Health System Specialist

Health System Specialist

The position requires deep knowledge of Veterans Health Administration health care delivery systems, governance structures, and performance management frameworks. The incumbent is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting complex health care data and translating findings into actionable recommendations for senior leadership. A significant component of the role involves coordinating and supporting governance committees, tracking compliance with national directives, and managing high-priority suspenses from the national to the facility level. The Health System Specialist actively contributes to national programs and initiatives, providing network-level data and operational insights that directly inform national program design, policy decisions, and care delivery improvements across the Veterans Health Administration. The position prepares and presents executive-level briefings, supports clinical restructuring and resource allocation reviews, and mentors specialty care service leads across the network. This role requires exceptional communication, project management, and analytical skills, and the ability to work independently across a complex, multi-facility health care enterprise to advance the delivery of high-quality care to Veterans. Duties include but not limited to:

• Provides program oversight for assigned functions and initiatives, ensuring proper implementation, monitoring key data, and taking timely action to achieve targeted outcomes.
• Collaborates creatively and strategically with VISN 15 and VACO colleagues to design, develop, and implement innovative initiatives that enhance patient care quality, access, and operational efficiency.
• Serves as a representative of the Chief Medical Officer on Network-level issues, coordinating with personnel to meet national mandates and performance expectations.
• Performs administrative management duties directly supporting a health care delivery system, applying specialized principles of health care management to guide and support operational functions.
• Provides comprehensive staff assistance on administrative matters affecting patient care, education, research, and organizational policy.
• Supports senior Network leadership in planning, organizing, developing, directing, and evaluating Network office operations.
• Provides resource allocation guidance, including analysis and recommendations regarding organizational funds, staffing distribution, and operational needs.
• Directs services to prepare funding, staffing, equipment, and space requests to meet immediate and future operational requirements.
• Prepares and submits special studies, data analyses, and project reports to the Chief Medical Officer within required timeframes.
• Initiates and justifies budget requests for physicians and other clinical resources based on future needs, workload demands, past performance, and efficiency considerations.
• Conducts staff support work in short- and long-range planning, ensuring compliance with annual and cyclic planning directives and consolidating inputs from subordinate units.
• Administers and manages the planning process for assigned programs, ensuring synchronization with Network and agency goals.
• Analyzes and evaluates program effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative methods, assessing performance against short- and long-range objectives.
• Compiles final evaluation reports, identifies discrepancies, and recommends corrective or improvement actions.
• Establishes administrative controls to ensure timely completion of required remedial actions.
• Identifies Network-wide issues requiring new or revised policies or procedures and elevates them to senior leadership for action.
• Ensures timely responses and decisions on requests within the Network and VACO, tracking progress and resolving delays that impact critical operations.
• Maintains current awareness of resource availability and provides recommendations for distribution or redistribution based on changing program needs.
• Develops, implements, monitors, and adjusts operational plans to achieve mission requirements in a cost-effective and efficient manner within budget constraints.
• Provides leadership in determining resource requirements across assigned organizational elements and adjusts allocations when program needs shift.
• Designs and implements systems, processes, and procedures to improve cost-effectiveness, productivity, and operational outcomes.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm

Telework: This position may be authorized Ad-hoc telework at managers discretion.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/ PD104750

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized