Administrative Officer

Overview

The incumbent is located in the Department of Surgery. The incumbent is responsible for the operational and administrative functions of the Surgical Service at VA Connecticut Healthcare System (VACT), which includes the West Haven Campus and Newington Campus, consisting of 14 sub-specialties. Approximately 70% of this position's duties are for the Surgical Service, and 25% involve reporting to the Chief of Staff.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement—01/30/2026. Time-In-Grade requirements:
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date. For a GS-11 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. An SF-50 showing 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 one-year time-in-grade;

an additional SF-50 may be required. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and to Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. You may qualify based on experience and/or education as described below:
Specialized

Experience:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Examples of specialized experience include knowledge of the Operating Room, Surgical specialties, and support services; knowledge of Medical Center operations; knowledge of workload reimbursement mechanisms; knowledge of program and reporting requirements; knowledge of VA and accreditation programs; knowledge of staff education and clinical-research requirements;

working knowledge of VA automated data processing programs; skill in data gathering, analysis, and presenting recommendations; knowledge of statistics, cost accounting, and management principles; and the ability to project effects of changes on quality of care, resource utilization, and staff. OR

Education:

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education related to the position. OR Combination:
Education and experience may be combined as described. You will be rated on the following

Competencies:

Administration and Management, Computer Skills, Contract Administration, Managing Human Resources. Experience includes paid and unpaid work; volunteer work is creditable.

Physical requirements:

Mostly sedentary with occasional walking, climbing, stooping, bending, and reaching. For the standards, see OPM qualification standards (link).

• Responsibilities include managing the Surgical Service line, reporting to the Chief of Staff for 25% of duties, and coordinating with other services to synchronize data.
• Work with Informatics and other departments to ensure data capture consistency in the healthcare system.
• Include data validation with other hospital areas, analyze consult flow for surgical services (14 subspecialties), assess downstream impact, and extract/analyze data to support improvement work aligned with other services.
• Supervisory:
  The incumbent supervises the Surgical service line staff (Program Specialist GS-0301-11, Program Analyst GS-0301-09, Program Support Assistant GS-0344-06, Secretary GS-0318-07, Medical Supply Technician GS-0622-06).
• Oversee day-to-day administrative functions of the Surgical service.
• Manage the Surgical Service Line processes, data validation, and timeliness.
• Use qualitative and quantitative data analysis to analyze the surgical service line and make recommendations to management.
• Review findings with the Chief of Surgery and section chiefs to develop long-term improvement plans.
• Compile, analyze, and track data related to outpatient and inpatient operations (new consults, future care consults, stat consults, new/established patient access, non-staff clinics, inter-service consults, workload capture, RVUs).
• Monitor inpatient and electronic cons for proper capture via encounter forms; monitor VERA reimbursement; ensure service line personnel are mapped in the Decision Support System (DSS).
• Responsible for personnel administration data (PPEs, PPEs, ECF) and other evaluations; maintain master data files for ad hoc data support for committees and VISN monitors.
• Track and monitor Performance Assessment and Improvement activities against targets.
• Work Schedule:
  
  Full-Time, Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Telework may be authorized at supervisor's discretion; not a virtual position.
• Position is not in a bargaining unit. Relocation/recruitment incentives not available. May be required to attend conferences at other facilities or VA sites.