Health System Specialist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Health System Specialist to support HPE programs, trainee onboarding, and credentialing across VA facilities in Chicago.

The role emphasizes coordination with HR, IT, and clinical service lines to ensure compliant onboarding of health professions trainees and adherence to OAA standards. The position requires strong analytical and administrative skills, knowledge of healthcare administration, and experience working with healthcare professionals and

Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate study in hospital/public health administration or related field.
• Specialized experience in healthcare management/administration.
• Knowledge of regulatory/credentialing standards and requirements.
• Experience onboarding healthcare staff and coordinating with HR/IT/security.

Responsibilities

• Manage HPE programs including affiliation agreements and trainee qualifications/credentials.
• Coordinate onboarding and offboarding of health professions trainees (HPTs).
• Review HPT applications against OAA criteria before HR processing.
• Provide analyses, policy guidance, and opinions on HPT appointments and onboarding.
• Analyze onboarding processes for efficiency and alignment with policies/SOPs; support data-driven improvements.
• Coordinate across clinical and administrative service lines to improve HPT onboarding and training.

Skills

Analytical skills

Administrative support

Healthcare coordination

Policy interpretation

Education

Hospital administration

Public health administration

Job description

Summary

This position supports the DEO/Associate Chief of Staff for Education and HPE management for establishing – maintaining – and evaluating the quality of HPE programs and the quality of care delivered by health professions trainees (HPTs) at the VA medical facility. The purpose of this position is to conduct and evaluate a wide range of program management and administrative duties to fulfill requirements related to VHA’s academic mission and OAA’s strategic plans.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position – applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 10/12/2026. Individual Occupational Requirement: Applicants MUST meet one of the below basic qualifications in addition to the following grade level requirements to be eligible for this position: 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. 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 above Individual Occupational Requirement – to qualify at the GS‑9 level – you must also meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS‑7) in the Federal Service – that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge – skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Health System Specialist. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as applicants having obtained experience working within a health care setting; working directly with healthcare professionals and other administrators to solve problems in support of the delivery of patient care; and experience assisting an administrative component of a health care onboarding process. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed 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 in a 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). Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge – skills – and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience as described above – to meet the 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 course work in health care administration). This 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. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume. In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement – to qualify at the GS‑11 level – you must also meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS‑9) in the Federal Service – that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge – skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Health System Specialist. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as applicants having obtained this experience working within a health care setting; working directly with healthcare professionals and other administrators to solve problems in support of the delivery of patient care and education/training; experience running an administrative component of a health care onboarding process; and analyzes and synthesizes data from diverse data systems to improve business processes. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed a Ph.D. – equivalent doctoral degree – 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: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (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. 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/.

Duties

• The position is responsible for the technical work required for HPE programs including affiliation agreements – trainee qualifications and credentials letter (TQCVL) – program letters of agreement (PLAs) – direct HPT/affiliate staff customer service – and the on/offboarding processes of HPTs to include proper application documentation – appointment – security clearance – mandatory training – physical and logistical access – and data collection for OAA reporting
• A broad perspective and comprehensive understanding of VHA health care system administration is required to achieve efficient and timely HPT onboarding processes which are critical to ensure safe and high-quality Veteran care and HPT satisfaction
• The position reviews and verifies HPT applications and qualifications against OAA criteria before processing with human resources (HR) – IT – personnel security – Talent Management System (TMS) administrators – clinical service lines – and academic affiliates to ensure HPTs are properly vetted and appointed before starting VA clinical rotations and performing patient care
• The position informs management with authoritative analyses – policy guidance and opinions regarding HPT appointment and on and off-boarding processes as it relates to HPE programs
• The position analyzes on and off boarding process for efficacy and efficiency – and its alignment with local and national policy and standardized operating procedures (SOPs) to enhance the efficiency of processes and HPT training experience as it effects the reputation of VA and its ability to maintain and expand the clinical workforce of VA and the nation through recruitment and retention of highly qualified HPTs
• The position is responsible to enact process changes with OAA – affiliate staff – facility leadership – clinical and administrative service lines by implementing SOPs – developing and administering training programs – and advising on HPE regulations
• Unique situations are assessed to troubleshoot problems – make recommendations – provide subsequent evaluations and participate in future planning for HPE programs within a complex health care system – which includes employees – senior facility management – academic affiliates – and HPTs
• The position provides complex coordination across clinical and administrative service lines at both facility and Veterans Services Integrated Network (VISN) levels for process improvements to the on and off boarding processes of HPTs
• Promotion Potential: 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 – 8:00am – 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD99460S and PD99461S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized