Health System Specialist (HPE)

Full Job Description

The incumbent serves as a Health Systems Specialist - Health Professions Education (HPE) Specialist.

This position supports the Designated Education Officer (DEO) and HPE management for establishing, maintaining, and evaluating the quality of HPE programs and the quality of care delivered by health professions trainees (HPTs) at the VA medical facility.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/20/2026Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Individual Occupational Requirement: 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, Experience (for positions above GS-5): 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.

In addition to meeting the above IOR, applicants must also meet the following: GS-9: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Health System Specialist.

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: (1) Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; (2) Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and (3) Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement.

At this level, applicants would have obtained this experience working within a health care setting; working directly with healthcare professionals and other administrators to solve problems in support of the delivery of patient care; and experience assisting an administrative component of a health care onboarding process.

~OR~ Education: Successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree, successfully completed two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, LL.B or J.D in a related field of the position to be filled (i.e., hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration).

Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~ Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience as described above, to meet the total experience requirements.

The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position (i.e.

hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as course work in health care administration).

This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume.

GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Health System Specialist.

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: (1) Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; (2) Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and (3) Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement.

~OR~ Education: Successfully completed a Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree, three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, Or LL.M in the related field of the position to be filled (i.e., hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration).

The education portion must include courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

Education must have been obtained in an accredited college, or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~ Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements.

The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position (i.e., hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration).

NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume.

NOTE: One (1) 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.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary; although, some slight physical effort is required. Accompanying HPTs through the medical site or clinical training site may be required.

Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite.

Stamina and concentration to meet crucial deadlines is required. Major Duties:

The purpose of this position is to conduct and evaluate a wide range of program management and administrative duties to fulfill requirements related to VHA's academic mission and OAA's strategic plans.

Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Responsible for the technical work required for HPE programs including affiliation agreements, trainee qualifications and credentials letter (TQCVL), program letters of agreement (PLAs), direct HPT/affiliate staff customer service, and the on- and off­ boarding processes of HPTs.

Review and validate HPT applications, qualifications, and appointment against OAA criteria before starting clinical rotations and performing patient care.

Inform management with authoritative analyses, policy guidance and opinions regarding HPT appointment and on- and off-boarding processes as it relates to HPE programs.

Enhance the efficiency of processes and HPT training experience as it effects the reputation of VA and its ability to maintain and expand the clinical workforce of VA and the nation through recruitment and retention of highly qualified HPTs.

Responsible for enacting process changes with OAA, affiliate staff, facility leadership, clinical and administrative service lines by implementing SOPs, developing and administering training programs, and advising on HPE regulations.

Provide complex coordination across clinical and administrative service lines at both facility and Veterans Services Integrated Network (VISN) levels.

Synthesize and maintain data from diverse data systems and sources to cross check, validate and present relevant information and reports. Performs other related 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: Full Time 7:00am-3:30pm. Work schedule subject to change based on agency needs.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (HPE)/PD99460S and PD99461S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized