Health System Specialist
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Summary
This position is within the Office of Research and Development (ORD) at VA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The position serves as a Health System Specialist within the Partnered Research Program (PRP),a large-scale research effort, reporting to the Director of Partnered Research Programs (D-PRP)
in the Enterprise Optimization (EO) unit.
**This vacancy may be filled in Washington, DC or at a VA facility or other VA-leased space.**
Overview
- Accepting applications
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Open & closing dates
01/13/2025 to 01/21/2025
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Salary
$88,621 - $171,268 per year
Salary will be adjusted upon selection, based on location.
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Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
- Help
Locations
2 vacancies in the following locations:
- Washington, DC
- Location Negotiable After Selection
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Remote job
No
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Telework eligible
Yes—Per NCR guidance must report to office location at least 50% of a pay period. Hiring manager may adjust at their discretion to require more than 50%.
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Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
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Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
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Appointment type
Permanent
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Work schedule
Full-time
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Service
Competitive
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Promotion potential
13
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Job family (Series)
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Supervisory status
No
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Security clearance
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Drug test
No
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Position sensitivity and risk
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Trust determination process
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Financial disclosure
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Bargaining unit status
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Announcement number
CBZY-12662006-25-DMW
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Control number
827742700
This job is open to
- Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of this agency.
- Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
Clarification from the agency
1st AOC-Current station 127 Employees 2nd AOC-VA Wide Employees Those eligible for CTAP may apply.
Videos
Duties
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 level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
This is a list of examples and not all inclusive of the duties required for this position:
- The position provides support on standing ad hoc areas of responsibility, including in the areas of program representation, basic negotiation, marketing, compliance, and scientific fidelity.
- Reviewing long-and short-range plans, resource projections, priorities, justifications, etc.
- Project managing, where appropriate, to facilitate communications, research operational and regulatory requirements
- Guiding industry partners based on experience and expertise regarding use of confidential Disclosure Agreements (CDAs) and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs).
- Consulting with VA legal officers when issues arise that are not detailed in existing SOPs.
- Managing a portfolio of assigned activities that includes record management related to progress, outcomes and overall key details that support broader program goals.
- Advising on budgetary/financial requirements and processes for the proper conduct of clinical studies.
- Properly communicating and preparing documents and materials in support of such communications on study activities or challenges that require action and support.
- Collecting and analyzing key metrics related to program performance and adherence to program's Standard Operating Procedures,
- Reviewing project data to prepare reports on trends and alerts related to industry engagement, study start up timelines, and issues impacting or significantly delaying projected performance.
Work Schedule: 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible: at hiring managers discretion
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. **Per NCR guidance must report to office location at least 50% of a pay period. Hiring manager may adjust at their discretion to require more than 50%.**
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD46729A and PD46728A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
Please read all of the below information carefully before applying.
You must meet TIG, IOR, SPF, and specialized experience to be considered for this position.
Time-In-Grade Requirement (TIG):
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. To qualify at the GS-12 you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. To qualify at the GS-13 you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. **Award SF50s do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.**
Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR)-Basic Requirement: In order to meet the basic requirement, you must possess one of the following:
Undergraduate or Graduate Education: Major study - hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration.**Transcripts are required**
Selective Placement Factor (SPF)
***The candidate is required to have this skill upon hiring. If the candidate does not have the skill they will be screened out and made ineligible for consideration***
A minimum of 1 year of experience working in one or more aspects of VA clinical trials, including but not limited to any of the following: Site Start-up; Regulatory Coordination, Study Coordination, Budget and/or CRADA negotiation, training and education and/or process improvement. This factor is critical as the incumbent must have a thorough understanding of VA and other regulations.
Specialized Experience: In addition to the IOR/basic requirement above you must also have one year of specialized experience.
GS-12 Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR) above you must also have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
Examples of specialized experience include:
In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet 3/5 of the following examples of specialized experience.
- Managing a portfolio of assigned research activities and projects.
- Participating in activities designed to strengthen industry and intra-agency partnerships.
- Educating sponsors, VA field research offices, affiliated NPCs, investigators, staff and/or clinical research organizations on VA research functions, procedures, and requirements.
- Development and/or maintenance of research related Standard Operating Procedures, templates, and other work aids.
- Working with other VHA and VA offices and personnel to develop, support and maintain efforts designed to increase clinical trial efficiency.
Examples of specialized experience include:
In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet 5/7 of the following examples of specialized experience.
- Managing a portfolio of assigned research activities and projects.
- Participating in activities designed to strengthen industry and intra-agency partnerships.
- Educating sponsors, VA field research offices, affiliated NPCs, investigators, staff and/or clinical research organizations on VA research functions, procedures, and requirements.
- Development and/or maintenance of research related Standard Operating Procedures, templates, and other work aids.
- Working with other VHA and VA offices and personnel to develop, support and maintain efforts designed to increase clinical trial efficiency.
- Preparing reports for various intra-agency and industry stakeholders, in response to Congressional, VA/VHA or other requests, etc.
- Assisting the in the implementation of program level evaluation and process improvement activities.
Note: Evidence of specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held on your resume. You must provide work experience information such as hours per week, salary, and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish you have one (1) full year of Specialized Experience at or comparable to the required grade level.
. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Customer Service
- Manages and Organizes Information
- Planning and Evaluating
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; religions; 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.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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.
Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there
may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items, such as papers, books, or small parts.
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/.
Education
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Resume
- Transcript
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
- Other (1)
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):
- Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
- An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
- Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
- Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
- Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
- Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
- SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/21/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12662006.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
Agency contact information
- Address
- VHA Central Office - Discovery, Education and Affliate Networks
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20420
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.