Health Systems Administrator (Associate Director)

Shape the future of Veteran care in New England This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Bedford Healthcare System, a facility nationally recognized for leadership in mental health, whole-health integration, innovation, and community-based Veteran support. Seeking a dynamic, mission-driven Associate Director / Chief Operating Officer (COO) .

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/01/2026.

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-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14. 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 Occupational Requirements Education:

Undergraduate and Graduate Education with Major study in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration, OR Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): 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: Applicants must also possess: Management ability to delegate authority, evaluate and oversee people and programs, recognize and adapt to changing priorities; and Knowledge of the interrelationships and interdependencies among various medical and administrative services and programs

Grade Determination:

Specialized Experience GS-15: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS 14 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing executive leadership with insight in establishing organizational structures that are efficient, cost effective, support desired grade levels, and facilitate career development; works on the development of a balanced financial plan designed to meet realistic needs of the facility and the network; establishing and maintaining public relations with a variety of institutions and groups; applying performance standards to measure program performance and health care activities are meeting established goals and objectives; and developing long and short term policies, plans and standards for a Health Care System.

Applicants must also possess:

Management ability to delegate authority, evaluate and oversee people and programs, recognize and adapt to changing priorities; and knowledge of the interrelationships and interdependencies among various medical and administrative services and programs. At this level, applicants would identify and resolve problems which may inhibit accomplishing patient care mission and public policy objectives; exercise fiscal management responsibility by assisting in the preparation of the overall facility budget, in monitoring expenditures, and in recommending reallocation of funds based on shifting program needs; establish and maintain public relations with a variety of institutions and groups; apply performance standards to measure program performance and health care activities are meeting established goals and objectives; and develop, evaluate, and adjust organizational structures and management systems for the administrative and allied health services managed. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

Preferred Experience:

Five years of healthcare administration experience Experience in healthcare administration, preferably within the Department of Veteran Affairs. Three years' leadership and management experience. In-depth understanding of VA systems, policies, and procedures. Experience working directly with Veterans and an understanding of the unique challenges and needs of the Veteran population. Proven ability to foster a collaborative work environment and build effective relationships across multifunctional teams. 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 primarily sedentary. 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/