To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/17/2026. 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-9 level. 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-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Directing and performing all administrative functions that include administration, human resources management, budget and finance, management, and program analysis; Identifying and evaluating problems and possible causes to determine root causes and impacts of administrative irregularities and generates solutions, taking into consideration organizational and individual situations; Performing analytical and evaluative work in developing operational efficiencies and improving quality services. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a major field of study related to the work of the position which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position. (Note: TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION MATERIALS. CONFERRAL OF DEGREE(S) EARNED SHOULD BE PRESENT ON TRANSCRIPT(S). UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S) IS OK.) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a Master's Degree. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Attention to Detail Compliance Decision Making Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Manages and Organizes Information Manages Human Resources Planning and Evaluating Problem Solving Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Standards Teamwork 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. Preferred Experience: Experience supporting or leading healthcare quality improvement initiatives, including understanding of performance measures, process mapping, RCA, and corrective action plans. Familiarity with patient safety event reporting systems (e.g., JPSR/PAT, IPEC, SHEP, EPRP) and comfort working with clinical and operational teams to resolve safety concerns. Experience working in or with a High Reliability Organization (HRO) framework, particularly in applying principles such as sensitivity to operations, resilience, and deference to expertise. Prior involvement in patient experience programs, including service recovery, complaint resolution, and coordination with Patient Advocates. Strong data management skills, including ability to analyze trends, create dashboards, track metrics, and prepare executive level reports or briefings. Experience coordinating interdisciplinary teams and communicating effectively across clinical, administrative, and leadership levels. Familiarity with regulatory and accreditation standards (Joint Commission, OIG, CARF, CMS), including support for surveys, tracers, and compliance reviews. Experience supporting Executive Leadership and being able to synthesize complex operational issues into concise, actionable summaries. Knowledge of clinical operations in long-term care, acute care, or specialty care settings, especially regarding workflows that affect Veteran safety and experience. Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive or high-visibility issues with professionalism, tact, and empathy; especially when working directly with Veterans and families. Strong project management experience, including ability to plan, track, and execute initiatives involving multiple stakeholders. Familiarity with VA policies, handbooks, and directives related to Quality, Patient Safety, Risk Management, and Veteran Experience is highly preferred. 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: Work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. Much of the work is at a desk but some walking to attend meetings or deliver materials might be required. 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/.