Clarification from the agency

Open to permanent VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS) Employees and CTAP Eligibles only.

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Responsible for oversight and management of routine day-to-day operational matters within the HCC to include coordination for a wide range of services necessary to provide a continuum of care for Veterans. The incumbent must be a liaison with Quality Management, Compliance, Systems Redesign, Patient Safety, Privacy, Information Security, Public Affairs, and the Equal Employee Opportunity Office, as well as resolving more complex, non-routine matters not requiring action by the Associate Director. In addition, as the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for a complex building lease, the incumbent ensures adherence to all requirements for the building owner under the lease/contract, which includes maintenance of the building, life safety systems, and grounds.

Conducts studies of health care system programs and operations, and makes recommendations for improvements to reduce cost and increase efficiency and effectiveness without compromising customer service. Identifies problems or potential problems within the facility that impact the ability to provide good customer service and/or quality care, and makes recommendations for correct actions.

Coordinates cross-organizational projects involving more than one service and/or more than one clinic location and ensures completion of the projects within the prescribed time frame. Implements appropriate planning procedures to accomplish programs, projects, or needs. This may involve data collection, data analysis, and preparation of recommendations resulting from special studies concerning problems of staffing, equipment, budget cost containment, space availability and assignment, work simplification/organizational realignments or reorganization, report requirements, productivity, and automated management information system.

Develops, modifies, and/or interprets performance standards for all supervised employees. Explains performance expectations to employees and provides regular feedback on strengths and weaknesses. Holds employees responsible and accountable for satisfactory completion of work assignments. Appraises subordinates' performance ensuring consistency and equity in rating techniques. Recommends awards when appropriate and approves within-grade increases. Hears and resolves employee complaints and refers serious unresolved complaints to higher level management. Selects or recommends selection of candidates for vacancies, promotions, details, and reassignments in consideration of skills and qualifications, mission requirements, and EEO and diversity objectives.

Serves as a principal advisor and resource regarding administrative matters in both primary care and specialty care outpatient clinic operations to the Associate Director and Executive Leadership. Works independently and closely on a day-to-day basis with the Associate Director and Executive Leadership in planning, identifying, resolving, and implementing complex management programs and policies relevant to the mission and operation of the health care system and its affiliates. Serves as a key contributor in the development of the VATVCBHCS organizational strategic plan, making recommendations for strategies to improve clinic flow and operations, patient care, access to care, and customer service. Participates in Health Care System Emergency Preparedness and safety responses pertinent to internal/external disasters.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telework: This position eligible for Adhoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position/remote position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Health System Specialist - Health Care Center at Harlingen/PD00306O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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, 02/18/2026.

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:

GS-12 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: knowledge of the theories and principles of healthcare administration and organization, and of administrative laws, regulations, policies and precedents applicable to the administration of important programs; ability to gather, assemble and analyze facts, draw conclusions, devise solutions, conduct informational interviews, and maintain effective relationships with a wide variety of officials; ability to thoroughly analyze problems and to design, develop, evaluate, modify, and implement projects and programs to meet current health care industry and agency requirements; ability to identify necessary changes and improvements in the management process and to develop new and different solutions to problems; and, knowledge of the duties, responsibilities, and training requirements as COTR (including project management, market research and negotiations) for the building lease and any other outside agency contracts which deliver services to a health care facility.

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

• Leadership
• Communication
• Administrative and Management
• Organizational Performance Analysis

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. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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.