Why This Health System Specialist Job Matters
Join the <strong class="text-gray-900">Veterans Health Administration</strong> and make an impact.
Health System Specialist Job Overview
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this job announcement, 11/16/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current VHA employees and have held a GS grade position at any time in the past 52 weeks must meet Time-In-Grade requirement by the closing date of this job announcement. For a GS-13 grade position all applicants must demonstrate that they have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 grade. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. To demonstrate Time-In-Grade, an appropriate SF-50 must be attached with the application package. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate the 52 weeks of Time-In-Grade served, and, in that instance, an additional SF-50 may need to be provided. SF-50s issued for awards do not demonstrate Time-In-Grade and should not be submitted. 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. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): All applicants must meet the IOR with one of the following three criteria: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR Experience: 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. The 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 Special Provision of In-Service placement: Successful completion of 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 the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), all applicants must meet the: Specialized Experience Requirement: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: Managing healthcare projects and initiatives, including developing implementation plans, establishing milestones, coordinating stakeholders, monitoring project performance, and recommending adjustments to achieve organizational objectives. Analyzing and evaluating healthcare programs and operations, including conducting program assessments, interpreting performance data, identifying opportunities for improvement, and developing recommendations to enhance healthcare delivery, efficiency, and organizational effectiveness. Applying healthcare accessibility standards and regulatory requirements, including evaluating accessibility barriers, interpreting federal healthcare policies and directives, coordinating accessibility improvement initiatives, and recommending modifications to healthcare operational procedures. Coordinating strategic communications and stakeholder engagement, including preparing executive briefings, technical reports, policy documents, and presentations; collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcare professionals; and advising leadership on program implementation, operational challenges, and improvement initiatives. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website.