These Health Systems Specialist positions are in Quality and Patient Safety services at the VA Boston Healthcare Systems located at the West Roxbury, MA and Jamaica Plains, MA locations. These positions are full-time, 40 hours per week.

Duties

For the GS 9 level, this position is located at the Boston VA Health Care System. The incumbent is under the direct supervision of the Associate Director, Quality Management. The incumbent serves in a developmental capacity as the Health System Specialist, GS-0671-09, PD#523-02541-0. Key functions will be similar to those described at the full performance level of the target position. However, during the developmental assignment, full performance range and level of selected functions will not be completely delegated to the employee until proper orientation and training have been completed and the incumbent has demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to accomplish the work at the full performance level. For the GS 11 level, Duties of the incumbent are performed under the general supervision of the Associate Director, Quality Management. The supervisor provides information on related work being performed that would influence projects, and furnishes general instructions as to the scope, objectives, priorities and limitations for which responsible. The primary duties of the Health Systems Specialist are to provide direct support to the Associate Director, Quality Management at the VA Boston Healthcare System by analyzing, advising on, and coordinating Quality Management Programs, workforce management, and Performance Improvement System for a Level 1A facility consisting of three campuses and five CBOCs. Serves as Patient Safety and Quality Management Coordinator for the medical center and VISN alongside the Associate Director, Quality Management. The incumbent's duties, projects, and activities are of a predominantly non-routine and complex nature involving projects and studies that require analysis of a wide variety of interrelated issues of effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of substantive health care delivery programs. Typical assignments require developing detailed plans, study objectives, and criteria for measuring the effectiveness of programs. Work often includes the interpretation and analysis of a considerable amount of VA policy and guidance regarding various issues. A high degree of resourcefulness and ingenuity is required to coordinate activities in the organization. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full time - Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed Work Schedule: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Telework: Regular telework, 1-2 days per Pay Period. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist-Quality & Patient Safety/PD025400 and PD02541 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: These positions are Bargaining Unit positions. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Travel and relocation expenses are not authorized. Selectee may be required to work at any Boston Healthcare System campus, as needed. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Time-in-Grade Restriction - 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. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/19/2024. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: To qualify for the GS-671-09 based on 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: 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: In-depth knowledge of health care service administration including: pertinent laws, regulations and policies; healthcare principles, theories and practices; budgeting, planning, administration, labor/union relationships, and other key administrative support functions; sufficient to analyze and evaluate broad and difficult problems. Able to 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. Incumbent should possess significant Lean/Six Sigma, system redesign and Innovation knowledge and experience. Incumbent demonstrates skills in planning, organizing, and directing teams and effectively negotiating with key leaders to gain acceptance of proposals that may involve potential conflict. A high degree of skill in interpersonal relations, team leadership, and group facilitation is essential to promote collaboration and cooperation amongst VA staff and stakeholders participating in system improvement initiatives. The incumbent regularly provides advice and support to front line team members, supervisors, Executive Leadership and VISN teams. The breadth and importance of proposals and issues is often quite complex and may have been previously studied without adequate resolution. He/she must have the ability to articulate important issues and integrate varying points of view in a campaign to foster mutual understanding as required. Incumbent has knowledge of specific organizational and policy challenges and opportunities confronting the VISN, VHA, and VA and an ability to initiate and facilitate change processes is essential. S/he has the ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with professional, administrative, and technical personnel at all levels, making appropriate recommendations based on knowledge of system variations and the different functions, motivations, and basic human/interpersonal characteristics of various employees and other groups. The incumbent is skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the department. The incumbent is required to have comprehensive knowledge of the specialized principles and practices of health care administration, particularly relative to the field of health care planning and healthcare regulatory requirements. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a graduate degree in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration 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 a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the undergraduate level. To qualify for the GS-671-11 based on specialized experience: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 level or equivalent for this position. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant 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 the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. At the GS-11 full performance level, the incumbent demonstrates: In-depth knowledge of health care service administration, continuous quality improvement; data analysis; healthcare principles, 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, 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. Ability to 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 pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents to determine their impact on the staffing and workforce. Knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of the organization. Interpersonal skills in presenting staffing recommendations and negotiating solutions to disputed recommendations. The incumbent is required to have comprehensive knowledge of the specialized principles and practices of health care administration, particularly relative to the field of health care planning and workforce development. 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 three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR GS-111 year equivalent to at least GS-9Ph.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 You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:CommunicationsComputer SkillsPlanning and EvaluatingReasoning 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. 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.

Contacts

• Address VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Diane McClure
• Phone: 774-826-4912
• Email: [email protected]