conducting all phases of projects. Comprehensive knowledge of VA and medical facility policies governing the management and operation of medical facilities. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Critical Thinking Problem Solving Project Management 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: 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. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. This work is performed in an office setting although some slight physical effort may be required to conduct training events, give presentations, or to observe staff and trainees in their work environment, including inpatient clinical areas. The position will utilize a desk and computer and may need to navigate throughout the facility clinical areas. Stamina and concentration to meet crucial deadlines is 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/.
The position is located at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. The purpose of the position is to assess the productivity, effectiveness and efficiency of the medical facility health care program activities and operations.