Health System Specialist
Seattle, WA - USA
Job Summary
This position supports the 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. The purpose of this position is to conduct and evaluate a wide range of program management and administrative duties to fulfill requirements related to VHAs academic mission and OAAs 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 - 4:00pm
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
- 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)
- 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.
To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement 10/14/2026.
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 within 30 days of 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.
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 as described below:
GS-9 Requirements:
- 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. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as 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. OR
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a masters or equivalent graduate degree or 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). Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR
- Combination: You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience as described above to meet the 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 course work in health care administration). This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
- 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. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as 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. OR
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 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: You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level (beyond a masters 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). NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Administration and Management
- Computer Skills
- Organizational Performance Analysis
- Stakeholder Management
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 and Work Environment: 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. The work is performed in a typical office environment located in a health care facility. The work environment involves everyday risks and discomforts that require normal safety precautions. The responsibilities of the position require occasional travel and may subject the position to various resultant environmental changes.
For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges universities schools or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information visit:
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
IC