Health Science Specialist

About the role

The VA Research Program strives to promote Veteran-centered care to improve patient experiences and outcomes across VA healthcare and community settings — and to advance value-driven care by providing Veterans the highest quality care at the lowest financial burden. The position is vital within the ORD and the facilities where research programs are conducted. Research Program Managers provide the link between Veterans and highly innovative projects.

Qualifications

Individual Occupational Requirement (Health System Administration, 0671 series): You must possess an undergraduate or graduate degree with a major in hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with coursework in healthcare administration — or progressively responsible analytical, administrative, clinical management, or supervisory experience in the healthcare field. This work must have involved a close working relationship with facility managers and analysis/coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities, providing knowledge of:

• Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of healthcare delivery systems
• Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups
• Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement

Time-in-Grade Requirement: Current Federal employees who have held a GS grade within the past 52 weeks must meet time-in-grade by the closing date (10/29/2026). For GS-09: 52 weeks at GS-07. For GS-11: 52 weeks at GS-09. An SF-50 demonstrating eligibility must be submitted; if the most recent SF-50 is within the past year, an additional SF-50 showing one-year time-in-grade is required. This also applies to former Federal employees seeking reinstatement and VEOA applicants.

Requirements for GS-09

In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07. Examples include:

• Maintaining complex existing databases and data spreadsheet files
• Assisting project investigators with ongoing research projects
• Training and guiding new research project staff on policies and procedures
• Managing the screening and evaluation of candidates for clinical studies
• Administering and managing the implementation of clinical tests

Education substitution: Master’s or equivalent degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B./J.D. if related to duties (transcript required). Combination: Education and experience may be combined; percentages must total at least 100% (first 60 semester hours excluded from education calculation).

Requirements for GS-11

In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09. Examples include:

• Administering and evaluating healthcare research programs, projects, and operational activities
• Developing, implementing, and monitoring program policies, procedures, and performance measures
• Ensuring compliance with VA, federal, and research-related regulations, policies, and accreditation measures
• Analyzing program data, quality measures, and operational performance to identify issues and recommend improvements
• Providing administrative oversight of resources, personnel, budgets, contracts, and/or program operations

Education substitution: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M. with courses related to duties (transcript required). Combination: Education and experience may be combined; percentages must total at least 100% (first 60 semester hours excluded from education calculation).

For full qualification standards, see OPM General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Responsibilities

• Serves in an advisory capacity to R&D Leadership, research investigators, research committee members, and research committee Chairs
• Serves as the accreditation Facility Liaison
• Oversees the protocol review process of multiple programs and committees
• Develops and maintains a pre-review program that coincides with IRB, IACUC, SRS, IBC, CIRB, and/or R&D Committee review of all research involving human subjects, animal subjects, basic laboratory science, and the human research protection program
• Develops and manages required annual and semi-annual reviews
• Ensures that human subject research is reviewed, approved, and conducted in accordance with appropriate Federal, State, and VA regulations and guidelines
• Responsible for maintaining quality and compliance
• Develops programs, policies, and procedures within the Research Office
• Researches and/or analyzes problems, administrative issues, or program requirements as they relate to animal, human subject, or safety research and the research review process
• Designs and studies training programs and organizational strategies

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 does not guarantee promotion.

Schedule

Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Science Specialist / PD99493S and PD99586S. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.