Program Analyst- Quality Management

Summary The Program Analyst in the Quality Management program office within the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System reporting to the facility Associate and the Chief of Quality Management. Supports the implementation, spread, and maintenance of Quality Management processes and techniques across all Ann Arbor VA services including outpatient clinical services, inpatient clinical services, business and administrative services, and leadership/ management services under the Chief of Quality Management. Responsibilities Principle Duties and Responsibilities: As an integral member of the QM team, the Quality Management Program Analyst, under the request and general guidance of the Associate Chief Quality Management/Chief of Quality Management, will support and provide guidance in the analysis of current processes and the redesign and implementation of activities and initiatives, within the areas of quality, safety, timeliness, patient-centric activities, effectiveness and efficiencies such as e.g. improving access and flow and thus improving healthcare for all Veterans. The Quality Management Program Analyst will identify system inefficiencies, veteran satisfaction or quality of care issues and will develop studies or data collection techniques related to specific identified problems. The incumbent will collaborate with other staff to identify information needs and develop data collection methods and report formats to meet those needs, and organize, compile, and summarize the data collected, identify trends, and develop routine reports which reflect the scope of activities and opportunities for improvement. The Quality Management Program Analyst will systematically evaluate health systems processes using statistical process control, Lean and Six Sigma, and other Total Quality Management (TQM) tools, and will research problems that impact the quality and efficiency of patient care delivery, make recommendations for corrective actions and follow up to ensure effective implementation and sustainability. The Quality Management Program Analyst must have the ability to retrieve, analyze, track and trend information, make quantitative and qualitative evaluations, prepare narrative and statistical reports of the findings, and provide data supported/ driven recommendations. The SRPA will employ management analysis techniques and methods to develop and refine information for comprehensive reports, addressing such elements as e.g. cost analyses, work measurements, trend analyses, efficiencies, effectiveness, productivity and tangible benefits and to quantifiably assess the success or failure in attaining program operational goals/ objectives. Incumbent will incorporate recommendations for the resolution of problems identified in studies such as eliminating, adding, changing, or rearranging specific procedures, products or services or making other changes to more efficiently and effectively utilize resources. The Quality Management Program Analyst will prepare complete and fully documented studies for review by the Associate Chief Quality Management/Chief of Quality Management, facility leadership and/or the project lead. The incumbent will serve in both a supporting and leadership role in organizing and facilitating performance improvement efforts based on systems engineering principles and methods, such as, but not limited to Lean and Six Sigma. Provide consultative support by assisting with the identification of appropriate methods, process measures and team-based approaches to improve process quality based on systems engineering methods and principles. Conduct studies based on systems engineering principles to optimize quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency in healthcare systems. Sustainability and spread of efforts directed at improving quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of processes. Providing consultative assistance in supporting the improvement of patient access to care and flow improvements based on industrial and systems engineering methods and principles. Team leader or project manager responsibilities that may include preparation of team charters, task breakdown, timelines, milestones, identification of special conditions and constraints, quality assurance, configuration management, and project deliverables. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday 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- Quality Management/PD92056-0 and PD92037-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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, 10/28/2024. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your most recent personnel action/SF50. Additionally, 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. Interchange Agreement: Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement. For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 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 the application of Systems Engineering arid Systems Redesign Principles and methods such as but not limited to, Lean and Six Sigma, as well as industrial and quality engineering principles and methods. The SRPA plays an important role in actively supporting the effort to not only meet but exceed performance expectations related to e.g. access; patient now; and timely, efficient and cost-effective processes throughout the Hospital and its clinics. In order to accomplish these tasks, the incumbent should have a broad-based knowledge of the overall hospital organization mission, vision, function and values to be able to improve the healthcare delivery processes based on systems engineering principles and methods. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. GS-11 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 and mastery of the application of Systems Engineering arid Systems Redesign Principles and methods such as but not limited to, Lean and Six Sigma, as well as industrial and quality engineering principles and methods. The Systems Redesign Program Analyst plays a critical role in actively supporting the effort to not only meet but exceed performance expectations related to e.g. access; patient now; and timely, efficient and cost-effective processes throughout the Hospital and its clinics. In order to accomplish these tasks, the incumbent must have a broad-based knowledge of the overall hospital organization mission, vision, function and values to be able to improve the healthcare delivery processes based on systems engineering principles and methods. The incumbent has knowledge of various fact finding and quantitative management techniques such as: data collection, cause-effect diagrams, histograms, Pareto analysis, performance measurements, general systems theory, the Theory of Constraints, and the Queuing theory. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. Preferred Experience (Not Required) Quality Management, Data Analytics, Proficient in Excel, Lean and PDSA methodology, and creation of SharePoint, Power Bi Apps and Power Bi reports. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Business Process Reengineering Creative Thinking Customer Service Manages and Organizes Information Mathematical Reasoning Organizational Performance Improvement 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: Regular and recurring work is mostly sedentary involving sitting at a desk, although the position requires the ability to move from one geographic location of the facility to another The incumbent works with a computer screen and keyboard. The work requires some physical exertion, such as periods of standing when leading teaching and facilitation sessions, some walking, bending, crouching or similar activities when visiting worksites and some moderate lifting and carrying. At other times the work involves prolonged sitting. 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 A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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 This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.