Summary This position is located at the Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center (Albany VAMC). The primary purpose of this position is to implement a Performance Improvement program at the Health Care System level. The ideal candidate will possess experience of the principles, procedures, and tools of data and program management, including modeling techniques, data backup, data recovery, data dictionaries, data warehousing, data mining, data disposal, and data standardization processes including redesign. Responsibilities Analytics and Project Management Organizes, directs, controls and coordinates group activities in a timely and effective manner. Conducts extensive work in analyzing data and conducting background research on the issue. Pulls, isolates and manipulates data to identify root causes of a performance issue. Develops statistical models to measure success of performance improvement actions. Converts data into numerous formats using advanced statistical models including statistical process control charts, histograms, paretto charts and many more. Defines a project scope and goals through a collaborative process with subject matter experts and leadership at the facility, service line or program, or unit level. Leads a team of subject matter experts, front line staff and leadership through a rigorous and defined project management process utilizing multiple tools from Lean Six Sigma, Lean VATAMCCS and other performance improvement disciplines to further define the current state of the process. Identifies various solutions approaches and when necessary further leads them through prioritizing exercises with tools like affinity diagrams, PICK charts and multi voting. Creates designs of experiment that align to project goals and team developed solutions. The designs of experiment are hypotheses which are monitored through date for effectiveness or failure. Designs of experiment are often iterative and will involve multiple solutions in random or sequential order. Design experiments with process measurement in mind. Develops processes by consulting with subject matter experts in order to develop standard work. Directs the team towards sustainable solutions that are mistake proof. Mistake proofing is designing process that cannot be performed in error and thus improve the product experience for customers. Develops control plans, communication plans, risk management plans, and thorough closeout of the project. Internal Consultation for System Engineering Provides consultation to executive, service line, and program leadership by leveraging VA data analytics resources. Identifies metrics performing below benchmarked standards or falling below the upper or lower 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 type of errors. Collects baseline information, identifies limitations in current systems, and discovers potential improvements. Develops statistical, graphical, and narrative reports and communicates these studies to medical center executive leadership, service chiefs, supervisors and other staff. Aligns identified metrics to know organizational priorities, such as VA/VHA/VISN/Facility strategic or operational plan. 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 for action. Aligns appropriate performance improvement teams and resources, project scopes and value streams, strategic and operational plans. Identifies projects critical to improving quality outcomes and maximize return on investment of utilized resources. Develops and refines information for comprehensive reports, addressing such elements as cost analysis, work measurements, trend analysis, efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, and tangible benefits. Assesses (in terms of degrees) the success or failure in attaining program operational goals/objectives. Incorporates recommendations for the resolution of problems identified in studies such as eliminating, adding changing, or rearranging specific procedures, products or services or making other changes to more efficiently and effectively utilize resources. Prepares complete and fully documented studies for review of work teams, Hospital Committees and top management. Educator Provides instruction to others on Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Systems Redesign or other improvement methodologies principles and tools through formal classroom instruction or small group mentoring. Delivers classroom instruction about Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Systems Redesign or other improvement methodologies tools and techniques to all levels of the organization. Delivers training materials and curriculum consisting of advanced practices of project management, statistics, coaching, facilitation and leadership. Ensure sustainability and spread of efforts directed at improving quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency using management engineering Responsible for leading the team through development of control strategies, to ensure project solutions are sustained after the project life cycle. Performs other related duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/10/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for entry into this job series, and it is something that can't be waived. The 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 the GS 0671 occupational series, applicants MUST possess one of the following: 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: 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, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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, 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 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. In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement as listed above, applicants must also meet the Specialized Experience, which is experience that is directly related to that of the position. Select the appropriate answer based on your current level of experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by investigation. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience or education as proof to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: 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: delivering Performance Improvement techniques to a broad array of program services throughout the Medical Center, advising leadership in the formulation of planning including complex facility wide strategic plans and facility projects in the execution phase. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Business Process Reengineering Clinical Needs Incorporation Creative Thinking Entrepreneurship 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. Physical Requirements: The work is mainly sedentary and generally performed in an office setting. Typically, the employee sits at a desk or table, works on a computer, conducts group meetings, and makes group presentations. Some walking, standing and occasional moderate lifting are required. Occasional travel is required to vendor or other VA sites. 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/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.