Health System Specialist- Health Professions Education (HPE) Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Lexington, KY

5d

About The Position

This position supports the Designated Education Officer (DEO) and Health Professions Education (HPE) management in establishing, maintaining, and evaluating the quality of HPE programs and the care delivered by health professions trainees (HPTs) at a VA medical facility. It carries out program-management and administrative duties related to VHA’s academic mission and the Office of Academic Affiliations’ (OAA) strategic plans.

The specialist manages technical work for HPE programs, including affiliation agreements, trainee qualifications and credentials letters (TQCVLs), program letters of agreement (PLAs), customer service for trainees and affiliate staff, and HPT onboarding and offboarding. The role reviews and validates trainee applications, qualifications, and appointments against OAA criteria before clinical rotations and patient care begin. It provides management with analyses, policy guidance, and advice about trainee appointments and onboarding/offboarding processes.

The position improves processes and the trainee experience in support of VA’s reputation and its ability to recruit and retain qualified health professions trainees. It implements process changes with OAA, affiliate staff, facility leadership, and clinical and administrative service lines through standard operating procedures, training programs, and guidance on HPE regulations. It coordinates across facility and Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) service lines and synthesizes data from diverse systems and sources to validate information and prepare reports. Other related duties may be assigned.

The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The work is primarily sedentary in a typical office environment within a health care facility, though accompanying trainees through medical or clinical training sites and walking or standing during travel to meetings and conferences may be required. The position requires stamina and concentration to meet deadlines and involves occasional travel. Telework may be authorized; eligibility is discussed during the interview process.

Requirements

• For GS-9, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 in the Federal Service, or qualifying graduate education, or a combination of education and experience.
• GS-9 specialized experience must be directly related analytical, administrative, clinical management, or supervisory experience in health care. It must include work in a health care setting, direct collaboration with health professionals and administrators to support patient care, and experience assisting with an administrative component of health care onboarding.
• For GS-9, qualifying education includes a master's or equivalent graduate degree, two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D. in a related field, such as hospital administration, public health administration, or business or public administration coursework in health care administration.
• For GS-11, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 in the Federal Service, or qualifying doctoral-level graduate education, or a combination of education and experience.
• GS-11 specialized experience must be directly related analytical, administrative, clinical management, or supervisory experience in health care. It must include work in a health care setting, direct collaboration with health professionals and administrators in support of patient care and education or training, experience running an administrative component of health care onboarding, and analyzing and synthesizing data from diverse systems to improve business processes.
• For GS-11, qualifying education includes a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. in a related field, such as hospital administration, public health administration, or business or public administration coursework in health care administration.
• Education used to qualify must be from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the work. Transcripts are required; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
• Experience must be clearly described on the resume. One full year of work is considered 35–40 hours per week; part-time experience is credited based on time actually spent in appropriate activities, and applicants must state duties, responsibilities, and hours worked per week.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Subject to a background and suitability investigation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• A complete application package, including a resume and transcripts as applicable, is required.
• Selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• Competencies include Administration and Management, Computer Skills, Organizational Performance Analysis, Stakeholder Management, and Education.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Manage technical HPE program work, including affiliation agreements, TQCVLs, PLAs, customer service for HPTs and affiliate staff, and HPT onboarding and offboarding.
• Review and validate HPT applications, qualifications, and appointments against OAA criteria before clinical rotations and patient care.
• Provide management with analyses, policy guidance, and opinions regarding HPT appointments and onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Improve HPE processes and the trainee 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 standard operating procedures, develop and administer training programs, and advise on HPE regulations.
• Coordinate complex work across clinical and administrative service lines at facility and VISN levels.
• Synthesize and maintain information from diverse data systems and sources to cross-check and validate data and prepare reports.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• VA may grant newly appointed federal employees credit for qualifying job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level