Supervisory Health Science Specialist

This position is located at the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare system, within the Investigative Services Center. The incumbent coordinates support of clinical, rehabilitation, health services and basic science medical research administration and programming. The research supported is conducted in humans (including human data or cells) and animals aimed at improving health or reducing disease in the Veteran population.

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 4 years). Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration (more than 1 year but not more than 4). Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Term appointments may be extended without further competition (up to the 4 year maximum). The appointment to a Term position does not confer eligibility for promotion or reassignment to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment.

Duties include but are not limited to the following.

Development Support 30%
Directs and implements activities and policies associated with the ancillary services needed by investigators to conduct quality research. The staffer serves as the technical expert and development officer working to ensure grant submissions, contract submissions, Clinical trial efforts and collaboration with the nonprofit (GLAVREF).

Scientific Scan Oversight 25%
Administratively responsible for drafting templates and procedures, along with evaluative criteria, for the service wide Scientific Content Analysis (SCAN), which is an assessment method that is currently used by investigative authorities to check each component of a grant (i.e., the budget, the IRB or IACUC section, the methodological plan and the feasibility of the science).

Supervision and Management 25%
As the Supervisor, the employee has the authority to Plan work to be accomplished; set priorities and prepare work schedules; assign work based on the priorities and capabilities of subordinate staff; develop Performance Standards and conduct Performance Evaluations and sign as the Supervisor; give advice, counsel, and instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters; interview candidates for positions in the unit; recommend appointment, promotion, or reassignment; hear and resolve complaints; referring group complaints and major concerns to higher level manager or supervisor; effect minor disciplinary actions: warnings (counseling) and reprimands; recommending other action in more serious cases; identify development and training needs; arranging for training.

Auditing and Quality Improvement 20%
Independently leads and coordinates the planning, conducting, and reporting of assigned
audits including Clinical Investigator Site, Trial/Program, External Service Provider,
Process/System, and Local Operating audits, to assure adherence to VA policies, internal
standards/requirements and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Work Schedule: Full Time, 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

To apply for this position, you must have the following qualifications:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

AND

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Must have a Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. Note: You must provide a copy of your transcripts to receive consideration.

AND

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically related to the work of the position. Specialized experience includes providing coordination of investigator support services by leading grant and contract submission activities, administering scientific content analyses, and overseeing methodological training programs that enhance research quality and compliance; managing staff and workload priorities, conducting audits and quality-improvement reviews, and applying knowledge of federal research regulations, data systems, and operational standards to ensure efficient and compliant research in one or more areas such as clinical, rehabilitation, or basic science programs

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Conflict Management
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Manages Resources
• Partnering
• Planning and Evaluating

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.

Physical Requirements: The work is mainly sedentary however, efforts may require walking or some driving to arrive at other sites and meeting locations. 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 records, files, instructional material, books and manuals. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

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/.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.