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Major Duties Include:

• Uses health informatics knowledge to influence and adapt informatics systems
• Responsible for independently negotiating a highly complex organizational and technical environments to accomplish goals
• Independently create his or her own plans of action, identify and resolve risks and issues, negotiate plans and solutions with members of the senior executive
• Ensures integration of planning initiatives in terms of phasing and monitoring implementation of health informatics projects and products
• Provides technical expertise in the field of health care informatics planning; provides advice and assistance
• Assists in compiling information to be presented to leadership
• Integrates software applications
• Conducts health informatics product testing
• Identifies critical areas, develops, implements, and monitors corrective action plans related deliverables, milestones, dependencies, and barriers
• Conducts special studies and provides advice and guidance to project and program leaders.
• Analyzes data, identifies trends and issues of concern
• Compiles final reports including comprehensive analyses, notes discrepancies and planned initiatives for effecting remedial actions
• Leads teams to implement resolutions after concurrence of project or program leaders
• Monitors action items within the organization and ensures appropriate progress to remedy problems as identified
• Provides leadership and works with staff to ensure effective reporting and internal evaluation of programs
• Recommends new policies and procedures and recommends revision to existing policies and procedures as necessary
• Conducts administrative and technical reviews of policy documents related to respective area of focus.
• Charters, co-chairs, and facilitates workgroups consisting of subject-matter experts
• Coordinates and prepares reports, briefing materials, white papers, and other such correspondence to aid in discussions with affected business owners and users
• Contract management, to include ensuring contractors fulfill contractual commitments.
• Analyzes and evaluates (on a quantitative or qualitative basis) the effectiveness of line program operations in meeting established goals and objectives
• Conducts in-depth analyses of project data, requirements, and impact; identify problem areas and determine how to resolve them
• Plans, coordinates and establishes operating methods and procedures for accomplishment of project mission
• Manages system reviews, controls and reports on project status, and monitors project status and adjusts work plans for project accomplishment

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD772190
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/24/2022.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current, permanent 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 showing 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.

Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. Please review the Required Document section for additional information, and to ensure all appropriate documentation is submitted at the time of application.

Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement who have separated within the past 52 weeks, and current employees applying under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA).

Basic Requirement:

• Individual Occupational Requirement: In order to meet the basic requirement of the Health System Administration, 0671 Occupational series, you must possess an undergraduate or graduate level degree 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 -OR- you must possess 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. In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, you must also have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade.

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.

In addition to the above Individual Occupational Requirement you must meet the specialized experience.
Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Extensive experience in specialized healthcare principles, theories, and practices related to management of healthcare delivery systems and the ability to apply this knowledge in order to analyze and evaluate broad, complex problems and make recommendations to solve the unique problems arising in the health care delivery system. Working knowledge of missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems in general and in the country at large. Working knowledge of regulations and rules affecting the administration and delivery of care in large health care facilities and the ability to collect, analyze, and communicate detailed information. Comprehensive knowledge of the different functions and motivations of various employees and groups in the health care delivery system. Working knowledge of the unique characteristics of the health care delivery system (e.g., facility resources and programs, medical school affiliations, community demographics, resources, and relationships) and the role and organization of professional societies and volunteer groups. Familiarity with issues related to the management of healthcare, the existing electronic health record system, and clinical practice within health care system with focus on clinical workflows. Ability to 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 organization health care delivery system. Familiarity with regulations and standards of various health care related regulatory and credentialing groups and comprehensive knowledge of regulations and rules affecting the administration and delivery of care in organizations health care facilities. Ability to quickly acquire and apply knowledge of organizations policies and procedures as well as its organizational and functional structures in order to make recommendations for organizational improvement Ability to reconcile contradictory requirements in preparing recommendations and/or in establishing and configuring test and development accounts. Expert written skills in order to write reports, policies, executive decision memos, prepare briefing materials, and to influence and implement national goals and strategies related to the organization and implementation of the assigned project deliverables, and assimilation of relevant information for dissemination.

Selective Placement Factor: Expertise in ensuring integration of planning initiatives in terms of phasing and monitoring implementation of health informatics projects, and expertise as a subject matter expert providing technical acumen in the field of health care informatics projects.


ICTAP/CTAP candidates: ICTAP/CTAP candidates must be found to be well qualified for referral.

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. A full year of work is 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited based on time 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.

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.

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.