Clarification from the agency

Open to Current, Permanent VISN 20 Employees of the Veterans Administration and CTAP ONLY- This announcement will close on September 18, 2025 at 11:59pm EST or on the date in which the applicant cut-off of 50 applications is met, whichever comes first. Applications that are submitted after the cut-off number has been reached will not receive consideration.

Videos

Informatics duties include, but may not be limited to:
- Analyzes data and reports to identify the need for change, minimize risk, optimize program measures, and ensure effectiveness of process improvements.- Collaborates with the CCC Chief Informatics Nurse service in forecasting requirements necessary to improve program functions, which include risk management.- Collaborates with the CCC Chief Informatics Nurse and top management in policy review, formulation and communication, implementation, and evaluation and in setting program priorities related to the Informatics service line.- Ensures that all findings of any Informatics activities, including an annual assessment of the effectiveness of the programs are used to modify and improve the program and facilitate accomplishment of Quality Management and Improvement goals and objectives.- Monitors the follow-up recommendations specific to Informatics issues resulting from TJC and other external review visits and formulates communication through the CCC Chief Informatics Nurse to TJC, and other external agents regarding these reviews.- Develops and maintains an active working knowledge of a variety of data collection systems to profile the clinical management of services, address performance, resources, and operational issues.- Supports all aspects of the performance improvement program as assigned. This would include facilitating, teaching, mentoring, data gathering, graphic displays, change management, and project management.- Conducts extensive work in analyzing data and conducting background research on the issue.- Pulls, isolates, and manipulates data to identify root causes of a performance issue.- Develops statistical models to measure successful of performance improvement actions.
- Defines a project scope and goals through a collaborative process with subject matter experts and leadership at the facility, service line or program, or unit level.- Leads a team of subject matter experts, front line staff and leadership through a rigorous and defined project management process utilizing multiple tools from Lean and other performance improvement disciplines to further define the current state of the process.- Leads project teams through designed brainstorming sessions to develop solutions towards a specific delivery or goal during a project.- Develops processes by consulting with subject matter experts to develop standard work.

Quality management and education duties include, but may not be limited to:
- Develops, implements, and maintains a Quality Management Program that monitors, identifies, evaluates, and provides corrective actions associated with those activities or potentially harmful events that may have an adverse impact on the quality of patient care.- Collaborates with the entire Informatics service line to promote an integrated Quality Management Program in the completion of all requirements, monitors, and initiatives.
- Provides quality and improvement guidance in applying performance improvement tools in data collection and identify barriers to the achievement of performance improvement.- Ensures that all findings of any Informatics activities, including an annual assessment of the effectiveness of the programs are used to modify and improve the program and facilitate accomplishment of Quality Management and Improvement goals and objectives.
- Applies research methods to ensure efficient and effective Quality Management functions; serves as the clearing point for review of all related information in the program and refers to others for additional information and problem resolution as needed.- Demonstrates advanced leadership ability by leading/chair unit/work-group teams and program/service committees that work to improve patient care. Exhibits leadership in team building, mentoring, interpersonal relationships, and communication.- Actively participates in training, educating, and preparing of health care staff for TJC, Commission on Accreditation on Rehabilitation, Long Term Care Institute, OIG, and other surveys.- Provides orientation of new employees to the CCC's Informatics program and educates them on their role. - Creates educational modules for all staff in the TMS system.- Participates in and facilitates transformative quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency improvement efforts.- Acts as the project lead for healthcare and operational improvement projects impacting patient care delivery systems and functions throughout the CCC program. Facilitates Page 4 of 8 coaches, and trains audiences at all levels of the program throughout the lifecycle of a performance improvement project.- Organizes, directs, controls and coordinates group activities in a timely and effective manner.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm (PST).
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: Not Available.
Remote: This is a remote position.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD104000

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
• You may be required to 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 09/18/2025.

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 within 30 days of closing date of this announcement. 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: You must at least one (1) 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. Your experience must show 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.

Specialized Experience includes, but not limited to: Incumbent must be able to demonstrate advanced use of Microsoft Excel for data analysis and must be able to demonstrate systems thinking for process improvement. Participating in and facilitates transformative quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency improvement efforts. Delivers training materials and curriculum consisting of advanced practices of project management, statistics, coaching, facilitation and leadership. Provides consultation to executives, service line, and program leadership by leveraging VA data analytics resources. Incumbent conducts extensive data collecting, display, and analysis for the VISN CCC, as such extensive experience in data collection and analysis is required and must be able to perform data analysis duties independently and with minimal training and without supervision in this full performance position. Incumbent is assigned quality management elements and is independently responsible for overall implementation and compliance with quality management initiatives. Incumbent leads teams in performance improvement based on quality management or in support of system wide initiatives. Facilitates, coaches, and trains Lean Six Sigma, Systems Redesign or other improvement methodologies tools and techniques to all levels of the organization. Incumbent must be able to independently lead process improvement projects, including developing process improvement plans. To be expected, you will be required to demonstrate your skills, in excel, data analysis, and systems thinking, during the interview process. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Preferred Experience:

1. Informatics
   Independently conducts comprehensive data collection, analysis, and reporting to support the Clinical Contact Center (CCC) and ensure compliance with external regulatory requirements, including The Joint Commission (TJC), Office of Inspector General (OIG), and Continuous Readiness Reviews. Advises leadership on the development and execution of complex, program-wide strategic initiatives. Maintains proficiency in multiple data systems to monitor clinical performance, resource utilization, and operational effectiveness. Prepares and delivers data-driven reports using platforms such as Cisco Unified Intelligence Center, VA Health Connect Dashboards, Health Chat Power BI, and V-Signals. Performs data analysis independently with minimal supervision, as directed by CCC and VISN leadership.
2. Quality Management
   Leads and mentors interdisciplinary teams in the application of quality management principles and performance improvement methodologies, including Lean and systems thinking. Independently develops and implements process improvement plans in support of CCC and system-wide initiatives. Provides formal and informal training on quality improvement tools and techniques. Facilitates system redesign efforts across service lines, serving as project lead for healthcare and operational improvement initiatives that impact patient care delivery and organizational performance.
3. Collaboration
   Collaborates with the CCC Chief Informatics Nurse and executive leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and program priorities related to informatics and quality management. Engages stakeholders at all levels to define project scopes, goals, and outcomes. Demonstrates leadership in fostering a culture of continuous improvement through collaborative strategies that align with Health Care System/VISN objectives and national standards. Promotes integration and coordination across the Informatics service line to ensure successful execution of quality initiatives and compliance requirements.

• Organizational Performance Analysis
• Planning and Evaluating
• Problem Solving
• Strategic Thinking

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.

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.

Resume Reminder - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
Job title
Duties (be as detailed as possible)
Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)Salary/Rank etc.
Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
References, current or recent supervisor.

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications to ensure you receive appropriate consideration. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

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.