Summary The incumbent assists in providing support of the VISN 2 Systems Redesign/Performance Improvement/Lean program, and leads and supports assigned transformative quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency process improvement initiatives within VISN2. The incumbent acts as a project manager, analyst, project portfolio manager, trainer/facilitator for improvement projects impacting Medical Center and VISN wide patient care delivery systems as well as assigned Network Office projects. Responsibilities Lead and Coach Performance Improvement Initiatives and Projects, and Conduct Project Portfolio Analysis and Management -50% The incumbent is responsible for organizing, leading, coaching, working on project teams, serving as an improvement methodology and tool subject matter expert and/or otherwise supporting assigned VISN wide quality, process and performance improvement initiatives and projects that cross organizational lines and geography; and those within a facility that are difficult, at risk, or to become a model for the facility and the Network. The incumbent will demonstrate critical, creative and innovative thinking in the integration of lean and Six Sigma and other improvement methodologies with existing organizational transformation efforts. In this capacity, the incumbent is expected to not only become an influencer and thought leader for transformative improvement efforts but also to train and advise others. The incumbent will ensure projects are brought to timely completion with meaningful and measureable results - with the aim of maximizing the completion rate of initiatives and projects started. Leading and Facilitating Sustainability and Spread of Improvement Efforts -25% The incumbent is responsible for leading and facilitating sustainability and spread of efforts directed at improving performance, quality, safety, effectiveness, efficiency and patient experience; and reducing defects and rates and numbers of defectives. Spread efforts include providing instruction and facilitating others in lean and other trainings through formal classroom facilitation and/or small group mentoring, producing an informational newsletter, and sharing strong practices through the annual Performance Improvement Forum. The incumbent will ensure that VISN improvements are sustained over time. Plan and Conduct Process and Management Analytical Function Studies -10% The incumbent is responsible for planning and conducting assigned analytical studies of management functions and organizational analyses in support of improvements in organizational structure and management practices. The incumbent will actively participate in National, VISN and HCS efforts to create a culture of quality, safety, effectiveness and efficiency by planning and conducting studies directed at identifying optimum management structures and practices. The incumbent conducts assigned studies and organizational analyses of diverse functions and work processes at multiple medical centers; and provides Medical Center management and leadership consultative guidance to effect improvements in mission effectiveness, resource utilization and cost savings. Actively Participate in the Academic/Education Mission of the VISN2-15% The incumbent will stay informed of facility and Network initiatives and priorities, and provide notices and information and contribute to a periodic newsletter including gathering insights and newsworthy issues and results and outcomes of projects and other matters from designated Medical Center and Network Office staff on advancements in organizational structures, innovations, information systems and tools, and system re-design and lean methodologies and tools. Incumbent performs other related duties as assigned. Incumbent will become VISN2 Lean certified in the Advanced Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Coach/Champion program within 18 months. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst/PD06016O Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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, 02/05/2024. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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 as described below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is that which has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Qualifying experience is experience applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of a clinical program; experience planning, organizing, and developing studies or projects, making recommendations on operating programs and negotiating with others to accept and implement recommendations; and experience evaluating and making recommendations regarding health care delivery systems. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Master's Degree, and LEAN SIX SIGMAN Black Belt Certification, 3 years demonstrated complex project improvement experience You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Data Management Manages and Organizes Information Project Management Research Team Building 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. Some work may require periods of walking, standing, bending, climbing, or driving a motor vehicle in activities such as site visits or inspections to industrial, commercial, educational, medical or other establishments. The work does not require any special physical effort. 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 Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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.