Health System Specialist (TCF Trainee) Direct Hire Authority

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define who we are our culture and how we care for Veterans their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity Commitment Advocacy Respect and Excellence (I CARE). Thats why we created the Technical Career Field (TCF) Program - one of the largest training programs at VA. TCF positions equip professionals (including veterans) with the specialized knowledge they need to support the delivery of quality health care for our Nations veterans.

The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained coached and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually through an extensive application process for their technical expertise their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility Training and Continued Service Agreements.

This is a developmental position leading to a GS-11 performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. 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.

The Integrity and Compliance Officer (ICO) TCF Trainee assists in the planning development and implementation of compliance initiatives within the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC)s.
Duties include but are not limited to:

• Assists in planning developing and implementing programs to effectively identify plan assess respond and monitor areas of high risk and coordinates efforts to improve performance as deemed necessary
• Develops expertise to serve as an advisor on compliance regulations references and program initiation and implementation throughout the facility.
• Maintains access and authority to review all documents patient records and other information relevant to compliance activities including but not limited to claim submissions; financial quality external review and purchased care reports; communication from first and third-party payers; privacy records; reports of investigations and arrangements with other parties; obtains access on an as needed basis in order to conduct specific audits or investigations
• Assesses written compliance policies and procedures consistent with those established by VHA and Federal Laws that reflect industry standards and practices
• Ensures policies and procedures are accessible and communicated through a variety of forums to all employees volunteers contractors management and other business stakeholders; ensures policies and procedures identify and describe core compliance elements and implementation thereof.
• Promotes and supports the culture to make it easier for the employee to adhere to programs and policies and to help ensure that all employees adhere to ethical business practices as outlined in the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (5 CFR Part 2635)
• Assists with establishment of the Compliance Committee with membership including senior-most officers responsible for the facilitys business-related activities and health information practices in accordance with OIC Directives and Handbooks.
• Develops and implements a OIC assessment process used internally to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of the OIC Program

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume Transcripts etc. is required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( 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.

• 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.

GS-09 Grade Determination:

Specialized Experience:

• One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service that has equipped me with the particular knowledge skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the work of this Health System Specialist position. 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: (1) Missions organizations programs and requirements of health care delivery systems; (2) Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and (3) Government-wide agency and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget personnel and procurement. At this level applicants would have obtained this experience working within a health care setting; working directly with healthcare professionals and other administrators to solve problems in support of the delivery of patient care; and experience assisting an administrative component of a health care onboarding process.

• 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.

• 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. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume.