Health System Specialist

The incumbent is responsible for management of regulatory committees and provides subject matter expertise regarding the underlying regulations in ensuring compliance in research. The position requires a high level of analytical and procedural skill to perform a variety of complex tasks related to approval and maintenance of research projects. Typical duties include but are not limited to:

• Manages regulatory committees and provides subject matter expertise regarding the underlying regulations to ensure compliance in research.
• Ensures human subject research is reviewed approved and conducted in accordance with appropriate Federal State organizational regulations and any applicable guidelines or standards.
• Serves as an advisory capacity to the Research & Development Leadership research investigators research committee members and research committee chairs and others on issues relative to carrying out the institutions research activities involving the use of humans animals and safety procedures for investigative purposes.
• Oversees the protocol review process of multiple programs and committees.
• Develops and manages required annual and semi-annual reviews of assigned programs.
• Conducts analyses involving high risk/high visibility issues that directly impact the reputation of the research program.
• Prepares and distributes letters with the determinations of the 3 principal committees of the RPP in the research dedicated software.
• Prepares the Agenda of the SRSS meetings. Attends the 3 main committees meetings of the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) one each month or more often if necessary to take notes translate and transcribe into Minutes.
  

This is a bargaining unit position.

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.

Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: This position may be authorized for ad hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Ad hoc is defined as occasional non-recurring telework.
Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to the in-person work mandate in their current position.
Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA-owned or leased space.
Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in-person work unless they are approved for an exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception exemption or extension will happen after a tentative job offer but before a final job offer.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD47196A PD99493S and PD99586S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized.

• 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: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public 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.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 07/27/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: 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. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 level; for a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 level; and for GS-11 you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9 level. 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 this instance you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year 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.

Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) are knowledge skills and abilities/competencies that could be expected to significantly enhance performance in a position but are not essential for satisfactory performance. Applicants who possess such KSAs/competencies may be ranked above those who do not but no one may be rated ineligible solely for failure to possess such KSAs/competencies.

Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) for this position is Proficiency in English and Spanish language written and spoken.

Preferred Experience: Experience in research human subjects protection program coordination.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS-7:

• Specialized Experience. You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-5) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: experience in research human subjects protection program coordination; experience with protocol review of multiple programs and committees ensuring projects are reviewed by appropriate personnel; experience monitoring quality assurance program and indicators designed to prevent erroneous transactions and ineffective work practices and to verify adherence to quality assurance plans and requirements; developing data capture and reporting procedures to track progress; and educating committee chairpersons and members on regulatory policies and procedures.

OR

• Education. 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement (top 3rd of graduating class GPA of 3.0 or higher or election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (TRANSCRIPTS and/or evidence of class rank or membership required).

OR

• Combination. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

GS-9:

• Specialized Experience. You must have one year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include but are not limited to: experience in research human subjects protection program coordination; coordinating activities for multiple research-focused committees. This involves work measurement task analysis and job structuring productivity charting flowcharting of work processes and statistical measures. Knowledge of ethical principles laws regulations and policies governing the review and approval of human subject research; Provides support to investigators submitting research protocols and assists them in responding to critiques.

OR

• Education. A masters or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. related to the work of this position(TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

OR

• Combination. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

GS-11:

• Specialized Experience. You must have one year of Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include but are not limited to: experience in research human subjects protection program coordination; experience in a high-paced large medical facility that required assisting professional staff and handles administrative functions of the office; overall management of regulatory committees within a research program in a healthcare environment where research involves both human and animal subjects. This involves providing a high level of analytical and procedural skills to perform tasks related to the approval and progression of research projects. Ensures that all respective committee actions and procedures are within the scope of all applicable regulations - local organization-wide and those enforced by other Federal agencies. Ability to oversee the protocol reviews of multiple programs and committees ensuring projects are reviewed appropriately.

OR

• Education. a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. related to the work of this position (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

OR

• Combination. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management
• Project Management
• Research
• Critical Thinking

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. It occasionally requires carrying of light objects such as files books and papers; some walking standing and bending. No special physical qualifications are required.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at

Required Experience:

IC