Health System Specialist (Graduate Healthcare Administrative Training Program Trainee)

Full Job Description

This position serves as a GHATP Trainee functioning as a Health System Specialist in the Office of the Director of the Medical Facility and is responsible for managing projects and assisting in the coordination of daily office activities.

The position is responsible for all program matters under the direction of the Medical Center Director that is delegated to them.

*PLEASE NOTE SELECTEE WILL NEED TO START THE ROLE NO LATER THAN 6/28/2026* To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/10/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees serving on a Career or Career Conditional Appointment and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

For this vacancy announcement, applicants must have completed at least 52 weeks at the GS-7 grade level to be eligible for the GS-9 grade level.

Also, applicants must have completed at least 52 weeks at the GS-9 grade level to be eligible for the GS-11 grade level.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

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 for the GS-9: Specialized Experience: Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service that includes performing the following duties: Qualifying specialized experience is defined as 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, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 18 semesters as described above.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below for the GS-11: Specialized Experience: Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service that includes performing the following duties: Qualifying specialized experience is defined as 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, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration).

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 18 semesters as described above.

Preferred candidates will possess a degree from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) or the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

The preferred candidate will also possess project management experience.

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:

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11.

At the GS-09 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.

You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11.

Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.

The position serves as a Health System Specialist (GHATP Trainee) within a one year formalized national training program (June to June).

The GHATP training program is designed so that the position acquires the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary to assume progressively more complex responsibilities and assist the Office of the Medical Center Director in successfully meeting its mission and strategic goals.

The position will develop an individual development plan (IDP) and receive recurring progress reviews by the supervisor.

Duties include but may not be limited to the following: Utilizes data and reporting tools to develop health-planning strategies impacting the operations of medical centers, network offices, and/or VHACO program offices.

Analyzes data trends in budget and fiscal operations supporting the preparation and execution of budget and committee meetings.

Researches laws, regulations, and policies related to budget and fiscal management displaying knowledge of VA health care system operations.

Participates on project teams in lead or support roles identifying and improving operational processes impacting services of the VA health care system.

Displays knowledge of VA priorities and mission statements to recommend improvements to policy and procedures related to budget and administrative operations.

Observes, analyzes, and reports under professional service direction the areas of discipline, rewards and recognition, reassignment, staff adjustments and realignments, labor/management relationships, affirmative employment, and alternative dispute resolutions and grievances to understand processes for conducting projects and studies.

Performs rotations and on-site visits to make recommendations to the issues and opportunities present at the Network and other VA/VHA facilities and program offices.

Analyzes org charts, policies, VERA and SAIL data to represent the facility/Network, and program office priorities during resource allocation committee meetings.

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. The grade progression for this position is GS-11.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday thru Friday Telework: Ad Hoc, at the discretion of the supervisor and per policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (Graduate Healthcare Administrative Training Program Trainee)/PDS0001A and PDS0002A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized