Health System Specialist

Summary

This is a Health System Specialist position organizationally aligned with the Veterans Health Administration Central Office (VHACO), AUSH for Clinical Services, Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders (SCI/D) System of Care National Program Office (NPO) in Washington, D.C.

Duties

This job announcement will close on 11/16/2026. The first 75 applications will receive first consideration. Applications submitted after the initial cut-off number has been reached will not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by the hiring management. ___________________________ The duties of the Health System Specialist include, but are not limited to: Project Management and Implementation: Manage and coordinate complex healthcare projects and initiatives throughout the project life cycle, including developing implementation plans, establishing milestones, monitoring progress, and ensuring timely completion of deliverables. Healthcare Program Planning and Development: Support the design, development, modification, and implementation of national healthcare programs, operational initiatives, and procedures that advance organizational priorities and improve healthcare delivery for Veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Healthcare Accessibility and Standards: Serve as the administrative lead for healthcare accessibility definitions and standards, coordinating assessments, literature reviews, subject matter expert consultations, and recommendations to improve access to healthcare services for individuals with significant physical disabilities. Program Evaluation and Performance Improvement: Conduct comprehensive analyses of healthcare programs, operational processes, and performance outcomes to identify deficiencies, evaluate effectiveness, and recommend improvements that enhance organizational efficiency and quality of care. Data Analysis and Quality Improvement: Develop and support data collection methodologies, analyze qualitative and quantitative information, monitor quality improvement initiatives, and prepare findings and recommendations to support evidence-based management decisions. Policy Interpretation and Regulatory Compliance: Interpret and apply federal healthcare laws, VA/VHA directives, administrative policies, and accessibility requirements to support program implementation, operational planning, and organizational compliance. Stakeholder Engagement and Interagency Collaboration: Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with VA medical centers, Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), federal agencies, healthcare organizations, and other stakeholders to coordinate activities and advance program objectives. Strategic Communication and Executive Support: Develop executive-level correspondence, memoranda, white papers, technical reports, presentations, and briefing materials to communicate program initiatives, operational findings, and recommendations to senior leadership. Committee Leadership and Program Representation: Represent the SCI/D National Program Office on interdisciplinary committees, workgroups, and task forces; coordinate assigned activities, facilitate stakeholder discussions, and provide leadership with updates and recommendations. Change Management and Operational Improvement: Apply project management and organizational improvement principles to support implementation of new initiatives, address operational challenges, monitor corrective actions, and promote sustainable improvements in healthcare program effectiveness. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM Telework: This position may be authorized for ad hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Ad hoc is defined as occasional, non-recurring telework. Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to in person work mandate in their current position. Virtual Work is defined as working outside of the original hiring duty station at a VA owned or leased space. Return to Office (RTO) Mandate: RTO mandate is in effect and selectee will be required to report to in person work unless they have an approved exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception, exemption, or extension will occur after the selectee's tentative job offer but before the final job offer. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD73065A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this job announcement, 11/16/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current VHA employees and have held a GS grade position at any time in the past 52 weeks must meet Time-In-Grade requirement by the closing date of this job announcement. For a GS-13 grade position all applicants must demonstrate that they have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 grade. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. To demonstrate Time-In-Grade, an appropriate SF-50 must be attached with the application package. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate the 52 weeks of Time-In-Grade served, and, in that instance, an additional SF-50 may need to be provided. SF-50s issued for awards do not demonstrate Time-In-Grade and should not be submitted. 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. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): All applicants must meet the IOR with one of the following three criteria: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR 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. The 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 of In-Service placement: Successful completion of 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 Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), all applicants must meet the: Specialized Experience Requirement: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: Managing healthcare projects and initiatives, including developing implementation plans, establishing milestones, coordinating stakeholders, monitoring project performance, and recommending adjustments to achieve organizational objectives. Analyzing and evaluating healthcare programs and operations, including conducting program assessments, interpreting performance data, identifying opportunities for improvement, and developing recommendations to enhance healthcare delivery, efficiency, and organizational effectiveness. Applying healthcare accessibility standards and regulatory requirements, including evaluating accessibility barriers, interpreting federal healthcare policies and directives, coordinating accessibility improvement initiatives, and recommending modifications to healthcare operational procedures. Coordinating strategic communications and stakeholder engagement, including preparing executive briefings, technical reports, policy documents, and presentations; collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcare professionals; and advising leadership on program implementation, operational challenges, and improvement initiatives. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website.

Education

There is no educational substitution at the GS-13 grade level. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education (e.g. if claiming education to meet the Individual Occupational Requirement). 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 educational accreditation here. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must attach a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Additional information is available here.

Requirements

All applicants must be U.S. Citizens to apply for this job. To be considered, applicants must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment which measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for all male applicants born after 12/31/1959. Selected applicants are subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification are 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). The work of this position 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, the selected applicant will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate the selected applicant's fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest. In determining whether the selected applicant's continued employment advances the public interest, we may consider: the selected applicant's performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether the selected applicant's continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether the selectee's continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of the probationary period, the selected applicant's employment will be terminated unless they receive certification, in writing, that their continued employment advances the public interest.