Program Support Assistant - Research and Development
What you'd do
This position is in the Research Office at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS). The duties for this position involve administrative support in the specialized area for research. Such work includes a variety of clerical/administrative functions necessary for the smooth management of the research office and ranges from correspondence and information control to tracking projects, employee training, equipment, supplies, and services.
Major duties
The Program Support Assistant provides support and acts as a liaison to TVHS's external research oversight committees. Each TVHS research project requires approval by the Research &Development Committee (RDC) and its subcommittees as appropriate. This work requires independent judgement and interpretation to apply guidelines based on a thorough understanding of requirements such as the protection of human subjects per the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP), clinical trials, and extensive ongoing training to perform a variety of unrelated duties. Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Provides clerical and technical level support to all administrative areas. The work includes office functions such as forms and records management and oral and written communication with researchers. Such work requires specialized knowledge of the Research Program's operation, procedures, and guidelines to create a system that is operational, accurate and appropriate to the Research Program's needs and goals. Performs general program support work such as collection, compilation, research and/or tracking of data and program information. The employee independently completes assignments in accordance with accepted practices, resolving most conflicts that arise. Liaison for the regulatory committees and provides programmatic support to the RDC, IRB, and SRSS managed by the TVHS RDS. Position will have a broad understanding of the administrative work conducted by those individuals who are responsible for the research oversight committee and subcommittees and will serve as a general backup for those individuals. This work will include responding to investigator requests; working with technical personnel to ensure requests forms are correctly completed; submitting documentation to each committee in accordance with the individual committee requirements; ensuring the applications to each of the above committees occur within deadline for that month. Serves as alternate Records Liaison for the Research Office in conjunction with the RDS Supply Technician. Will serve as the primary Records Liaison when Supply Technician is Out of Office (OOO) or otherwise not available. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Support Assistant - Research and Development/PD949510 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/23/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or educations described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: (1) Perform office functions such as forms and records management and oral and written communication. (2) Computer skills in database programs and document preparation programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, etc. to prepare needed reports, memos, and letters (3) Maintain and update technical files, distribution lists, manuals, and records. (4) Gathers data, reviews proposal applications for completeness and assists with processing the timely review of proposals . (5) Maintain regulatory committee rosters and appointment letters. 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/.
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