Health System Specialist - Integrity and Compliance Officer (ICO) TCF Trainee

The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor.

Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements.This is a developmental position leading to a GS-11, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision.

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.Major duties and responsibilities include: - Assists in the planning, development, and implementation of compliance initiatives within the Medical Center and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). - Reviews and evaluates compliance issues and concerns as an independent and objective party, functioning under the direction of a designated Preceptor. - Contributes to core elements of an effective compliance program, including committee oversight, training and education, auditing and monitoring, risk assessment, communication, enforcement, recognition, investigation, and response. - Assists in identifying, planning, assessing, responding to, and monitoring areas of high compliance risk, and coordinates efforts to improve performance. - Responds to alleged violations of law, rule, or regulation, and reports violations through appropriate channels for investigation and resolution. - Develops risk management solutions and associated mitigation plans, including monitoring/auditing strategies and training/education plans for facility employees. - Reviews documents, patient records, and other compliance-relevant information - including claim submissions, financial reports, external review reports, purchased care reports, third-party payer communications, quality reports, privacy records, and investigation reports - on an as-needed basis to support audits and investigations. - Applies analytical and evaluative techniques to identify and resolve issues of a procedural or factual nature within health delivery system operations. - Applies knowledge of health record standards, medical/legal requirements, and regulatory/accrediting agency requirements to evaluate health records program adequacy. - Applies knowledge of automated health records systems and Privacy Act/FOIA requirements in reviewing information release practices. - Uses statistical methods and data preparation tools (software, spreadsheets, databases, graphics) to assess patient workload and establish quality controls. - Develops expertise to serve as an advisor on compliance regulations, references, and program implementation throughout the facility. - Directs and dictates, under supervisory guidance, the actions of facility employees to ensure compliance with applicable laws, statutes, regulations, and directives governing business operations and integrity. - Works toward developing, implementing, and maintaining an effective facility compliance program consistent with VHA Handbook 1030.02, the U.S.

Sentencing Guidelines, and HHS Guidance for Compliance Programs by the end of the two-year training program. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday. Actual hours will depend on the needs of the service and the mission of the agency.

Position Description Title/PD#: Health System Specialist - Integrity and Compliance Officer (ICO) TCF Trainee/PD99534-S 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.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/24/2026. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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.

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.

GS9: You may qualify based on education and/or experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: performing health record analysis and evaluate the adequacy of a health records program, Evaluating efficiency and effectiveness of program operations carried out by administrative or professional personnel, including the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature, Establishing quality controls, with skill in data preparation techniques (e.g., software packages, spreadsheets, graphics, databases) to facilitate illustration and decision-making.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree 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 bachelor's degree. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Risk Management Communication Compliance An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1academic year of full-time study.

This determination is made based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours will be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.

Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

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.

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/.