Health System Specialist

The primary purpose of this position is to implement a Performance Improvement Program (data analytics) at the Health Care System level. The position is responsible for delivering Performance Improvement and data analytic techniques to a broad array of programs and services throughout the Medical Center, including Lean, Six Sigma, Coaching, Project Management, and Training.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Participates in and facilitates transformative quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency improvement efforts.
• Acts as the project lead for healthcare and operational improvement projects regarding data analytics that impact patient care delivery systems and functions throughout the medical center.
• Facilitates, coaches, and trains audiences at all levels of the organizations throughout the lifecycle of a performance improvement project.
• Conducts extensive work in analyzing data and conducting background research on the issue.
• Leads a team of subject matter experts, front line staff and leadership through a rigorous and defined data management process utilizing multiple tools from Lean Six Sigma, Lean VAT AMCCS and other performance improvement disciplines to further define the current state of the process.
• Leads project teams through designed brainstorming sessions to develop solutions towards a specific deliverable or goal during a project.
• Conducts experiments and collect data to identify if the developed solutions are effective.
• Provides consultation to executives, service line, and program leadership by leveraging VA data analytics resources.
• Develops local data metrics and dashboards to monitor projects in progress or performance benchmarks of a project that is awaiting a charter or formal decision from executive leadership for action.
• Develops written and verbal teaching materials.
• Prepares complete and fully documented studies for review of work teams, Hospital Committees and top management.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PDS0012A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/16/2026.

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR): An 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 education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. To qualify for the GS 0671 occupational series, applicants MUST possess one of the following:

• 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: 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

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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. 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.

In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement as listed above, applicants must also meet the Specialized Experience, which is experience that is directly related to that of the position. Select the appropriate answer based on your current level of experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by investigation. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience or education as proof to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.

GS-12 Specialized Experience - Health System Specialist (Facility Systems Redesign)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. Specialized experience may include but is not limited to in-depth knowledge of health care service administration, continuous quality improvement; data analysis; healthcare principles, knowledge of , theories and practices; budgeting, planning, administration, and labor/union relationships, or other key administrative support functions; sufficient to analyze and evaluate broad and difficult problems; highly developed skill in applying advanced qualitative and quantitative techniques in order to perform thorough management analysis of current and projected diagnostic service programs; extensive knowledge of the unique characteristics of the specific health care delivery system served, the missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; knowledge of broad agency administrative practices such as correspondence control practices, office processes, regulations, and rules in keeping with senior management decision makers affecting the administration and delivery of healthcare services; extensive knowledge and skills in hospital administration principles, theories, and practices to inquiries and studies where the boundaries are broad and difficult; knowledge of advanced management principles with demonstrated applications to healthcare operations; independently investigate complex issues, analyze problems, and present both written and oral recommendations taking into full consideration the wide range of factors and requirements which affect the management of the healthcare delivery system; knowledge of the operations of the health care system, administrative and outpatient clinical functions.


For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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 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.