This position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Northern Indiana Health Care System (VA NIHCS). The primary purpose of the position is to assist the HRO RN in developing an infrastructure for cultural change as the Veterans Health Administration advances along the journey to full implementation of high reliability. The incumbent is instrumental in the VA NIHCS High Reliability Organization (HRO) journey with the goal of zero harm.

Duties

Major duties and responsibilities include: Program Management/Administration and Quality Improvement (50%) Serves as the HRO Specialist supporting new programs/initiatives that align directly with the journey to high reliability, which puts Veterans at the center of all processes, innovations, improvements, and changes. The incumbent serves as support to the HRO RN. Supporting new programs/initiatives that align directly with the journey to high reliability, which puts Veterans at the center of all processes, innovations, improvements, and changes. The incumbent serves as a consultant for the development and implementation of program operations related to new programs and/or initiatives that have a direct impact on data management, processing, problem resolution, and process improvement along the journey to high reliability. Programs and initiatives managed are highly visible and politically sensitive, thereby requiring the incumbent to stay current on all aspects of the initiatives, identify potential risks and issues, collaborate with staff both internal and external to ensure necessary requirements are appropriately documented and met, and effectively lead and socialize the changes necessary for successful implementation. Program Consultation/Liaison 25% The incumbent works in partnership with, the HRO RN, Patient Safety, Quality Safety Value staff, Systems Redesign & Improvement Coordinator and Leadership to ensure planning, coordinating, tracking, reporting, and communicating objectives to the various stakeholders both external and internal to VA. The incumbent must therefore have a clear working knowledge of the HRO mission and objectives with excellent communication skills. Continuous improvement of services to stakeholders requires significant interaction with a wide range of professionals and results in the incumbent assuming a highly visible role in representing the VA NIHCS. The incumbent must have the ability to communicate orally and in writing about complex clinical and non-clinical matters with individuals with varying levels of understanding and authority. Program Analysis 25% The incumbent conducts analytical studies on operational processes, issue topics, or related special projects. Studies and projects addressed are commonly so diverse and intense that they often require input and assistance from departmental or program offices. These studies require study planning, statistical measurement, data analysis, and report preparation and development. The incumbent must possess the ability to review and react to proposed legislation and/or regulation changes that impact the HRO journey in order to understand and Performs Other 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: 7:30am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD919290 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/03/2023. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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 for the GS-09 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-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: basic knowledge of the mission, organization, and work processes of programs throughout the Northern Indiana Health Care System and the relationships of administrative support activities (e.g., data processing, document control system, etc.) to such missions; knowledge of basic qualitative and quantitative techniques for analyzing data such as Microsoft Programs as well as techniques to measure the effectiveness of process improvement; able to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with top management, service chiefs, VISN staff and all other staff at the Hospital. The knowledge, skills and abilities required will be obtained through the satisfactory performance of progressively more difficult assignments that are essentially and substantially identical duties and responsibilities in nature as described in the full performance level position description. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 1 full year of graduate level education. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9. You may qualify for the GS-11 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-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of organizational culture change effectiveness and related process improvement impact. Assists on special project initiatives and/or process improvement; Maintain, create and update policies and guidelines which require knowledge of agency goals and objectives and the ability to plan, organize and direct team study work; Knowledge and skill to assist with the plan, organize and direct team study work and to negotiate effectively with management to accept and implement recommendations and solutions proposed; Knowledge of the characteristics of the unique health care delivery system served, the missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems, intra- and inter service relationships, and agency operations and programs sufficient to interact effectively with staff and to seek out and secure more detailed, technical information for task accomplishment when needed; Knowledge and ability to support the development of long-range plans, goals, objectives, and milestones of organizational efforts, and/or develop criteria for evaluating program maturity levels and effectiveness. Incumbent will identify and develop ways to resolve problems or cope with issues which directly affect the accomplishment of principal goals and objectives; Ensures participation with Patient Safety. Knowledge of health care service administration, continuous quality improvement; data analysis; healthcare principles, key administrative support functions; sufficient to analyze and evaluate broad and difficult problems, apply extensive qualitative and/or quantitative methods for program improvement, make recommendations for complicated solutions; and the related ability to apply health care management principles to complex problem-solving situations. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master's or equivalent graduate degree, 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related . Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-11. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. 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: No special physical exertion is required other than walking in the facility. The work is primarily performed while sitting though some work requires periods of standing. The regular and recurring work of the position involves sitting at a desk, conferences, meetings, etc., and occasional visits to activity work sites. Occasionally incumbent is required to carry light objects, such as files, mail, laptops, supplies and papers. The incumbent will be required to move wheeled tables and chairs as needed for training or conferences. 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/.

Education

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Northern Indiana HCS 1700 East 38th Street Marion, IN 46953 US
• Name: Katrina Majors
• Phone: 443-421-5813
• Email: [email protected]