Health System Specialist (Graduate Healthcare Administrative Training Program (GHATP) Trainee)

Job Description

Health System Specialist (Graduate Healthcare Administrative Training Program (GHATP) Trainee) | Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

The Tone:
This is an early career position at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), operating on a full-time schedule of 7:30-4pm, Monday-Friday. This formalized national training program is designed to develop future healthcare administrative professionals. The role is crucial for managing projects and coordinating daily office activities within the Medical Facility Director’s office, directly contributing to the VA’s mission and strategic healthcare goals. This trainee position offers a structured path to acquire essential knowledge, skills, and competencies in healthcare system management.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time

• Team: Office of the Director of the Medical Facility, reporting under the direction of the Medical Center Director or Associate Director.
• Mission: Manages projects and coordinates daily office activities to assist the Office of the Medical Center Director in successfully meeting its mission and strategic goals.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Develop Health Planning Strategies: Utilizes data and reporting tools to develop health-planning strategies impacting the operations of medical centers, network offices, and/or VHACO program offices.
• Analyze Budget and Fiscal Operations: Analyzes data trends in budget and fiscal operations, researches relevant laws and policies, and supports budget preparation and execution for committee meetings.
• Improve Operational Processes: Participates on project teams to identify and improve operational processes impacting services across the VA health care system.
• Evaluate Administrative Functions: Observes and analyzes various administrative areas, including human resources processes like discipline, recognition, and labor relations, to understand their application in projects and studies.
• Conduct Facility Assessments: Performs rotations and on-site visits to assess issues and opportunities at Network and other VA/VHA facilities, making recommendations and analyzing data for resource allocation discussions.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Applicants must be a recent graduate with a Master’s degree in hospital administration, public health administration, or other healthcare administration/management, completed within the previous two years. A Master’s in business or public administration may be accepted if at least two healthcare courses were taken. Veterans are granted an extended eligibility period.
• Experience: While this is a trainee program for recent graduates, qualifying for the GS-9 level via experience requires at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade in Federal service, involving analytical, administrative, or clinical management in healthcare, demonstrating knowledge of health care delivery systems, regulations, and administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement.
• Skills: Data analysis and reporting, knowledge of healthcare delivery system missions and requirements, understanding of budget and fiscal management, ability to research and apply laws, regulations, and policies related to healthcare operations, and project participation.
• Bonus: A degree from a program approved by CAHME, CEPH, AUPHA, AACSB, NASPAA, or ACBSP is preferred.