THIS IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY POSITION AND CAN BE FILLED WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OCCUPATIONS :

• PHYSICIAN: SR-602 ($130,000 - $245,000)
• HEALTH SCIENCE OFFICER: SR-601 ($123,175 - $178,900)
• NURSE: SR-610 ($123,175 - $178,900)

NOTE: Applicant's education and length of practice (experience) will be considered by a Compensation Panel in determining the salary of the applicant selected. Exceptions to the salary cap must be approved.

Work schedule: Monday - Friday, 40 hours per week

Financial Disclosure Report: Required
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized
Relocation Expenses: Not authorized

This position is located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and reports to the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Organizational Excellence (DUSHOE). The incumbent serves as the Executive Director of VHA's Office of Health Equity (OHE). You will be responsible for directing, coordinating and evaluating the strategic planning and implementing of programs and research activities to further health and healthcare equity within the Veterans Health Administration.

A primary goal of the office is to capitalize on the existing network of programs throughout VHA by breaking down silos, creating synergy and harnessing efforts to advance health equity by achieving equitable health care and outcomes.

This is a key position for someone experienced and eager to take on significant challenges. You will be responsible for advancing health equity and addressing health disparities including:

• Serve as collaborative partner within the Office of Organizational Excellence (OE), leveraging combined and shared resources for the betterment of the organization;
• Keep OE and VHA Leadership advised and informed of the work of OHE and seek input and feedback on initiatives;
• Advise VHA leadership, Program Offices, Veterans Integrated Service Networks and field leaders on matters of health equity;
• Accept additional special projects as deemed appropriate by the DUSHOE;
• Coordinate programs, projects and initiatives that address health disparities and equality
• Implement and manage a VHA Health Equity Strategic Plan;
• Promote open communication and transparency throughout the entire organization;
• Demonstrates innovation and capitalizes on best practices;
• Position VHA as a national leader in achieving equitable health care and outcomes;
• Works to eliminate health disparities by establishing health care equity as an important priority element to quality driven healthcare; and
• Recommend parameters and establish a comprehensive data collection system for health activities impacting marginalized Veterans.

Join the team that shapes the future of healthcare. VA Health Equity: Improving Veteran's Lives

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 4-Year 7306 appointment with potential for re-appointment (not guaranteed)

Physical Requirements: Most of the work performance is at a desk, in an office setting. The position does require touring of the medical center for direct supervision, survey and environment of care issues. The incumbent occasionally carries books and papers to and from meetings and conferences.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/20/2017.

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PHYSICIAN

• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States or in the District of Columbia. The Physician must maintain a current registration to continue employment with the VA.
• Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training or its equivalent, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. Approved residencies include those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or American Osteopathic Association, or other residences which the Professional Standards Board determines to have provided appropriate professional training.
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Secretary of VA for the year in which the course of study was completed.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH SCIENCE OFFICER

• Completion of a Ph.D., EdD, MPH or Master level course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a doctorate or masters with a major study in an academic field related to health education, public health, psychology, social sciences, or other health related discipline.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR NURSE/NURSE PRACTITIONER

• Masters degree in nursing from a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State agency, and accredited by either the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) at the time the program was completed or a graduate of a foreign school of professional nursing.
• Current, full, active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia.
• A nurse practitioner must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

Applicants must possess extensive experience in the health care arena sufficient to qualify for the equivalent of a senior executive position within the Federal service, including significant experience in medical care and research of all types, a high degree of leadership, motivation, self-direction, and initiative. In addition, the incumbent is broadly acquainted with laws, regulations, principles, theories, policies and procedures on issues related to clinical outcomes, health equity, healthcare equity, public health and research.

In addition to the education requirements, applicants must possess the following executive core qualifications (ECQs) required for this position. Typically, these qualifications would be gained through progressively responsible management or executive level assignments such as director of a region or program in areas of medical and healthcare leadership.

If you are currently a federal employee, this type of experience is typically found at positions at the GS-15 level and above.

To meet the minimum qualifications, applicants must possess all of the necessary requirements for this position, you MUST SHOW in your RESUME that you possess the specialized experience, the five Mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) outlined below. Eligibility will be based on clear and concise accomplishments that emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments (with results), policy initiatives and level of contacts.

Applicants can obtain a sample resume along with additional information regarding the Executive Core Qualifications on the Internet at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/qualify.asp.

A. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS:

• ECQ 1. LEADING CHANGE: Ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
• ECQ 2. LEADING PEOPLE: Ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
• ECQ 3. RESULTS DRIVEN: Ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
• ECQ 4. BUSINESS ACUMEN: Ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Applicants may focus on resource management, with particular emphasis on financial management (budget).
• ECQ 5. BUILDING COALITIONS: Ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. Applicants may demonstrate that they have external contacts as well as internal interactions.

REFERENCES: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician and G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

In describing your experience please is clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified; errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. Please follow all instructions carefully.

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; religious; 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.