Clarification from the agency

Recent graduates - Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for veterans.

This job will close when we have received 55 applications which may be sooner than the closing date.

This position serves as a GHATP Trainee (Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program), functioning as a Health System Specialist in the Office of the Director of the Medical Facility, & is responsible for managing projects & assisting with the coordination of daily office activities & is responsible for all program matters under the direction of the Medical Center Director that is delegated to them.

Serves as a Health System Specialist (GHATP Trainee-Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program) within a one-year formalized national training program. The GHATP training program is designed so that the incumbent acquires the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary to assume progressively more complex responsibilities and assist the Office of the Medical Center Director in successfully meeting its mission and strategic goals.

Specific duties include:

• Utilizes data and reporting tools to develop health-planning strategies impacting the operations of medical centers, network offices, and/or VHACO program offices.
• Analyzes data trends in budget and fiscal operations supporting the preparation and execution of budget and committee meetings.
• Researches laws, regulations, and policies related to budget and fiscal management, displaying knowledge of VA health care system operations.
• Participates on project teams in lead or support roles, identifying and improving operational processes impacting services of the VA health care system.
• Displays knowledge of VA priorities and mission statements to recommend improvements to policy and procedures related to budget and administrative operations.
• Observes, analyzes, and reports under professional service direction the areas of discipline, rewards and recognition, reassignment, staff adjustments and realignments, labor/management relationships, affirmative employment, and alternative dispute resolutions and grievances to understand processes for conducting projects and studies.
• Performs rotations and on-site visits to make recommendations to the issues and opportunities present at the Network and other VA/VHA facilities and program offices.
• Analyzes org charts, policies, VERA, and SAIL data to represent the facility/Network and program office priorities during resource allocation committee meetings.
• Participates in disaster preparedness and emergency management planning meetings to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of policies and procedures.
• Attends facility/Network/and VHACO program office strategic and succession planning meetings to observe techniques and methodologies in VHA personnel management.
• Gathers organizational data from reports and TRIP packs in preparation for media and community events, either separately or in conjunction with the Public Affairs Office.
• Reviews and explores VHA relationships and processes with affiliated education programs.
• Participates in local hospital council, veteran organization, and community organization meetings with VHA senior leader staff members.
• Manages, leads, and administers project plans which include meeting objectives, assigning resources, giving briefings and presentations as project representative, maintaining quality assurance processes, creating project documentation, and completing after-action review reports and follow-up procedures in conducting comprehensive project management.
• Reviews and reports on facility policies in preparation for surveys, audits, and inspections in quality assurance, compliance, and procedures governed by internal and external organizations.
• Develops and presents an innovative project recommending improvements to policies, procedures, and services provided by VHA at the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The grade progression for this position is (GS-11).

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00am EST- 4:30pm EST
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist-GHATP Trainee Position; S0001-S, S0002-S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Required to sign a Pathways Program Participant Agreement and serve a probationary/trial period.
• 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:05/01/2026.

RECENT GRADUATE REQUIREMENT: The Pathways Recent Graduates Program is open to recent graduates who are legally permitted to work in the U.S. To be eligible.. You must have obtained one of the following qualifying degrees, certificate, career, or technical education programs: associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctoral, or technical/vocational degree or certificate (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps) from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years.
Preference eligible veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which the degree (certification and/or career/technical program) was completed.

Preferred candidates will possess a degree from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) or the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).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 knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.

AND,

Provide a Statement of Purpose: Explain how you believe the VHA Health Systems Management Trainee Program will assist you in further defining your primary personal and/or professional life goals. Why is now the best time for you to pursue this training? Your explanation should include, but not necessarily be limited to, a description of both your intermediate and longer-term career goals, as well as a current vision of your desired position upon program completion. Please limit your response to no more than 4000 characters (about one page).

Health System Specialist Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): Applicants must have a major of study in hospital administration, public health administration or other healthcare admin/management from a qualifying degree program recognized by the Department of Education. A Master's in business or public administration may be accepted if at least two (2) healthcare courses are taken before completion of degree.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Health System Specialist GS-09:Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service that includes performing the following duties: 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:

• 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,

EDUCATION:

• Master's or equivalent graduate degree. or,
• 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. or,
• LL.B. or J.D., if related.

OR,

COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education (beyond 18 semester hours) as described above.

Health System Specialist GS-11:Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service that includes performing the following duties: 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:

• Analytical and investigative techniques concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of work operations carried out by administrative personnel.
• Programs and functions in a service line of a medical center.
• Interpersonal relationships to present staffing recommendations and negotiate solutions to disputed recommendations.

OR,

EDUCATION:

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. or,
• 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in hospital administration, public health administration or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration). or,
• LL.M., if related

OR,

COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education (beyond 18 semester hours) as described above.

Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information.

Volunteer Experience: 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; 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.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.


Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled 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 BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

• Database Management Systems
• Administration and Management
• Communication
• Technical Competence

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 an interview.