Summary The Health Systems Specialist improves effectiveness and efficiency of work processes to facilitate attainment of organizational goals using Lean and Six Sigma process improvement methodologies at the Black Belt Level. Work is located throughout the Miami Veterans Healthcare System. The Health System Specialist is assigned to the Executive Director's office as a member of the Systems Redesign Section and reports to the Systems Redesign Coordinator. Responsibilities Include but are not limited to: Provides coordination and leadership of process improvement projects in all areas of the facility. Facilitates transformative quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency improvement efforts. Acts as the project lead for healthcare and operational improvement projects impacting patient care delivery systems. Identifies metrics performing below benchmarked standards or out of control limits of a statistically controlled models such as SAIL. Plans and conducts studies directed at reducing errors due to cognitive overloading and human- computer interaction failure. Identifies systems designs problems that contribute to human errors. Identifies alternative systems and processes based on Lean/Systems Redesign/Systems Engineering principles to mitigate these types of errors. Collects baseline information, identifies limitations in current systems, and discovers potential improvements. Develops benchmarks, and assigns a schedule or priority level to a potential project based on the needs of the organization and direct consultation with executive leadership. Develops local data metrics and dashboards to monitor projects in progress or performance benchmarks of a project that is awaiting a charter or formal decision from executive leadership for action. Develops and refines information for comprehensive reports, addressing such elements as cost analysis, work measurements, trend analysis, efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, and tangible benefits Completes other duties as assigned. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Typically the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. At times, theemployee may be required to spend the majority of the day standing and speaking during facilitation of major events. There may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as; paper, books, small parts; driving in an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. The employee may be required to sit long periods of time while working with computers. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description Title/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD08221A Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements - Health System Administration Series, 0671 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. Or, Special Provision for In-service 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/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. Preferred Experience: Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt Minimum Qualification in addition to Individual Occupational Requirement: GS-12 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 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: Developing, executing, and managing training and education programs relating to Lean Six Sigma and other process improvement. Develops reporting procedures, sampling techniques, measurement and monitoring tools at various points within improved processes to produce benefit estimates. Identify process weaknesses and performance gaps, and develop effective control plans to ensure sustainability of improved processes. Uses lean and Six Sigma tools to provide objective, quantifiable, evidence of process inefficiencies or ineffective work practices. Applying a wide range of advanced practice, theories, and emerging information in health care delivery analytical and evaluative methods and techniques. Familiar with pertinent laws, regulations, policies, and precedents, major issues, program goals and objectives, develop new or modified work methods. Resolving problems in work-flow, work distribution, staffing, performance appraisal, organizational structure, and/or administration. Conducting work in Minitab, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft SharePoint, and Microsoft Access. Developing work processes within a Lean Six Sigma and DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) programs. Developing project management plans. 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. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.