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Health Systems Specialist Executive Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The incumbent serves as the Health System Specialist EA to the Chief of Staff at a 134-bed 1A complexity facility. The position supports all phases of Medical Center operations, ensuring quality patient care, education, and research through effective use of resources. Requires skills and knowledge equivalent to higher education/experience, with high analytical ability and specialized expertise in VA Health Care management, analysis, planning, and professional/public relations.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/09/2025 to 10/17/2025
Salary
$88,621 to - $137,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Salt Lake City, UT
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBSU-12813566-26-VB
Control number
847913100

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Duties

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Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Manage manpower, funds, space, and resources to support quality patient care, education, and research activities.
  • Analyze all aspects of care delivery and management, including planning, organizing, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating medical and administrative operations.
  • Ensure program requirements and criteria are met for assigned organizations, and maintain alignment with the VA mission.
  • Review and monitor services for compliance with internal and external accrediting agencies' standards.
  • Review reports and data to identify trends and issues, recommending interventions as needed.
  • Conduct analytical studies on operational processes, compile comprehensive reports, and suggest remedial actions for discrepancies.
  • Recommend new policies and revisions to existing facility policies to improve operations.
  • Analyze impacts of new legislation, goals, and technological advances on procedures, and develop new systems to address these changes.
  • Provide specialized support and guidance in adapting to changes in mission and operational needs.
  • Ensure effective reporting and internal evaluation of healthcare delivery programs within the Network, providing insights and recommendations for improvement.
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.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0730-1600
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Systems Specialist Executive Assistant/PD146160 and PD146170
Physical Requirements: The incumbent's work is generally carried out in an office setting in the Chief of Staff Suite at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, George E. Wahlen Medical Center. On a daily basis, the incumbent travels within the medical center to attend meetings and to observe patient care and activities. The incumbent may be required to travel to VASLCHCS outpatient clinics, VISN 19 Network Office, and other VISN 19 and VHA facilities. The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required, such as walking through the entire facility or carrying charts or manuals up to 15 lbs.

Requirements

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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 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, 10/17/2025.

Health System Administration Series, 0671 Individual Occupational Requirements:

Undergraduate and Graduate Education:

Major study -- hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration.

or

Specialized Experience

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 Special Provision for In service 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 meeting the IOR you must also meet:

GS-12:
  • Specialized Experience 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: Clinical program knowledge and unique knowledge of the mission and organization of health care delivery systems. Extensive knowledge of organizational structure, functions, and procedures of Medical Center, VISN, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Knowledge of VHA medical/professional and administrative programs at this facility. Knowledge of strategic planning, financial planning, organizational theory, healthcare policy, VHA policy and planning guides, modeling practices, data analysis, and academic healthcare management. Working knowledge of the VA equipment and supply procurement process and be able to communicate accurate information to the COS and clinical service line chiefs regarding these programs.
GS-13
  • Specialized Experience GS-13: 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: Strong understanding of human psychology and behavior is needed to effectively work with the diverse collection of management and organizational principles are needed for effective participation in all pertinent medical center programs. The incumbent must have an understanding of a wide variety of laws, regulations, guidelines, and protocols; mastery of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of program effectiveness or the improvement of complex management processes and systems. Mastery knowledge and ability to apply analytic principles, theories, and techniques to healthcare management and operational systems with a degree of resourcefulness and ingenuity. Knowledge of Medical Center operations sufficient to identify compliance risks relative to specific Services, functional units or individual positions. Incumbent must possess strong managerial, leadership and interpersonal skills, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills. Expert level 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. 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.
Time in Grade:
  • GS-12 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-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.
  • GS-13 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.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Administration and Management
  • Analysis and Problem Solving
  • Communications
  • Project Management



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

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.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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

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

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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.

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.

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.

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