The position is organizationally under Surgical Service at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). The VAPAHCS Surgical Service is a complex service comprised of multiple surgical specialties, with an authorized staffing level that includes physicians, other licensed clinical providers, clinical support staff, and administrative staff. The incumbent reports directly to the Business Manager, Surgical Service, and functions as the Management and Program Analyst for the service.

Duties

The incumbent serves as an analyst and advisor to Surgical Service leadership on the evaluation and effectiveness of Surgical Service programs and operations, including those related to clinic efficiency, clinic access, scheduling and consult management, and the operating room (OR). The incumbent has primary provision and responsibility to the Chief of Surgical Service as well as the Surgical Service Section Chiefs to ensure quality assurance and adherence to administrative protocols. This is a career ladder position. If selected at the GS-09 level the incumbent will serve in a developmental assignment which is designed to provide the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience to perform the full range of routine and non-routine assignment with a high level of independence. Upon completion of satisfactory performance at the lower grade level and upon meeting regulatory requirements, the incumbent may be non-competitively promoted to the full performance level (GS-11).Duties for the position at the full performance level (GS-11) include but are not limited to:

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/06/2023. 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 based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09: 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: providing comprehensive administrative and data management duties; propose, plan, implement and monitor resource utilization in respect to cost control and to meet the needs of the Service; analyzes and evaluates, on a quantitative or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs or operations in meeting established goals and objectives; perform a wide range of analytical evaluation, related to improving the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare by integrating clinical and information processes necessary to achieve successful adoption and application of new technologies; provide insight in the analysis and interpretation of new proposals which by their nature may have an impact on the administration of service. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree, successfully completed two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, LL.B or J.D. if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first year. GS-11: 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: ???????identify and develop system redesign projects an improvement processes to improve the deficiencies of Service operations impacting patient care; compiling accurate data to prepare budget components and forecast future programmatic operational needs assigned to service to assist with budget plans; working with staff to identify, establish, and implement standardized SOPs; propose, plan, and monitor resource utilization in respect to cost control and to meet the needs of the Service; analyze and evaluate on a quantitative or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs and operations in meeting established goals and objectives of the Service; analyzing program performance data to identify slippage and impact; and analysis of programs for cost benefit comparisons and return on investment which will be communicated and presented to staff monthly during Service meetings. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master's or equivalent graduate education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementAnalysis and Problem SolvingContracting/ProcurementCreative ThinkingPlanning and Evaluating 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: There are no unique physical demands other than the ability to work and concentrate with frequent telephone and/or personal contact interruptions by staff, Veterans, families, and visitors. Most of the work is sedentary, but some mobility is required such as walking, standing, bending, lifting, and carrying light items such as books, papers, and files. This position also requires mobility within the medical center and in rare instances, via shuttle, bus, or government car between other locations within the healthcare system. 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 Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Veronica Alvarado
• Phone: (415) 960-5758
• Email: [email protected]