Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and CTAP eligibles only.

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Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

In this position, the incumbent counsels, provides expertise and coordinates policies, programs and operations for the program areas reporting to the Chief of Staff (CoS). He/she supports the CoS on operational issues cutting across organizational lines to include the following:

• Plan and conduct analytical studies of management functions in support of improvements in organizational structure and staffing level efficiency,
• Provide consultative support to patient access and flow improvement initiatives,
• Plan and conduct studies directed at reducing workload errors,
• Conduct gap analyses and training needs assessments, and
• Analyze and advise management of the evaluation of the effectiveness of programs and operations

The incumbent performs special study projects, investigations, surveys, and administrative audits at the request of the CoS, or on his/her own initiative. May personally conduct a variety of investigative surveys and/or audits; and provide analysis in any area under the purview of the CoS, or as assigned.

The incumbent is responsible for the administration of the Physician and Dentists Pay for Performance Program. In this effort the incumbent, with guidance for the VISN, identifies the measures to use each year, and communicates program. Results are compared to the measures and the Performance Pay is calculated.

The Credentialing and Privilege section reports to the incumbent. The incumbent oversees the process of reviewing and verifying the applicants' education, training, license, experience, and skills to fulfill the requirements of appointment. This responsibly includes:

• Licensed Independent Practitioners (LIPs) meeting all state licensing requirements
• New and reappointed LIPs are thoroughly vetted in accordance with VHA regulations
• All privileges are documented and approved by the Service Chief, CoS and Medical Executive Committee (MEC)
• Monitor and assist the Service Chiefs in the preparation and maintenance of both OPPEs (Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations) and FPEE (Focuses Professional Practice Evaluations)

Performs organizational development work in short and long-range planning efforts. Complies with directives in preparing annual and cyclic planning documents. Reviews and independently follows-up on assignments. Assesses priorities and examines programs, recommending expanding, contracting, combining, separating or realigning them to best meet patient health care needs economically.

He/she uses Excel or other software programs to prepare reports and charts based on the data that will be used to assist the CoS in the management of the administrative services and in the administrative management of the clinical services. Perform specific analyses and plans, develops and conducts internal review studies of interrelated functions of substantial technical complexity within the medical center as requested by the CoS.

Collateral Duties Include:

VERA Coordinator for JJPVAMC. The VERA (Veterans Equitable Recourse Allocation) coordinator is the Facility POC with the ARC (Allocation Research Center) and is responsible for:

• Communicating changes, updates and data from the ARC to facility management
• A member of the VISN3 VERA committee
• Training staff in the VERA process and methodology
• Identifying issues which can/will impact the allocations JJP receives through the annual allocation process. Examples, vesting and coding and provider classification

Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD55918O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 may be required to serve or complete a 1-year probationary 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, 03/10/2026.

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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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 and/or education as described below:

Individual Occupation Requirements (IORs): The Health Systems Specialist GS-0671 occupation series has IORs that must be met in order to qualify for entry into this job series as described below. An applicant can meet this requirement by either Education, Specialized Experience or the Special Provision for Inservice Placement.

• Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. OR;
• Specialized 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. OR;
• 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.

GS-13 Health System Specialist Experience Requirement: In addition to meeting the IORs for entry into this job series, to be eligible for this role at the GS-13 level, applicants must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). Your experience must also demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) which includes:

• Skill in managing complex calendars, coordinating high-level meetings, and preparing executive-level documentation;
• Ability to represent leadership effectively in meetings with external partners, community organizations, and internal stakeholders;
• Knowledge of clinical reports, operational documentation (such as OPPF and FPPE), and understanding of clinical and administrative workflows;
• Ability to analyze complex data, prepare reports, and present information clearly to senior leadership and external partners;
• Knowledge of VA operations, credentialing processes, and healthcare compliance requirements;
• Ability to represent senior leaders during meetings such as VISN calls with VISN CMO or community partner visits;
• Skill in handling multiple priorities efficiently in a fast-paced, dynamic healthcare environment, and
• Ability to manage sensitive information with professionalism and integrity.

Please note that your experience must be clearly demonstrated in your application to receive full credit. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience.

If using education, please provide the appropriate transcripts to verify. If using the special provision for inservice placement, please provide proof of successful completion of an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program.

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 primarily sedentary. Some walking, standing, bending and carrying of light office items 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/.

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.

Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order of consideration:

1. Current, permanent employees of the Bronx VA Healthcare System (Facility)
2. Current, permanent employees of a facility within VISN 2 (VISN)
3. Current, permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (Agency)

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.