Health System Specialist - Graduate Healthcare Administrative Program Trainee (GHAPT)

Health System Specialist - Graduate Healthcare Administrative Program Trainee (GHAPT)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Durham, North Carolina

Salary Range: $64453 - $83794 Per Year

Job Summary: The GHATP Trainee functions as a Health System Specialist in the Office of the Director of the Medical Facility and is responsible for managing projects and assisting in the coordination of daily office activities. The GHATP program is a one year program designed so that the position acquires the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies to assume more complex responsibilities and assist the Office of the Medical Center Director in successfully meeting its mission and strategic goals.

Major Duties:

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Utilizes data and reporting tools to develop health-planning service line strategies impacting the operations of components of medical centers, network offices, and/or VHACO program offices. Analyzes data trends in budget and fiscal expenditures supporting the preparation and execution of budget and committee meetings for identified components within the whole organization. Researches laws, regulations, and policies related to budget and fiscal administration displaying knowledge of service line or component operations within the health care system or oversight office. Participates on project teams in lead or support roles identifying and improving operational processes impacting service lines or components of the VA health care system or oversight office. Displays knowledge of VA priorities and mission statements to recommend improvements to policy and procedures related to service line budget and administrative processes. Observes, analyzes, and reports under professional service direction the areas of discipline, rewards and recognition, reassignment, staff adjustments and realignments, labor/management relationships, affirmative employment, and alternative dispute resolutions and grievances to understand processes for conducting projects and studies. Performs rotations and on-site visits to make recommendations to the issues and opportunities present at the Network and other VA/VHA facilities and program offices. Analyzes org charts, policies, VERA and SAIL data to represent the service line of the facility or program office priorities during resource allocation committee meetings. Participates in disaster preparedness and emergency management planning meetings to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of policies and procedures at the service line level. Attends facility/Network/and VHACO program office strategic and succession planning meetings to observe techniques and methodologies in VHA personnel management. Gathers organizational data from reports and TRIP packs in preparation for media and community events either separately or in conjunction with the Public Affairs Office. Reviews and explores VHA relationships and processes with affiliated education programs. Participates in local hospital council, veteran organization, and community organization meetings with VHA senior leader staff members. Manages, leads, and administers project plans which include meeting objectives, assigning resources, giving briefings and presentations as project representative, maintaining quality assurance processes, creating project documentation, and completing after action review reports and follow-up procedures in conduct comprehensive project management. Reviews and reports on service line policies in preparation for surveys, audits, and inspections in quality assurance, compliance, and procedures governed by internal and external organizations. Develops and presents an innovative project recommending improvements to policies, procedures, and services provided by VHA at the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday Position Description Title/PD#: Health System Specialist - Graduate Healthcare Administrative Program Trainee (GHAPT)/PDS0002A Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required.

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. GS-9: To be eligible for this position applicants must have completed a master's degree (within the last 2 years, 6 years for preference eligible veterans) in an institution accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) in major field of study such as: hospital administration, public health administration (MHA, MHSA, MPH), or related fields such as business or public administration (MBA, MPA) with course work in health care administration by program start date, OR have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education in an institution accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) in major field of study such as: hospital administration, public health administration (MHA, MHSA, MPH), or related fields such as business or public administration (MBA, MPA) with course work in health care administration by program start date. 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. Physical Requirements - The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications. OPM Qualifications Standards for GS-671. 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.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/27/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12913278. 1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. 2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-27