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Health System Specialist (Executive Assistant to the VISN Chief Nursing Officer)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

Health System Specialist will serve as the Executive Staff Assistant for Clinical and Nursing Operations and reports to the VISN 09 Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) providing health systems management support services in full support of network office mission, goals and objectives relating primarily to clinical operations.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 06/29/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 29, 2026
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Location
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$106,437 - $138,370 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBTG-12991688-26-RG
Control number
874042400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to all current permanent employees of VISN 9 and it's facilities ONLY. Selectee for this position must be located within the local commuting area of a VISN 9 facility or leased space and report for duty to such location within the VISN 9 catchment area. This is NOT a remote position.

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Duties

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This Health Systems Specialist will serve as the Executive Staff Assistant to the Chief Nursing Officer for the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 9 within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and provides assistance in policy development and managerial decision-making.

Duties will include but not limited to:

  • Provide support to health care executives by analyzing, evaluating, advising on and/or coordinating health care delivery systems and operations for the network. The position renders advice on operational and nursing policies and assures these policies are coordinated with, and in support of, field operations at each of the VISN facilities. The incumbent must assure that operational policies are coordinated with and in support of administrative functions in coordination with the supervisor.
  • Use initiative in organizing and accomplishing the responsibilities that have been delegated. The incumbent works closely with senior management officials and others in implementing and evaluating policies, plans, and internal operational systems. Addresses specific problem areas and applies a high degree of analytical ability and specialized healthcare knowledge to the management of healthcare delivery systems.
  • Serves as a representative of the Chief Nursing Officer on issues as appropriate, and works with others toward meeting national mandates, such as the recently implemented and evolving nursing professional standards and scope of practice, sterile processing regulations, clinical contact center requirements, and veteran experience program initiates. This position exercises broad latitude and provides senior expert level advice to senior personnel, and/or agency officials concerning complex, novel, and unusual healthcare issues.
  • Special studies and project requests for information will be provided to VISN 09 Executive Leadership within established time frames.
  • Manages the overall administrative operations for the various services and programs under the auspices of the Chief Nursing Officer. Plans, controls, and directs administrative programs.
  • Manages contracts and budgets in a cost-effective manner. Prepares annual budget forecasts and oversees the preparation of submittals related to balances score cards, business plans and management briefings.
  • Facilitates two-way communication with the Health System Specialists and Administrative Officers in the Administrative and Clinical Service Lines at medical centers and VISN through regularly scheduled meetings intended to ensure consistent and competent business practices and reporting.
  • Facilitates training of Health System Specialists and Administrative Officers aligned under the Chief Nursing Officer to fill gaps in their business knowledge using appropriate subject matter experts.
  • Monitor health performance measures, administrative performance measures and manage change within each/all system/s of care; participates in developing plans to meet or exceed the network's Strategic Plan, priority construction projects and performance measures; participates in development and documentation of long and short range planning efforts; develops, reviews and recommends business plans, resource projections, priorities, justifications, action plans, etc.; prepares and contributes to reports, action plans, and other presentations on program planning and evaluation as well as VISN reporting (internally and externally).
  • Knowledge of the Strategic Capital Investment Planning Process and development of Annual VISN operating and Budget plans and objectives.
  • Responsible for the development of comprehensive business plans to improve the operation and cost effectiveness of VISN programs which involve and impact several clinical and administrative services.
  • Coordinates and monitors the implementation of initiatives to expand or enhance health care programs.
  • Designs and conducts a wide variety of comprehensive and detailed analyses of complex functions and processes related to health care programs, evaluates the use of new technologies and business practices, and recommends best outcome options.
Work schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Available at supervisory discretion
Telework: Eligible on a Adhoc basis
Virtual: This may be a virtual position. (Reporting to another government owned or leased space other than the VISN 9 Headquarters located in Franklin, TN.)
Remote: This is NOT a remote position. (Work from home)
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (Executive Assistant to the VISN Chief Nursing Officer)
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station Incentive: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
  • 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 identification 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, 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, 06/29/2026.

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.

Preferred Experience: The ideal candidate will have 2 years or more of documented experience as a current or prior HSS Executive Assistant to an Executive Leadership Team member or Clinic Manager; within a VA Medical Facility or VISN office; and have COTR (Contracting Officer Representative) experience.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Individual Occupational Requirements:

1. 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
Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement.
OR
2. Education: Undergraduate or graduate education with 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.

Specialized Experience GS-13: In addition to the basic requirements applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is experience in 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 organization 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.
Specifically:

  • Advanced experience progressively responsible experience in clinical administration with a focus on Quality Improvement, Accountable Care Organizations, healthcare reform and/or Population Health.
  • Experience serving as staff assistant to executive leadership and provides policy development and managerial decision-making.
  • Expert knowledge of monitoring healthcare compliance in accordance with regulation.
  • Experience preparing correspondence and reports on behalf of an executive officer for external review.
  • Experience lead workgroups on new system implementation and/or process improvement initiatives.
  • Collecting, organizing links, analyzing trends, and interpreting highly specialized data from large databases.
  • Managing a performance plan roll out, to include updates aggregate analysis, presentations, and end of year reporting.
  • Proficiency in applications such as MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook, including database applications reporting.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from varied backgrounds and organizational levels.
  • Ability to work with others to identify opportunities for improvement of network operations and provide recommendations for improved processes.
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply management tools and techniques (e.g., flow charts, decision-making assessments etc.) in dealing with daily healthcare operations and short/long-range planning activities.
  • Ability to analyze, interpret and apply laws, regulations and standards to initiate necessary action to implement changes.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:


Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

Agency contact information

Ryan Gurley
Email
Ryan.Gurley@va.gov
Address
VA Midsouth Healthcare Network
VA Midsouth Healthcare Network
Nashville, TN 37203
US

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