Clarification from the agency

This is an internship for students who have recently been accepted in or are currently enrolled at least half-time in a certificate or degree seeking program in an accredited college or university, graduate, or professional school with the intent to pursue a degree in Health Care (examples: Medical Technology, Clinical Chemistry, Biochemistry, etc.)

Videos

This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit: https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/.

This position description is established to support the VA BHS Director's Office in providing a training program/internship for graduate students under the Pathways Program. The student intern serves in a training capacity to learn administrative and clinical operations supporting the health care system. The student intern plans and executes assignments or projects to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity of medical facility organizations.

Serves as a student intern under the Pathways Program in conjunction with an accredited graduate degree program. Receives on-the-job training related to the intern's academic career goals or fields of study. Performs a variety of administrative, program management, and clerical duties in support of QUADRAD members and the VA BHS Executive Suite. Assignments and projects are aimed at developing the incumbent's skills and knowledge to progressively perform more difficult duties.

Incumbent will be expected to increase knowledge and understanding of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) healthcare organizations by undertaking the following activities:

• Rotate through hospital services and campuses.
• Attend VHA conference calls.
• Study policies establishing hospital committees.
• Regularly attend major committees and visit other committees as appropriate.
• Attend local meetings of hospital councils, healthcare planning agencies, and other healthcare groups.
• Participate in committees and task groups.
• Participate in local budget development and execution.
• Become. familiar with various reports regarding resources.
• Participate in the development of the five year facility development plan.
• Become familiar with basic computer programs used in VHA such as IFCAP, DHCP, etc.
• Interact with administrative trainees in other healthcare institutions through local professional groups, etc.
• Participate in VA BHS Outreach activities.
• Review policies establishing committees and processes for resource administration.
• Participate in a disaster exercise and critique.
• Participate in administrative rounds.
• Participate in preparation for a Joint Commission accreditation survey.
• Become familiar with the theory and practice of Systems Redesign and performance improvement in the VA hospital.
• Participate on a systems redesign project and participate in Systems Redesign training opportunities.
• Attend annual management briefings.

• This Internship appointment ends 120 calendar days after completion of the degree program.
• Resume must state expected graduation date (month and date).
• This position is not a bargaining unit position.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
• Travel and relocation expenses are not authorized.
• Selectee may be required to work at any Boston Healthcare System campus, as needed.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• You must be at least 16 years old (by closing date of this vacancy announcement)
• Selective Service Registration-required males (over 18) born after 12/31/59
• Must be accepted for/currently enrolled in a qualified educational institution
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• 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 dentification 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)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/04/2025.

Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled.

You may qualify based on education and/or experience as described below:

• Grade Level: You may qualify at the GS-7 grade level based on education and/or experience as described below:
• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: studying policies; establishing hospital committees; attending meetings of hospital councils, healthcare planning agencies, and other healthcare groups; participating in budget development and execution; participating in a disaster exercise and critique; participating in an Infection Control investigation; participating in administrative rounds.; participating in preparation for a Joint Commission accreditation survey; participating in Systems Redesign and process improvement in a healthcare setting; learning and applying the appropriate rules, regulations, and policies in conducting healthcare business; formulating solutions to hospital issues affecting a hospital's operation based on knowledge of clinical medicine and healthcare system administrations; coordinating and controlling programs and resources to help achieve a balance of administrative and clinical functions.
  OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completion of one (1) full academic year of graduate level education or eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) Provision and completion of a bachelor's degree. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
  OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
• Selective Placement Factor: This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Possession of an integrated knowledge of clinical medicine and healthcare system administration to formulate solutions to hospital issues that directly affect the hospital's operation and ability to deliver optimum patient care.
  
  Preferred Experience: The Health Systems Administrative Internship is an intensive introduction to hospital administration and management. Preferred candidates are those enrolled in a Master of Health Administration, Master of Public Health, or a Master of Business Administration program, with major study in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration.

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 BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact 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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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.

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.