Health System Specialist
What you'd do
The position will support the VA Research and Development (R&D) Service at the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS). The incumbent will be responsible for providing oversight in support of all research activities at VAPORHCS at all stages of development. VAPORHCS hosts significant activities in many research program areas to include Rehabilitation, Clinical Science, Biomedical Laboratory, Health Sciences as well as the Center for Clinical Trials Research.
Major duties
Major duties include, but are not limited to: The position will work with all VAPORHCS principal investigators and research stakeholders to develop plans for adequately staff, evaluate research progress relative to staffing levels, monitor funding levels for staffing, and transition personnel following completion of specific research projects and other related translational and operational activities. The position will review complex multi-year financial, regulatory, and organizational reports and applies standard analytical techniques and evaluated workflow to determine potential problem areas to develop recommendations to propose and implement corrective actions in those areas to improve coordination between organizations at local, regional, and national organizations. The position will participate with research and clinical colleagues in the immediate organization in formulating and administering plans and policies designed to meet R&D program objectives. The work involves isolating and defining unknown conditions, resolving critical problems, or developing new theories, major aspects of scientific programs or missions, and portions of broader programs and initiatives impacting research strategy. The position serves as an expert on VA regulations, rules, procedures, and practices for initiating, preparing, and monitoring procurement, and contractual agreements. Serve as a COR designee for the service and oversees areas of acquisition administration and contractor's performance, as it pertains to R&D. Responsibilities include ongoing contacts with researchers to disseminate all materials including R&I, IRB, etc., problems solve any difficulties with subject recruitment, data collection or entry issues and general project procedures. Performs budget work for the R&D Service in support of one or more of the phases or systems involved in budget administration including the formulation, presentation, or execution of a budget. Performs studies and audits on control and use of funds throughout each fiscal year. Provides regular and accurate budgetary information, commitments, and projections in a variety of forms and reports including ORD reports and project budget reports. Prepares a variety of management reports related to the status of funds, expenses, obligations, FTEs, and workload, adjusting to ensure accurate portrayal of status of funds. Performs other related duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: This is a developmental position leading to a GS-12 level, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. 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: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm PST Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD737030 and PD737020 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 07/22/2026. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR). An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the GS 0671 occupational series. Education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. To qualify for this occupational series, applicants must have one of the following listed below: Undergraduate or graduate education with a major field of study such as hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration (Transcript required).OR, Specialized 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. 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. In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement requirements, applicants may qualify based on experience and/or education as described below: GS-11 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: Participates with colleagues to administer and formulate staffing plans and policies to meet program objectives. Prepares and reviews complex multi-year financial, regulatory, and organizational reports. Assists with budget administration including the formulation, presentation, or execution of a budget. Assisting with monitoring procurement and contractual agreements. Facilitate communications with stakeholders to share best practices, ensure compliance, implementation, and data collection. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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 three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, Or LL.M in the related field of the position to be filled (i.e., hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration). The education portion must include courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college, or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level (beyond a master's degree) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position (i.e., hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration). NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume. GS-12 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: Provides technical expertise and consultation to develop staffing plans and policies. Prepares and reviews complex multi-year financial, regulatory, and organizational reports and applies standard analytical techniques and evaluated workflow to determine potential problem areas to develop recommendations to propose and implement. Performs budget administration including the formulation, presentation, or execution of a budget. Performs studies and audits on control and use of funds throughout each fiscal year. Preparing, and monitoring procurement, and contractual agreements while overseeing areas of acquisition administration and contractor's performance. Teaching, guiding, and monitoring stakeholders and team members while setting priorities, organizing own activities, making decisions, and discussing ideas on a regular basis. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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/.
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