Health System Specialist (Innovation Specialist)

This position is in the Mid-Atlantic Healthcare Network (VISN 6), aligned under Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The Health System Specialist (Innovation Specialist) works with leadership and staff to identify innovation opportunities, enhance innovation-related skills and competencies among employees, and build strategic partnership with internal, external, and community stakeholders to develop and implement innovations.

Major Duties: Leads Innovation Development Programs/Develops Strategic Plans at the Local and National Level (60%) Incumbent works with relevant clinical and administrative chiefs and staff members to develop and share innovation-driven strategic plans for programs, services, and/or the facility. Incumbent's managerial duties and responsibilities involve decisions which have a direct and substantial effect on the organization and its programs. These include, but are not limited to, decisions affecting the nature, scope, quality, and emphasis on the patient care programs and activities. Identifies and champions opportunities for innovation, in collaboration with local and national internal and external stakeholders. Supports developing a national-level strategy for innovation, including helping to lead and stand-up programs, processes, policies, and infrastructure to support innovation across the VA. Develops the local organizational vision that integrates the VHA Innovators Network and the VHA Innovation Ecosystem program goals, strategic priorities, and core values. Creates a facility-level Innovation program segment that encourages creative thinking, innovation, collaboration, and transparency. Identifies opportunities to improve service and program performance. Executes open dialogue across organizational lines both within the FVACHCS and with stakeholders across the VA to maximize opinion diversity and input from a wide range of stakeholders. Executes innovation strategies through collaboration with external stakeholders outside of both FVACHCS and VA more broadly. Innovation Competency Building Training, Program, and Events (15%) Develops and executes training activities to VA employees at the facility and national level surrounding innovation-related competencies, such as design thinking, the Three Box Solution, entrepreneurship, Human Centered Design, and innovation value creation. Innovation Project Management and Collaboration Across Sites (15%) Researches, identifies, and implements innovation projects identified as best practices from other sites or within their site. Reviews projects for value and analyzes potential for impact based on local needs, issues, and capacity for successful implementation. Determines the suitability of outside solutions or best practices appropriate for local implementation based on analyses of applicability and probability for success and recommends implementation strategies to the FVACHCS and VISN leadership. VISN, VHA, VACO, and VA/DoD Joint Planning (10%) Incumbent will engage with regional, national, and other agency partners on as-needed tasks, program and policy development, and formal planning processes. May serve as a Health Care System liaison to the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) and VA Headquarters staff for planning initiatives. Represents FVACHCS on key VISN councils, national committees, and ad hoc assignments. Responds to inquiries for information as necessary on a variety of special interest topics. Adheres to timeframes and communicates with VISN and VACO staff to ensure a smooth transfer of information. Keeps informed of key areas of VISN and VACO interests and briefs top management accordingly. The incumbent works as a member of a small staff of planners and analysts who have responsibility for accomplishing multiple projects related to aforementioned functions. The incumbent must analyze situations and develop plans to allow the organization to accomplish various objectives specific to a given situation (situations may involve opportunities, risks, national VA initiatives, etc.). The incumbent must develop written planning documents, prepare, and deliver presentations to multiple groups, conduct sophisticated analyses which may include statistical modeling and financial assessments, and lead project groups that may be very large and multidisciplinary in nature. The nature of the projects will often require short turnarounds and may require development of extensive documents that will be sent forward to VISN, VHA Innovation Ecosystem, and VHA Central Office staff for assessment and support. The incumbent is a confident communicator, with the regular requirement to build partnerships with and brief executive leadership and other internal, external, and community stakeholders. Performs other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Telework: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist (Innovation Specialist)/PD084410 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.