Health System Specialist

• 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 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM. AD-hoc telework may be authorized by the Supervisor per Agency policy. AD-HOC telework is telework on an occasional episodic or short-term basis.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD99460S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job

• Yes I reviewed it yesterday. It says pending reference but its listed as a recruitment so I was a bit confused when I reviewed it today.

  All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification 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 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 or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 10/02/2026.

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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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 this instance you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education or combination as described below:

• Undergraduate and Graduate Level 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. OR

• Special Provision for Inservice 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 individuals progress and appropriate adjustment of the training program.
• You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:GS-9
• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Knowledge and ability to support and coordinate various compliance reviews; knowledge and ability to support the investigative process from its infancy to completion; knowledge and ability to compile all pertinent information involved in compliance reviews and coordinate each phase of the process; and knowledge and ability to interface with all levels of stakeholders throughout the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System. OR
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have possess masters degree or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. OR
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have combination of specialized experience and education as described above.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

• Organizational Performance Analysis
• Administration and Management
• Computer Skills
• Stakeholder Management

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies knowledge and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.

Note: A 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.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary; although some slight physical effort is required. Accompanying HPTs through the medical site or clinical training site may be required. Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite. Stamina and concentration to meet crucial deadlines is required.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at