Health System Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Chicago, IL

21h • Onsite

About The Position

This position supports the DEO/Associate Chief of Staff for Education 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. 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. The position is 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/offboarding processes of HPTs to include proper application documentation, appointment, security clearance, mandatory training, physical and logistical access, and data collection for OAA reporting. A broad perspective and comprehensive understanding of VHA health care system administration is required to achieve efficient and timely HPT onboarding processes which are critical to ensure safe and high-quality Veteran care and HPT satisfaction. The position reviews and verifies HPT applications and qualifications against OAA criteria before processing with human resources (HR), IT, personnel security, Talent Management System (TMS) administrators, clinical service lines, and academic affiliates to ensure HPTs are properly vetted and appointed before starting VA clinical rotations and performing patient care. The position informs management with authoritative analyses, policy guidance and opinions regarding HPT appointment and on and off-boarding processes as it relates to HPE programs. The position analyzes on and off boarding process for efficacy and efficiency, and its alignment with local and national policy and standardized operating procedures (SOPs) to 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. The position is responsible to enact 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. Unique situations are assessed to troubleshoot problems, make recommendations, provide subsequent evaluations and participate in future planning for HPE programs within a complex health care system, which includes employees, senior facility management, academic affiliates, and HPTs. The position provides complex coordination across clinical and administrative service lines at both facility and Veterans Services Integrated Network (VISN) levels for process improvements to the on and off boarding processes of HPTs.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must complete all required steps in the process, including application, questionnaire, and online assessment.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment effective May 7, 2025.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Must serve a 1-year probationary period.
• 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 Specialized Experience: 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.
• To qualify at the GS-9 level, 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 applicants having obtained 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 for GS-9: 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).
• OR Combination for GS-9: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience as described above, to meet the total experience requirements.
• To qualify at the GS-11 level, 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 applicants having 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 education/training; experience running an administrative component of a health care onboarding process; and analyzes and synthesitsizes data from diverse data systems to improve business processes.
• OR Education for GS-11: 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).
• OR Combination for GS-11: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements.
• A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
• Foreign education must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Manage technical work 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/offboarding processes of HPTs.
• Ensure proper application documentation, appointment, security clearance, mandatory training, physical and logistical access, and data collection for OAA reporting for HPTs.
• Review and verify HPT applications and qualifications against OAA criteria before processing with HR, IT, personnel security, TMS administrators, clinical service lines, and academic affiliates.
• Inform management with authoritative analyses, policy guidance and opinions regarding HPT appointment and on and off-boarding processes as it relates to HPE programs.
• Analyze on and off boarding processes for efficacy and efficiency, and their alignment with local and national policy and SOPs.
• Enact 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.
• Assess unique situations to troubleshoot problems, make recommendations, provide subsequent evaluations and participate in future planning for HPE programs.
• Provide complex coordination across clinical and administrative service lines at both facility and VISN levels for process improvements to the on and off boarding processes of HPTs.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package
• Federal employee benefits including access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Annual (vacation) leave accrual based on years of service as a Federal employee.
• Potential for credit for job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service for annual leave accrual.

What This Job Offers

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