To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. (Copy of 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. Special Provision for Inservice Placement: Successful completion of an 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. GRADE DETERMINATION GS-11 Grade Determination Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Defines a project scope and goals through a collaborative process with subject matter experts and leadership at the facility, Creates designs of experiment that align to project goals and team developed solutions. , Identifies metrics performing below benchmarked standards or falling below the upper or lower control limits of a statistically controlled models,. Conducts extensive work in analyzing data and conducting background research on the issue. OR Education: 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 Education and Experience : 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. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-11. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. GS 12 Grade Determination: Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service that has equipped me 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 this Health System Specialist position. Qualifying specialized experience to include but not limited to the following: Acts as the project lead for healthcare and operational improvement projects impacting patient care delivery systems and functions throughout the medical center., Creates designs of experiment that align to project goals and team developed solutions., Incorporates recommendations for the resolution of problems identified in studies such as eliminating, adding, changing, or rearranging specific procedures, products or services. There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level. 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. Preferred Experience: Graduate degree health related or business field. Green Belt Six sigma required, Black Belt Lean Six sigma preferred. 3 + years of experience in leading performance improvement/system redesign methodology and tools, e.g. LEAN, Six Sigma, 5S, PDCA, RPIW) in an acute hospital setting to improve workflow, quality and productivity, MUST have proven track record in process improvement. Comprehensive knowledge of healthcare Lean/Systems Redesign utilizing standardized tools, methods, and principles such as Lean and Six Sigma to identify systems design problems, define a project scope and goals through a collaborative process, and prepare studies for facility leadership. Knowledge of hospital operations, policies and procedures as well as VA regulations, policies, and program guidelines to identify projects the improving quality outcomes. Knowledge of clinical practice guidelines and guidelines designed by healthcare improvement organization to collect, analyze, and present data for performance improvement. Skill as an excellent communicator which includes the ability to listen well, write with clarity, and speak effectively to small and large groups. Ability to build and prepare presentations at all levels of the organization.