Health Science Specialist - Clinical Research Coordinator

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (West Los Angeles and Sepulveda) Medical Research Service. This position is a termed Office of Research and Development position established to provide an optimum level of clinical research and program coordination to the West Los Angeles (WLA)VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLAHS) program.

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 NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 3 years). Term appointments are non-status, non-permanent 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. The major duties include but are not limited to: Outlines and defines tasks required to complete each phase of the project, task scheduling, and monitoring timely task completion. Manages focus group coordination and oversight, schedules of focus groups, recruitment of sites and participants, assures timely availability of transcripts, and coordinating analysis. Develops and coordinates the dissemination, compilation, and organization of all administrative aspects of the project, including coordination and management of correspondence, and complex project database maintenance and tracking. Serves as the primary contact with the Central IRB and/or local facility Institutional Review Board (IRB). Tracks written and revised Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications at local and at multiples sites. Tracks cost distribution allocations to assure that study funds and resources are spent appropriately and in a timely manner for every phase of the project. Initiates, tracks, and completes documentation necessary to obtain Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. Prepares, finalizes, and disseminates all correspondence among all the project staff and between project staff and the study sites and research service. Compiles articles for reviews on various topics and assists with report writing for numerous publications and grants. Produces letters, populates various forms and manages other documents, assists in the drafting process of reports and manuscripts, as well as maintain records and research files. Expense reporting, reimbursement management, ordering project supplies and materials, as well as other miscellaneous administrative tasks that may arise over the course of the project. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Qualifications

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: 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. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (external link) at the time the degree was obtained. NOTE: A transcript is required at the time of application and must show date degree conferred. Education cannot be credited without documentation. To qualify at the GS-9 level you must meet one of the following minimum qualification requirements in addition to the basic education requirement above. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Health Science Specialist. Specialized experience includes: coordinating clinical research studies/projects, including managing timelines, tracking milestones, and ensuring compliance with research protocols; preparing, submitting, and tracking Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications; monitoring expenditures and preparing financial reports to track budget and cost allocations; coordinating recruitment, scheduling, and data collection activities for research studies; and using various office software and database systems to maintain records, populate forms, and manage administrative documentation. NOTE: One (1) 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. -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. This education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. NOTE: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. -OR- COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combination of education and specialized experience (described above) may be used to meet total qualification requirements. NOTE: One (1) 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. Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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

IMPORTANT: 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/.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: Physical demands are mostly sedentary, including reading, writing, and using computers. This position may involve driving to other facility sites. In addition, the incumbent will travel to district facilities and professional meetings as need requires. Occasional walking to the library, research office, or other offices is necessary. 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) - See "Required Documents" below for details. 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.