Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent employees of the New Jersey VA Healthcare System and CTAP eligible within the local commuting area.

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Major Duties
The incumbent is responsible for setting performance requirements, evaluations, initiating action on disciplinary matters, awards and training activities, labor relations matters, approval of leave/overtime/compensatory time and setting work schedules as appropriate. Provides direct supervision in performing a variety of administrative duties supporting the Nurse Executive to include but not limited to: the implementation of policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures, budget management, workforce development, development of performance standards, writing position descriptions, counseling of employees whose performance is marginal or unsatisfactory, and initiating disciplinary actions when necessary. Plans work to be accomplished, sets short and long-term goals, assigns work based on priorities, instructs employees on work and administrative matters. Initiates recruitment actions interviews and selects new employees. Obtains resources for continuing education of employees and determines their training needs. Provides for and coordinates the education, training, and development of the staff. Implements and evaluates educational programs for the Service staff to ensure that they meet standards. Responsible for developing and evaluating staff in the areas of customer satisfaction and team functionality. Assures that requirements are met in terms of the quantity and quality of work. Directs on-the-job training for employees. Sets and adjusting short-term (daily, weekly, or monthly) priorities. Assigns work to the members of the Service work group based on priorities, consideration of the difficulty of the assignments, and the capabilities of the employees. Assumes responsibility for the technical planning and oversight of the work. Informs higher level management of anticipated vacancies or increases in workload.

The incumbent provides a full range of support to the ADPCS and other facility leaders on administrative matters affecting patient care, education, research, and organizational policy. The incumbent must apply a broad and intensive knowledge of general principles of administration and management and specific and thorough knowledge of VHA and VA NJHCS policies, procedures, practices, and precedents. Develops and maintains effective personal relationships with staff at all levels of the organization to insure cooperation and accomplishment of facility goals and objectives. The incumbent advises the ADPCS on all administrative matters including budget, staffing, equipment, space, and policy and is responsible for identifying and resolving complex problems related to facility operations. Assists the ADPCS and clinical leaders in a wide range of human resource responsibilities including resource requests, development of position descriptions, resolving employee complaints and issues, performance evaluation and disciplinary actions. Collaborates with the Care Line Managers, Care Line Administrative Officers, Group Practice Manager, Designated Learning Officer, and others in developing, maintaining, and utilizing clinical contracts and sharing agreements and in this capacity works closely with the affiliate and private sector health care service providers and the VISN 2 Network Contracting Office.

The incumbent works with care line managers and other clinical leaders in preparing program reports and assuring that they are presented to the ADPCS in a timely and accurate manner. Prepares annual budget requests and justifications for all fund control points assigned to the ADPCS and manages allocated funds in an appropriate manner. Advises the ADPCS and other Executives on all budgetary matters and issues. Acts independently in finding, analyzing, and developing data reports. Provides oversight of the consultant program including timely completion of all required documents including annual contracts, justification for compensation rates and effective budgetary management. Responsible for reviewing all VA and VHA Directives, Handbooks, Information Letters, Policies, and guidelines and initiating or recommending appropriate actions to assure facility compliance. The incumbent is responsible for completing The Joint Commission Focused Standard Assessment (FSA) related to Nursing Standards and reviews all standard updates or changes to assure facility compliance.

The incumbent takes a leadership role in various facility-wide clinical initiatives ensuring quality health outcomes for our Veterans. These initiatives require various high-level skills such as data analysis, project management, and interdepartmental professional collaboration. Supports data analysis and formulation of leadership decisions. Chairs and participates in administrative meetings, work groups as assigned by the ADPCS and other senior management officials.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: AdHoc only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: PD13555O

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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 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)

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 or 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, 02/09/2026.

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-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.

You may 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 that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Supervisory Health System Specialist. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as 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:

(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.

Special Provision for Inservice 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 (as the individual progresses, work assignments must be characteristic of the grade level to which he or she is assigned); and
• Oversight by an experienced health system administrator with periodic evaluation of the individual's progress and appropriate adjustment of the training program.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management
• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Communications
• Manages and Organizes Information

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: Work is primarily sedentary, with some walking to clinical areas, meeting rooms, and occasional lifting of light materials (laptops, binders). Periodic on-site observations in patient care areas to assess workflows and validate processes. Office and clinical settings typical of a hospital environment. Observance of standard safety and infection control practices in patient care areas; normal everyday risks and discomforts.

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/.

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.