Clarification from the agency

Please be advised this vacancy is opened to Current and Permanent Lexington VA Healthcare System employees, and CBOCs that are Stationed at Lexington VHA #596 Only. To verify you fall within the Hiring Path Eligibility please consult Section 40 on your most recent Standard Form (SF)-50. This section should read "Agency Data" and the following alpha-numeric code should start with 596 in order to be considered for this vacancy announcement.

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Duties include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Develops and formulates management policies, standard operating procedures, and standard work.
• Serves as the conduit of information flow and management of assignments between such offices.
• Conducts analytical studies on particular operational processes, issues topics, or related special projects.
• Develops process and procedures to streamline administrative activities.
• Implements and evaluates polices, plans, and internal operations systems.
• Facilitates the work of the office related to a variety of operations-focused assignments and projects initiated by senior leadership or program offices, or departmental offices.
• Monitors and manages incoming actions and requests from initial receipt to completion and closeout.
• Serves as the responsible contact for leading projects from initiation to completion and may be required to present the results to senior leadership.
• Works closely with senior management and others in implementing and evaluating policies, plans, and internal operational systems such as correspondence management, information tracking among pertinent offices and stakeholders, and internal/external communication flows.
• Establishes performance standards, work reviews, and reporting requirements.
• Advises management and employees on the interpretation and application of a variety of policies, practices and procedures.
• Engages frequently with staff at all levels to facilitate the work of the office related to a variety of operations-focused assignments and projects.
• Works in coordination with other internal reviewing services regarding routine audits and internal/external reviews of a national concern.
• Identifies substantive issues, establish relative priorities and determine those issue requiring tracking.
• Briefs and advises senior management on agenda issues in preparation for activities and meetings and may represent the office internal or external activities or meetings.
• Develops position papers and decision documents representing the position of the organization on a variety of complex and sensitive issues.
• 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/PD304470 and PD30468-0
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

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, 05/22/2026.

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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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 and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience:

Grade Determination GS-11: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the healthcare field performing progressively responsible analytical, administrative and clinical management duties. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Contributing to operation of the service by providing accurate reporting, trending, and education to protect the organization's resources;
• Works closely with senior management and others in implementing and evaluating policies, plans, and internal operational systems such as correspondence management, information tracking, and communication;
• Develops processes and procedures to streamline administrative activities;
• Coordinating activities involved in administrative investigations; assisting in preparation of organizational charts; providing support on various issues and concerns;
• Acting as a liaison for the service when leadership is unavailable.

OR,

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level education leading to such a degree OR LL.M, if related. Education must be in a major study in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration

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 master's or graduate degree level.

Grade Determination GS-12: 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, but are not limited to:

• In-depth knowledge of health care service administration, continuous quality improvement; data analysis; healthcare principles, theories and practices; budgeting, planning, administration, and labor/union relationships, or other key administrative support functions; sufficient to analyze and evaluate broad and difficult problems, apply extensive qualitative and/or quantitative methods for program improvement, make recommendations for complicated solutions; and the related ability to apply health care management principles to complex problem-solving situations.
• Highly developed skill in applying advanced qualitative and quantitative techniques in order to perform thorough management analysis of current and projected diagnostic service programs.
• Extensive knowledge of the unique characteristics of the specific health care delivery system served, the missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems, intra- and interdepartmental relationships, and agency operations and programs sufficient to interact effectively with healthcare facilities and to seek out and secure more detailed, technical information for task accomplishment when needed.
• Comprehensive knowledge of broad agency administrative practices such as correspondence control practices, office processes, regulations, and rules in keeping with senior management decision makers affecting the administration and delivery of healthcare services.
• Ability to apply extensive knowledge and skills in hospital administration principles, theories, and practices to inquiries and studies where the boundaries are broad and difficult. In this capacity, applies knowledge of advanced management principles with demonstrated applications to healthcare operations.
• Ability to independently investigate complex issues, analyze problems, and present both written and oral recommendations taking into full consideration the wide range of factors and requirements which affect the management of the healthcare delivery system.

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; although, some slight physical effort is required. Work may be performed in a clinical setting to observe program operations and trainee work environments. Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite. Stamina and concentration to meet crucial deadlines is required. There may be a certain amount of pressure due to time constraints. There is extensive use of computer systems.

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.