Health System Specialist (Health Professions Education Manager)

The Salem Veterans Affairs Healthcare System is looking for a Health System Specialist (Health Professions Education Manager) for Education and Learning Resources service. The position has primary responsibilities for the planning, developing, implementing, directing, evaluating, and coordinating the overall Health Professions Education (HPE) programs for Salem to accomplish Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) academic mission.

The incumbent serves as a Health System Specialist - Health Professions Education (HPE) Manager. The position has primary responsibilities for the planning, developing, implementing, directing, evaluating, and coordinating the overall HPE programs for the assigned VA medical facility to accomplish Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) academic mission. This position serves as a senior position in support of HPE training programs and compliance with Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA), regulatory, accreditation and other applicable requirements.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Perform a wide range of programmatic and operational functions for the HPE Office.
• Oversee all functions related to the administration of HPE funding, accreditation, appointment process, and affiliate relationships in accordance with VHA directives, handbooks, policies, memos, and notices.
• Play an active and influential role in day-to-day medical facility policymaking, planning and decision making.
• Serve as the technical and subject matter expert (SME) for HPE programs to include undergraduate and graduate medical and dental education, nursing, associated health, and advanced fellows.
• Work collaboratively with leadership to identify and/or implement best practices and advising on program and policy requirements pertaining to HPE programs.
• Assure that administrative, clinical programs and policies are integrated to meet the unique need of interprofessional HPTs and patients they serve.
• Assist in identifying budget needs and negotiates with management to arrive at appropriate funding levels that make the most effective use of resources in accomplishing VA's academic and HPE missions.
• Provide oversight, direction, guidance, and technical expertise to ensure compliance programs are in place for OAA HPE programs.
• Create and maintaining a functional communication system and promotes an understanding between HPTs, faculty, employees, and Veterans regarding HPE mission and programs.
• Represent the Designated Education Officer (DEO) and HPE Office in formal speaking engagements at facility meetings with the affiliate or at public relations events.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as necessary.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:45am-4:30pm.
Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-Hoc telework, as allowable per VA policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (Health Professions Education Manager)/PD099413
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/25/2026.

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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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 announcement. In 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:

• 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. 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: (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 local leadership to solve problems in support of the delivery of patient care and
  program/operational functions; experience applying strategic planning and change management principles to prepare program operations for technological advancements; and developing internal review systems and actions to assure that clinical, educational, and administrative activities comply with applicable standards.

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/.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: The work is primarily sedentary; although, some slight physical effort is required. Work may be performed in a clinical setting to observe program operations and trainee work environments. 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. There may be a certain amount of pressure due to time constraints. There is extensive use of computer systems. Occasional travel including site visits to other VHA field sites and academic affiliates is required. The work is performed in a typical office environment within a clinical setting. 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.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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 or 2-year trial 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.