Health Science Specialist

About the role

Employee will be assigned to Research Service - VA Medical Center - White River Junction, VT, serving as an institutional contact person for human research protection.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates the general administration, planning, and oversight of management of the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)
• Ensures implementation and maintains records of the comprehensive facility's education program offering training on compliance for the research community, principal investigators/researchers, clinical research coordinators, and other staff
• Serves as point of contact for internal and external research integrity inquiries or complaints pertaining to human subjects research
• Prepares policies for complex programs pertinent to human subject research protections
• Provides technical expertise to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) administrative staff and members
• Drafts correspondence to researchers to provide expert advice on policy matters, process issues, and procedural problems
• Coordinates development of policies, procedures and criteria for administration of the organization's human subjects research program
• Assists investigators and research staff in preparation of intricate reports and in the implementation of procedures within individual specific projects
• Conducts the screening, advisory, and approval processes for the organization's human subjects research program, and coordinates the evaluation review for approved projects
• Monitors project process for content and procedural conformance within approved proposals
• Coordinates establishment of program goals and objectives and identifies results indicative of successful program accomplishments
• Conducts program assessments and prepares reports necessary for program continuity and reporting
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement: Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree with 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. (Transcript required)

To qualify at the GS‑9 level:

• Specialized Experience (GS‑9): At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS‑7 level in Federal service, including managing a human research protection program; ensuring regulatory compliance with program requirements; providing technical expertise to the Institutional Review Board as it pertains to human subjects; evaluating research projects and activities; and maintaining records and preparing reports.
• Substitution of Education for Experience (GS‑9): Successful completion of two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree with a major in an appropriate field (as described above) which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this