Health Science Specialist

This position is located at the West Haven VA Medical Center, Connecticut. In this position you will evaluate compliance with Federal and VA requirements for the conduct of research in the following areas: the protection of human research subjects, laboratory animal welfare, and research safety and security.

The Health Science Specialist may also be assigned responsibilities related to conflict of interest in research, training of research personnel, research program accreditation, research misconduct, and/or other research compliance activities consistent with VHA requirements. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Provides input and assists the Research Compliance Officer (RCO), in establishing policies and procedures by which the research program will be judged, i.e. policies and procedures that outline the criteria for conduction of research compliance activities, that establish compliance program goals and objectives, and identify results indicative of successful program accomplishments;
• Evaluates new or modified legislation and national policies to determine impact on medical research community;
• Serves as local resource for regulations, policies, memoranda, alerts, and other federal requirements regarding research compliance issues;
• Responds to inquiries from the field regarding scientific/technical issues;
• Ensures that relevant regulatory and policy updates are disseminate to research administrators, research oversight committees, research investigators, etc.;
• Performs ongoing research monitoring and auditing to promote compliance, reduce violations of regulations and standards, identify unsatisfactory trends and conditions, and correct factors that may contribute to non-compliance;
• Reviews project reports to assess investigator's compliance with research program guidelines;
• Conducts research program assessments and prepares reports necessary to program continuity and reporting;
• Identifies problems and negotiates corrective action;
• Monitors and evaluates multiple or broad research program content;
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

No

11

• Job family (Series)

  0601 General Health Science

• Requirements

  RequirementsConditions of Employment
  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • May be required to serve a probationary period
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
  QualificationsTo qualify for this position, you must meet the basic education requirement as well as the additional experience and/or education qualification requirements.
  
  BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree with a major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
  
  -AND-
  
  ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Health Science Specialist. Specialized experience is providing day-to-day administrative support in human subject research activities such as maintaining accurate records, collecting and analyzing data, tracking participants, troubleshooting study procedures, communicating with clinicians and study subjects, and applying comprehensive understanding of the regulatory requirements and ethical principles that guide human subject research. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. - OR -
  
  Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this Health Science Specialist position, is also qualifying. Copies of transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. - OR -
  
  Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education (above a master's degree) and specialized experience, as described above may also be qualifying. Copies of transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
  
  This position includes Selective Placement FactorS (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.
  
  The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Do you have experience with the processes and procedures associated with the approval of human subject research, laboratory animal welfare and/or research safety and security?
  
  -AND-
  
  Do you have experience monitoring new or modified legislation and national policies regarding research compliance issues and advises on the impact it has on medical research?
  
  You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
  
  • Attention to Detail
  • Communications
  • Compliance
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  
  
  IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.
  
  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; religious; 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.
  
  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

  IMPORTANT: 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

  Additional information

  Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform portions of the work. However, there is periodic walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as medical records, food trays, instructional material, books and manuals. No special physical demands are require to perform the work.
  
  Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
  
  Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (203) 932-5711.
  
  It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
  
  Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
  
  The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
  
  This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
  
  If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

  
  How You Will Be Evaluated

  You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

  IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
  
  Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
  
  Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

  • Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
  • Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
  • Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.
  Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).
  
  Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance

  Other

  Drug test required

  No

  Position sensitivity and risk

  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

  Trust determination process

  Suitability/Fitness

• Required Documents

  Required Documents

  IMPORTANT: Please ensure your resume include up-to-date contact information (phone number(s), email address(s), etc.)
  
  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
  

  • Resume
  • Transcript
  
  
  The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
  
  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • OF-306
  • Other (1)
  • Other (2)
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript
  
  
  Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  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.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• Benefits

  Benefits

  A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• The public

  U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.