Health System Specialist (Health Professions Education)

Veterans Health Administration•Albuquerque, NM

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The incumbent serves as a Health Systems Specialist—Health Professions Education (HPE) Specialist, supporting the Designated Education Officer (DEO) and HPE management in 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. The position conducts and evaluates program management and administrative work supporting VHA’s academic mission and the Office of Academic Affiliations’ (OAA) strategic plans. The role manages technical work for HPE programs, including affiliation agreements, trainee qualifications and credentials letters (TQCVLs), program letters of agreement (PLAs), customer service for HPTs and affiliate staff, and HPT onboarding and offboarding. It reviews and validates trainee applications, qualifications, and appointments against OAA criteria before clinical rotations and patient care. The specialist provides management with authoritative analysis, policy guidance, and opinions concerning HPT appointments and onboarding and offboarding. The position improves processes and the trainee experience to support VA’s reputation and its ability to recruit and retain qualified trainees and strengthen the clinical workforce. It coordinates with OAA, affiliate staff, facility leadership, and clinical and administrative service lines to implement process changes, standard operating procedures, and training, and to advise on HPE regulations. The role also coordinates across facility and Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) levels, synthesizes information from diverse systems, troubleshoots problems, recommends and leads process improvements, and prepares briefings, reports, and capacity studies to support strategic planning and program growth. The specialist uses information management and analysis software, including spreadsheets, online portals, data, graphics, presentations, and flowcharting software. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling is at the supervisor’s discretion. Telework is ad hoc; the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives, critical skills incentive, and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position may offer promotion to the full performance level without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Requirements

For GS-09, one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07, such as analyzing and synthesizing data from diverse sources, troubleshooting problems and presenting solutions, and leading process improvements; or qualifying graduate education (a master’s or equivalent, two years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.B. or J.D.); or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
For GS-11, one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-09, such as coordinating process improvements to healthcare-professional onboarding and offboarding, working with multiple complicated software platforms and applications, and preparing information for executive-level briefings and official reports; or qualifying graduate education (a Ph.D. or equivalent, three years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.M.); or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
Applicants must meet qualification requirements by the announcement closing date, October 23, 2026.
Current federal employees who held a GS grade within the past 52 weeks must meet time-in-grade requirements: 52 weeks at GS-07 for GS-09 consideration or 52 weeks at GS-09 for GS-11 consideration. Supporting SF-50 documentation is required.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Selected applicants are subject to background and security investigation and must complete online onboarding and acceptable identification requirements.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
A one-year probationary period or two-year trial period is required, as applicable.
Submit transcripts if using education to qualify; qualifying education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of specialized experience onboarding health professional trainees, including experience with the Accounts Provisioning Deprovisioning System (APDS) and security background checks, establishing academic affiliations, and managing control points.

Responsibilities

Manage technical work for HPE programs, including affiliation agreements, TQCVLs, PLAs, customer service for HPTs and affiliate staff, and trainee onboarding and offboarding.
Review and validate HPT applications, qualifications, and appointments against OAA criteria before clinical rotations and patient care.
Provide management with analysis, policy guidance, and opinions concerning HPT appointments and onboarding and offboarding processes.
Improve processes and the HPT training experience to support VA’s reputation and recruitment and retention of qualified trainees.
Coordinate process changes with OAA, affiliate staff, facility leadership, and clinical and administrative service lines; implement SOPs, develop and administer training, and advise on HPE regulations.
Coordinate complex work across clinical and administrative service lines at facility and VISN levels.
Synthesize, maintain, cross-check, and validate information from diverse data systems and sources, and prepare relevant information and reports.
Troubleshoot individual problems and systems issues, and develop and present solutions for program and system efficiency.
Recommend, implement, and lead process improvements and organizational changes to improve office operations.
Develop briefings, reports, and capacity studies that contribute to strategic planning and program growth.
Coordinate process improvements to onboarding and offboarding new healthcare professionals.
Use information management and analysis software, including spreadsheets, online portals, graphics, presentations, and flowcharting software.
Perform other related duties as assigned.