Summary

The Executive Director (ED) Strategic Planning serves as the principal advisor to VHA leadership on strategy, foresight capabilities, and innovations investments across the VHA enterprise. The ED Strategy reports directly to the Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Health (ADUSH). The incumbent is responsible for developing policy, innovation and modernization strategies, and evidence-based strategic investment management frameworks.

Duties

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The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for the Strategy, Innovation and Modernization, and Strategic Investment Management components. Responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive policy framework exists to advance innovative, modernized healthcare delivery. Ensures that component functions and programs are effectively implemented by the 140 employees within the incumbent's span of control.
• Maintains strategic alignment with the Under Secretary for Health, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Medical Operations Center (MOC), and Community Care Hub through continuous communication channels that enable coordinated decision-making, policy development, and implementation strategies to address short- and long-term priorities, address issues and trends, and support consistent execution across VHA's health care delivery system.
• Collaborates with the ED for Discovery, Education, and Affiliate Networks, ED for Health Information Technology, and the ED of Clinical Operations within the MOC to ensure an integrated workflow exists for innovation funding, pilot administration, pilot evaluation, and system-wide implementation across the enterprise.
• Develops VHA's Strategic Planning framework, ensuring VHA strategic plans at all levels of the organization include short and long-term goals, objectives, and priorities consistent with VA's and VHA's mission, strategies, and goals. Collaborates with the VHA strategic divisions and component leadership to ensures program functions are effectively implemented and promotes an environment focused on long-term operational and technological stability. Coordinates the synthesization of clinical, operational, financial, technological, and policy considerations into a cohesive strategic direction.
• Provides executive and strategic oversight to the Strategy component. Provides strategic foresight capabilities by leveraging predictive analytics and emerging health care intelligence to anticipate future system demands and strengthen evidence-based decision making. Integrates insights into enterprise strategy to ensure the organization remains adaptive, resilient and prepared for future health care challenges.
• Provides executive and strategic oversight to the Innovation and Modernization component. Oversees the modernization of business processes, infrastructure, and enterprise systems to enhance efficiency, quality, and patient experience. Promotes a culture of continuous improvement, evidence-based innovation, and accountable experimentation. Ensures integration of clinical, operational, digital, workforce, and infrastructure strategies into a cohesive enterprise framework.
• Provides executive and strategic oversight to the Strategic Investment Management component. Ensures strategic planning efforts are supported by robust governance structures, clear policy frameworks, and disciplined investment oversight, enabling coordinated execution, and measurable progress toward enterprise-wide modernization. Defines clear roles, authorities, and accountability mechanisms to ensure strategic investments are prioritized, sequenced, and monitored for mission impact and return value.
• Provides oversight and accountability for effective financial and budgetary management including preparation of VHA inputs to the Department Annual Budget Submission. Develops a balanced financial and business plan to administer a $40M+ budget.
• Oversees administrative office functions such as human resource actions and budget, as necessary to manage the mission, and directs and supervises assigned staff. Manages staff resources, human resource functions, and allocation of funding for professional development to ensure alignment with organizational needs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a US citizen or National.
• Subject to a One year probationary period required (unless already completed).
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• Incumbents of this position will be subject to a background investigation commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• Public Financial Disclosure Report (SF-278) is required within 30 days of appointment.
• May be subject to reassignment geographically or organizationally.
• VA structures its SES positions into pay bands. This is a pay band 1 position and the salary range is $151,661 to $228,000.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ), and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit will be disqualified. Please see "Required Documents" section below for all resume formatting requirements.

Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

Do NOT submit a separate narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

TQ1: Demonstrated executive leadership experience leading complex healthcare organizations and achieving mission objectives through heath strategic and operational management.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

• Sub-Competencies:
  
  • Knowledge of the American System of Government: Demonstrates understanding and appreciation of the American system of government, including the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, separation of powers, federalism, and the historical development of the American Nation.
  • Commitment to the Rule of Law: Upholds the principles of the American Founding, including equality under the law and democratic self-government. Ensures the law is applied fairly and consistently.
  • Civic-Mindedness: Stays up-to-date on important developments in American government and aligns organizational objectives and practices with presidential and public interests. Demonstrates a commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

• Sub-Competencies:
  
  • Fiscal Responsibility: Strategically manages, allocates and monitors financial resources. Aligns priorities and initiatives to justify budget proposals. Monitors expenditures, cuts unnecessary costs, and uses cost-benefit analysis to set priorities.
  • Managing Resources: Manages resources efficiently and effectively based on current and projected organizational goals, skills, budget considerations, and staffing needs.
  • Leveraging Technology: Explores emerging technology and potential applications. Incorporates technology to enhance efficiency and achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems

ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

• Sub-Competencies:
  
  • Technical Skill: Possesses the requisite technical knowledge and subject matter expertise to consistently produce timely, high-quality work. Is considered a strong contributor in his or her domain.
  • Problem Solving: Engages in critical and data-driven thinking when diagnosing root causes and evaluating options. Identifies and promptly addresses the most pressing, high-priority problems.
  • Agility and Resilience: Anticipates and adapts to change, new ideas, new information, and new conditions. Is committed to continuous improvement. Deals effectively with pressure and remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity.

ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

• Sub-Competencies:
  
  • Accountability: Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, trained, and retained. Takes swift action to address performance- or conduct-based deficiencies in employees supervised. Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
  • Developing Others: Recognizes and rewards outstanding achievement in others. Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods. Cultivates a dynamic environment in which employees are not afraid to make mistakes.
  • Executive Judgement: Makes well-reasoned, timely, and effective decisions and considers short- and long-term implications. Communicates effectively with stakeholders across all organizational levels, sharing and guarding information where appropriate.

ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

• Sub-Competencies:
  
  • Operational Mindset: Effectively translates strategies into actionable steps and processes. Partners effectively with stakeholders to drive adoption and addresses blockers to ensure successful implementation.
  • Innovation: Applies creativity to improving products and processes, challenges convention, takes measured risks, and considers ways to simplify and remove unnecessary requirements.
  • Strategic Thinking: Formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization by evaluating conditions, resources, capabilities, constraints, and organizational goals and values.

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES. See "Required Documents" section for additional information.

Education

If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, an official transcript or equivalent will be required if you are selected. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Additional information

Veteran Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service.: https://www.opm.gov/faqs/topic/Senior-Executive-Service/index.aspx.

VA structures its SES positions into pay bands. This is a pay band 1 position and the salary range is