Health System Specialist - Staff Assistant

Full Job Description

The Health System Specialist acts as a staff assistant to the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS) executive leadership team.

This position plays an active and influential role in planning, coordination, formulation, analysis, and execution of administrative policies, programs, and operations at this health care system.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/20/2026.

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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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.

Individual Occupational Requirement: 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 Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-09) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience includes what is stated above, as well as: utilizing qualitative and/or quantitative methods for program improvement; monitoring the work of others; presenting recommendations to management; and providing staff assistance to leadership.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduation education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M., in a field related to 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.

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 a master's degree.

OR, Inservice Placement: I have successfully completed an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program that included a formal individualized training plan.

Such a training program must have been conducted in an operating health care system and included: 1) Assignments providing a knowledge of basic health system administration philosophies, practices, and procedures, and basic government administrative policies and requirements; 2) 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 3) Oversight by an experienced health system administrator with periodic evaluation of the individual's progress and appropriate adjustment of the training program.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Influencing/Negotiating Interpersonal Skills Knowledge Management Manages and Organizes Information Organizational Awareness 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.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary. No special physical qualifications are required to perform the work.

The work requires the ability to move about the office and the medical center and carry light objects. Work requires daily use of personal computer. Rigid demands may at times become stressful.

You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position.

Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Work Environment: Work is conducted in a normal office environment.

Work is primarily performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office and conference room environment involving the everyday risks or discomforts.

Safety precautions of a typical office setting are followed. Travel may be required.

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:

Major duties include but are not limited to: Provide staff assistance in any area under the direction of the Associate Director, Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive (ADPCS/NE).

Provide planning and implementation of programs for the healthcare facility. Represent executive leadership at meetings, when necessary, completing follow-up assignments as appropriate.

Review VA Central Office, VISN 23, or local suspense item responses for completeness and accuracy prior to submission.

Track both routine and uncommon deadlines initiated by oversight bodies to ensure timely submission of responses and actions.

Serve as primary liaison to multiple staff offices and serve as conduit for information flow and management of assignments.

Ensure proposals submitted by staff are complete and all implementation requirements are accurately identified. Manage and coordinate all online communication tools.

Analyze, evaluate, advise, and coordinate health care delivery system operations. Conduct analytical studies on particular operational processes, issue topics, or related special projects.

Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Administrative Hours (To be further discussed during interview) Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist - Staff Assistant/PD804520 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.

This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.

As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.

This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.

This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.