Health System Specialist

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Office of the Assistant Director, VASLCHCS, Salt Lake City, UT.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Health System Specialist to the Medical Center Assistant Director dealing with widely diversified organizational units with varied activities.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/13/2026.

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: 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: Full range of functional areas such as purchasing, planning, financial management, VA statutes and VHA policy; Experience in administrative duties; Ability to identify problems and potential problem areas based on daily observation.

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: In-depth knowledge of health care service administration, continuous quality improvement; data analysis; healthcare principles, theories and practices; budgeting, planning, administration, 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.

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 GS12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. For the 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.

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/.

Major Duties:

Duties include but are not limited to the following: Provide direct support to the Assistant Medical Center Director, providing complex and comprehensive support for strategic decision making across all services under the Assistant Director's supervision.

Advanced analytical skills, strong communication skills to effectively coordinate with various departments and external organizations.

Balance multiple priorities and manage complex projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and ensuring accuracy.

Conduct quantitative analyses and financial modeling to support strategic planning initiatives, including facility expansion projects, cost-benefit analyses, and program evaluations.

Provides advisory support on regulatory compliance and accreditation readiness across all medical center services, maintaining a deep knowledge of relevant regulations and standards from major accrediting bodies and external surveying organizations.

Develop and implement advanced data analytics strategies to improve operational efficiency, patient outcomes, and resource utilization across the medical center.

Develop comprehensive reports, studies, business plans, and presentations to the Assistant Medical Center Director. Possess strong analytical, writing, and presentation skills.

The incumbent must be able to develop clear, concise reports and presentations that effectively communicate complex information to various stakeholders Strong organizational skills are essential for managing multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.

Develop business plans in collaboration with service chiefs under the Assistant Director, including assistance with facility-level business planning Establish process controls to ensure recommendations and actions are completed as approved.

Prepare issue briefs, memos, and other written documents utilizing VA standards. Other duties as assigned.

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, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-Hoc telework.

Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD14763-0 and PD14611-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized