Health System Specialist

Duties:

Administrative Support to Clinical Care Lines

The Health Systems Specialist (HSS) to the Chief of Staff provides comprehensive support and functions as a liaison to facilitate effective oversight of the Clinical Care Integrated Clinical Community (ICC) lines. The incumbent serves as the primary link between the organizations clinical and administrative operations ensuring that clinical services adhere to sound business practices and operate at optimal efficiency. The HSS collaborates with the Chief of Staff and ICC leadership in the development and implementation of local administrative policies including those governing clinical workflows documentation standards patient access requirements and prioritization of clinical resources. The incumbent is also responsible for drafting submitting and monitoring requests for policy waivers to VHA Directives when required. Responsibilities include integrating ICC reports and projects to ensure alignment with Network and Medical Center Strategic Goals. Data may come from national databases such as the Inpatient Evaluation Center (IPEC) or from locally collected real time observations.

Operational Improvement

Evaluates management techniques processes and leadership styles to enhance organizational effectiveness. Identifies and implements improvements in administrative and clinical operations based on findings from internal audits performing facility rounds and both qualitative and quantitative analyses aligned with the Define Measure Analyze Improve Control (DMAIC) methodology in the Lean Six Sigma framework. Reviews complex high impact data from VHA sources such as the Inpatient Evaluation Center (IPEC) Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) the provider productivity report (VSSC) and the Surgery Metrics Dashboard. Additionally the HSS develops internal reports and dashboards to monitor progress on key facility initiatives using tools such as Microsoft Power BI. The HSS uses a variety of improvement methodologies to analyze the pertinent data summarize the problem and make recommendations for action to the Chief of Staff. The HSS serves as the facilitys point of contact in national systems patient flow initiatives including serving as a national systems redesign point of contact and as a VISN Advanced Clinic Access coach in the national ACA coachs college. The candidate monitors and creates systems to ensure that all national VISN and local patient access directives and policies are being adhered to and works with care lines to develop corrective courses of action to bring programs back into compliance. The HSS provides direction and collaborative oversight of all ICC Administrative Officers in assessing Performance Monitors and Measures. The incumbent advises the Chief of Staff on specific courses of action and provides reports for both the Chief of Staff and Network as required. The incumbent assists with planning functions including the collection of required information and materials works with the VSSC to create customized facility reports and the establishment of specific strategies. Coordination of plans across the clinical Care Lines will be vital as well as facilitating the prioritization of the planning elements.

Supervision

Serves as the immediate supervisor to the Chief of Staffs Secretary providing technical and administrative oversight including direction on work assignments performance evaluations and leave. Supports the Chief of Staff by setting and adjusting priorities assessing staffing needs planning and distributing work and ensuring adequate coverage for all program functions. Develops and interprets performance standards communicates expectations assigns and reviews work based on priorities complexity and employee capability and conducts quarterly evaluations with ongoing feedback. Provides guidance on work and administrative matters approves leave manages purchase card transactions and conducts staff meetings and minutes. Identifies and addresses employee training needs coordinates required development and advocates for training resources. Handles employee concerns resolves minor issues administers minor disciplinary actions and elevates more serious matters as needed. Interviews and selects candidates for vacancies promotions details and reassignments while ensuring compliance with EEO and merit principles. Interprets policy objectives anticipates downstream impacts of changes in healthcare delivery financing staffing coding and readiness and communicates these impacts to community partners VA staff and Veterans.


Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD528E-141350
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
• 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
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• 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 by the closing date of this announcement 09/25/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Experience should be 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 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.

Required Experience:

IC