Health Systems Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Long Beach, CA

8d • Onsite

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 program-management and administrative work to meet requirements related to the Veterans Health Administration’s academic mission and the Office of Academic Affiliations’ strategic plans. The role coordinates with affiliate staff, facility leaders, and clinical and administrative services, and may be filled at the GS-09 or GS-11 level. Promotion to the full-performance level may be possible without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

The position works Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not authorized, and the position is not virtual. The work has no inherent physical requirements that could not be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment; a pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet the applicable Occupational Series 0671 Individual Occupational Requirement through qualifying education, specialized experience, or an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program with an individualized training plan in a healthcare system.
• For GS-09 qualification through experience: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, involving progressively responsible analytical, administrative, clinical-management, or supervisory work in healthcare, including facility-manager relationships and analysis or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities.
• For GS-09 qualification through education: a master’s or equivalent graduate degree, or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, in a relevant field such as hospital administration, public health administration, or business or public administration with healthcare-administration coursework. Transcripts are required.
• For GS-09 qualification through a combination: qualifying specialized experience and directly related education beyond the first year (18 semester hours), with documentation of education.
• For GS-11 qualification through experience: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, involving responsible analytical, administrative, clinical-management, or supervisory healthcare work; knowledge of healthcare delivery systems, regulatory and credentialing standards, and government, agency, and facility administrative systems; and experience in a healthcare setting working directly with healthcare professionals and administrators to solve patient-care-support problems and assisting with a healthcare onboarding process.
• For GS-11 qualification through education: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.M. in a relevant field. Transcripts are required.
• For GS-11 qualification through a combination: qualifying doctoral education and specialized experience as described in the announcement, with transcripts and experience documented in the resume.
• Applicants seeking GS-11 who are current or former federal employees must meet the time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-09 and submit an SF-50 documenting it.
• Submit a resume clearly describing experience and, when relying on education, the required transcripts and applicable accreditation documentation.
• Meet pre-employment background and security investigation requirements and complete the online onboarding process with acceptable identification.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Handle 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.
• Review and validate HPT applications, qualifications, and appointments against Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) criteria before clinical rotations and patient care begin.
• Provide management with authoritative analyses, policy guidance, and opinions concerning HPT appointments and onboarding and offboarding processes related to HPE programs.
• Improve processes and the HPT training experience in ways that support VA’s reputation and its ability to recruit and retain qualified trainees and strengthen the clinical workforce.
• Implement process changes in coordination 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 Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) levels.
• Synthesize and maintain data from multiple systems and sources; cross-check and validate information and prepare relevant reports.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility and are available from the hiring agency.
• Newly appointed federal employees may request consideration for annual-leave service credit for qualifying job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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