Program Specialist - Research
What you'd do
This position is located in the Research Administration Office of VA Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHS), West Haven campus. The Program Specialist will support one (or more) of the following committees: Institutional Review Board (IRB) for human research protection; Research and Development Committee (RDC); Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Subcommittee on Research Safety (SRS).
Major duties
***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-09. At the GS-07 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-09. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied. MAJOR DUTIES: Serves the needs and objectives of the R&D Committee and its subcommittees. Responsible for assuring that issues identified in subcommittees are fully presented to the R&D Committee. Independently reviews IRB, IACUC, SRS and/or RDC submissions for completeness and proper content. Communicates to investigators any deficiencies found and advises them on how to correct or revise the submission. Acts as liaison between reviewers and investigators to ensure and accomplish requested modifications. Manages proper and effective receipt, logging, routing, tracking inquiry, evaluation, interpretation, judgement, review, action and response regarding research submissions and related business. Performs administrative pre-committee analysis of research proposals, including identifying problems and issues in the proposal, contacting the investigator, and requesting additions or corrections to the proposal or to the informed consent forms, securing additional information for the committee on specific points, and bringing the study to the most complete level possible before submission for committee review. Alerts facility representatives, such as Privacy, Information Security, and Research Compliance officers to ensure compliance with national VA policy. Creates the agenda for committee meetings. Conducts informal audits of the electronic submission system ensuring appropriate approval documents have been completed appropriately. Performs intake of research personnel and new research protocols and assures that all documents have been property completed. Administratively pre-reviews new studies for content and completeness following local, and federal requirements before forwarding to committees. Oversees or performs audits of local investigators as part of the institutional quality assurance procedures specified by the Administrative Officer (AO), Associated Chief of Staff (ACOS) and/or Deputy ACOS for Research. Serves as a liaison with scientists, scientific affiliates, and other external customers to clarify, interpret, and resolve issues pertaining to the VA pre-award process. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
What you need to qualify
This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (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: Experience submitting research projects to research review committee(s). (This experience must be documented in your resume.) In addition to the SPF listed above, you must meet one of the following: GS-7 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience providing administrative support in a clinical research program. ~OR~ GS-7 EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION: At least one year of progressively higher-level graduate education. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this Program Specialist position. ~OR~ GS-7 COMBINATION: An equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meets the total experience requirements for this grade level. ~OR~ GS-7 SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) at the baccalaureate level in the qualifying curriculum detailed above is fully qualifying. Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below. To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following. TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED - If you do not submit your transcript (official or unofficial), your application may not be reviewed. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision. A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. For a list of recognized honor societies please visit http://www.achsnatl.org/quick_link.asp. 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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