About this role
Job SummaryThe incumbent serves as a Health Systems Specialist - Health Professions Education (HPE) Specialist. This position supports the Designated Education Officer (DEO) 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.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/21/2026. In addition to meeting the time in grade requirement, you must meet the following minimum qualifications requirements. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): Is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for entry into this job series, and it is something that can't be waived. The Individual Occupational Requirement for the Health System Specialist position requires specific education or experience to be met in order to be appointed into a position of this series. You must meet one of the pre-determined Education or Experience Individual Occupational Requirements listed below as set by Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Minimum Qualification Requirements: 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. (Transcripts Required) 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. OR Special Provision for In-service Placement: Successful completion of an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program may be substituted for qualifying experience, provided it included a formal individualized training plan. Such a training program must have been conducted in an operating health care system and included: Assignments providing a knowledge of basic health system administration philosophies, practices, and procedures, and basic government administrative policies and requirements; 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 Oversight by an experienced health system administrator with periodic evaluation of the individual's progress and appropriate adjustment of the training program. 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. In addition to meeting above Individual Occupational Requirement, applicants must also meet the experience and/or directly related education relevant to this position. Health System Specialist, GS-09: Specialized Experience: You 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. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: Have successfully completed master's or equivalent graduate degree OR Successfully completed two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D., 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). The education portion must include courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college, or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond 1st year graduate degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position (i.e., hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration). Health System Specialist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level): Specialized Experience: You 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. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: Have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR Successfully completed 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). The education portion must include courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college, or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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 the first 2 years and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements Education beyond the first 2 years graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position (i.e., hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration). NOTE: One (1) 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. Preferred Experience: The candidate should have experience in the Health Professions Educations field. Physical Requirements and Work Environment: The work is primarily sedentary. ***See Additional Information section for full Physical Requirements. Reference: For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website.
Major DutiesThe 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. Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: 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- and off boarding processes of HPTs. Review and validate HPT applications, qualifications, and appointment against OAA criteria before starting clinical rotations and performing patient care. Inform management with authoritative analyses, policy guidance and opinions regarding HPT appointment and on- and off-boarding processes as it relates to HPE programs. 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. Responsible for enacting 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. Provide complex coordination across clinical and administrative service lines at both facility and Veterans Services Integrated Network (VISN) levels. Synthesize and maintain data from diverse data systems and sources to cross check, validate and present relevant information and reports. Performs other related duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist - Health Professions Education (HPE)/PD99460S and PD99461S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not AuthorizedRequirementsYou must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Physical Requirements: Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. A SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. ***See Additional Information Section for additional Time-In-Grade Requirements.