Summary This position in located within the Regional Research Office at the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The Health System Specialist GS-09 level position is established to perform developmental assignments contained at the GS-11 full performance level (FPL). The FPL position requires knowledge of the full scope of activities required to conduct single and multisite research through regulatory and policy compliance. Responsibilities This announcement is only open to current, permanent VHA Office of Research and Development, Regional Research Office, Station 679, and CTAP (Career Transition Assistant Plan for surplus/displaced employees) eligible employees. All other candidates will not be considered. The major duties of this position include: Applies analytical and evaluative techniques to identify, consider, and resolve issues applying Federal, State, and VA regulations and guidelines. Provides advice and consultation to Institutional Review Board (IRB) chairs, members, and staff; educates the investigative community of local and external research policies and procedures. Uses qualitative/quantitative analytical techniques and conducts analysis to improve processes and make recommendations. Conducts interviews with supervisors and employees to obtain information about organization missions, functions, and work procedures. Serves as the Program Manager and Specialist for multiple regulatory committees as expert in activities related to basic science and human research. Serves as the accreditation Facility Liaison and is responsible for the preparation of accreditation applications and maintenance of standard operating procedures. Develops and maintains required annual and semi-annual reviews of assigned programs to include Human Research Protection Program and Research Safety and Security Program. Oversees the protocol review process of multiple programs and committees. Establishes and maintains pre-review program coinciding with IRB, Central IRB, Research & Development (R&D), and Subcommittee on Research Safety (SRS) committees. 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: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available 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#: Health System Specialist - Research Committee Manager/PD99493S 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) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/16/2024. 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 level. 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. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal Service that has given you the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties this position. Specialized Experience is defined as work that involves (1) applying analytical and evaluative principles for a clinical, medical, and/or research organization, (2) utilizing communication skills and applying stakeholder management principles, and (3) creating, maintaining, and disseminating electronic information using office automated systems. OR, Education: To qualify based on education at the GS-9 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 these levels. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants at the GS-9 level. When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management (5) Manages and Organizes Information (169) Oral Communication (201) Project Management (231) 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: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. 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.