The Department of Veterans Affairs is the 2nd largest Executive branch agency in the Federal Government and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) – a subsection of VA – is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States. With over 230,000 thousand employees VHA staff serve the healthcare needs of America’s Veteran population through 156 medical centers and over 800 Outpatient Clinics. The Healthcare Retention & Recruitment Office is a VHA Headquarters staff office responsible for developing and maintaining recruitment and retention programs to support the human capital needs of the Administration. We are currently in a very active period legislatively and some degree of the assignments could include reviewing and assisting in the development of Agency positions and cost estimates on legislation pending before Senate and House Congressional Committees.
Students applying for either student position must be registered as a student for the summer or fall 2009 academic session. We anticipate these positions will be approximately 20 hours a week during the summer with the potential to continue into the fall semester and possibly through May 2010. Interested students should submit a cover letter identifying the position of interest, proof of student status (at least part-time) and a resume to the VHA Healthcare Retention & Recruitment Office, 1555 Poydras Street, Suite 1971, New Orleans, LA 70112. These are paid student positions with a salary range of $12-$14 dollars per hour.
Recruitment Marketing & Advertising Assistant
The student would be working with the VHA Recruitment Marketing Program Manager on national projects to develop recruitment initiatives to improve the rural healthcare workforce in VHA, we have a project in development to create a nationally broadcast television commercial to recruit health care providers to VHA. We will also be doing a national recruitment training conference for VHA HR staff this summer in New Orleans and the student would attend that with the Program Manager and would probably be involved in supporting the event. There is currently a high degree of Congressional interest in Rural Health Initiatives to reach and treat Veterans and to increase the numbers of healthcare practitioners serving in rural and underserved communities. This interest influences our development of programs and strategies at the national level in VA. Working on these assigned projects will provide an opportunity to work in a headquarters function of a Federal agency and have exposure to Federal HR, contracting and budget tracking processes. An ideal student would be someone with an interest in development of the health professionals’ workforce, interest in the human resources factors that influence the healthcare workforce, excellent research & communications skills and strong technical writing skills.
Scholarship Waiver Reviewer
VHA sponsors one of the largest employee scholarship programs in the Federal government. These programs provide funding for employees to complete academic degrees in clinical and allied health professions. While most students complete their programs approximately 15% do not and are obligated to repay the Government for funds expended on their educations. Employees may request a waiver of the financial obligation and this office processes those waivers. We are looking for a student with excellent critical thinking and analysis skills and preferably some legal back ground or course work to assist in the review process and in formulation of recommendations based on applicable Federal statute and regulations, the facts of the case, and documents submitted as evidence. Recommendations on disposition of waiver cases are prepared for the review of the VA Office of General Counsel and signature of the Under Secretary for Health.
