The incumbent serves as the Supervisory Health Administrative Specialist on Duty (HOD), located in the Health Administration Service (HAS) at VA Northern Indiana Health Care System. With established guidelines, the position has both the authority and responsibility to represent both the Medical Center Director and the Chief, HAS on all administrative matters occurring when assigned to other than a normal tour of duty.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/12/2025. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of a wide range of administrative concepts, principals, and practices such as Bed Management, BMS, Beneficiary Travel Service Portal for claims management, ECAMs for ambulance and special mode claims, VES for Eligibility Enrollment and registration, Open Encounters management, Emergency management and incident command, and Public Affairs media management. Knowledge of overall Facility and Health Care System's objectives, goals, decisions, and policies. Knowledge of general principles of management and of the practices, techniques, and objectives of supervision. General knowledge of Federal and department personnel management policies and practices. Basic knowledge of medical center organization, functions, specialties, and programs, i.e., Social Work, Nursing, Laboratory, Radiology, etc. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have posses a Ph.D./equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-11 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Analytical Reasoning Customer Service Legal, Government and Jurisprudence 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 requires much walking through the medical center with occasionally the requirement to lift objects such as suitcases, clothing, or medical charts. 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/.
Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Delegated full authority of the Chief, HAS for non-clinical administrative activities occurring during irregular tours. Interprets VA rules and regulations relating to determining legal entitlement to benefits relating to hospital admission; nursing home, dental, domiciliary, Community Care (outside VA), and outpatient care; dental treatment; prosthetic appliances; patient transfer; and beneficiary travel. Ensures that appropriate legal, regulatory, and policy requirements are met. Processes administrative issues surrounding beneficiary death, seriously ill cases, elopements, suicides, assaults, deaths on arrival (DOAs), homicides, code blue, cost recovery matters, and facility or community disasters, etc. Provides administrative authority, guidance, and decision making to Medical Officer of the Day (MOD), Nursing Officer of the Day (NOD), and other similarly named Nurse and Medical positions in charge after hours, and all other clinical staff concerning administrative matters necessary for operation of the medical center during other than normal tours. Assists medical center staff with medically related problems, including involuntary commitments, orders of protective custody, and management of unruly or severely disturbed patients. Performs for administrative matters as the MOD does for clinical matters, working as a team to carry out top management responsibilities during other than regular working hours. Directly intervenes with problems regarding patient activity, directing and advising clinical staff of appropriate administrative action. Assumes role of Incident Commander at time of incident and implements the facility plan until the designated personnel arrives. Assumes control of communications and notifications in event of local and civil disasters, in accordance with local facility disaster plan. HOD representative participates in Health Care System (HCS) incident command planning committees and emergency management training drills. Assists in responding to emergencies, determines priorities and nature of action to be taken; authorizes services, supplies, and personnel; notifies authorities as situation dictates. Implements search plan for missing patients; informs next-of-kin of search status, as appropriate. Observes for safety, potential problems, and takes corrective action. Receives and responds to non-routine patient condition inquiries and other administrative inquiries from concerned veterans, families, visitors, law enforcement officials, representatives from private hospitals, veterans service organization representatives, VA Central Office, Congressional offices, military personnel, private physicians, media, and the general public. Determines extent of release of medical or social data from patients' records. Safeguards and ensures rights of patient. Maintains good public and media relations as instructed and trained by the Public Affairs Officer until the designated employee arrives. Acts as an advisory resource to all personnel assigned to other than normal tours of duty, such as medical clerks, telephone operators, file room personnel, admitting and clinic clerks and Contact Representatives. Can locate available resources and authorize VA payment of services at community hospitals or resolves in accordance with established sharing arrangements. HOD responds to requests under Beneficiary Travel authorities and VA Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) availability; makes appropriate arrangements. Facilitates urgent transportation for Veterans as needed, to include flights for VA organ transplant candidates being sent out of state. Work Schedule: 14:00 - 10:00, Including nights, weekends, and holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Program Specialist (HOD)/PD925450 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized