Health Science Specialist

Job highlights
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Qualifications
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
You may be required to serve a probationary period
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 201+ (COVID-1+) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details
BASIC EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT: A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree with a major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences, or allied sciences that is appropriate to the work of this position
This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S
Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-07: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the position
To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in Federal service
Specialized experience includes: maintaining databases; assisting supervisor/lead with managing routines, day-to-day activities, and the administration of a research project; working with spreadsheets and databases and compiling written reports from said data; and responding to general inquiries from staff and stakeholders
This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit
SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHEIVEMENT (SAA): A bachelor's degree with SAA fully qualifying
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 2.+5 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 3.45 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
One year of graduate education that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position?
One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study
If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement
Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended
A combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position
Your experience must be detailed in your resume and transcripts required
Database Administration
Information Technology Research and Development
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
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)
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary with occasional walking, standing, and handling and carrying items such as paper and books
The work is performed in a research setting requiring no special considerations beyond accepted standards of safety
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
Benefits
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)
Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment
Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package
As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent
Responsibilities
The employee is responsible for managing clinical tests, collecting data, and recruiting and managing subjects for clinical trials
The Health Science Specialist provides high level technical support for projects in a comprehensive research setting and provides day-to-day support for the VA Research Program
*THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***
Manages Clinical Tests and Collects Data
Learn to draw blood samples from patients;
Manage implementation, control, and reporting on clinical tests;
Implement data collection and monitor protocols for clinical research studies;
Maintain all study and regulatory records;
Prepare project and statistical reports for the review process;
Assist with data collection and analysis from a variety of sources, including databases and spreadsheets, and conceive and write reports as needed;
Monitor data collection processes ensuring data integrity and completeness;
Maintains research databases, working with existing VA administrative databases, and managing spreadsheet files for data tracking, budget tracking, and other project management tracking tasks
Recruits and Manages Candidates for Clinical Trials
Oversee, screen, and evaluate recruitment of candidates for clinical research studies via telephone and/or in person;
Oversee recruitment and enrollment of participants, providing information on study objectives and constraints;
Perform informed consent process throughout the study and continuously educate participants on study processes and procedures;
Obtain verbal and/or written informed consent, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization, and background demographic information (as needed) from patients ensuring that the process adheres to HIPAA, information security and other federal regulations regarding confidentiality and the conduct of human subjects' research;
Manages subject reimbursements and travel
Research Project Support
Work with minimal supervision;
Assist supervisor with managing the routine, day-to-day activities, and administration of the project;
Plan, develop, complete, and submit on time all required documentation/ paperwork/forms for initial and continuing human subject s review;
Review guidance, policies, and procedures to maintain regulatory compliance;
Monitor project progress and timelines as required;
Respond to general inquiries from program participants, staff, and other stakeholders;
Draft correspondence, general communication, memoranda, and reports;
Schedule meetings, including scheduling meeting space, notifying participants, preparing the agenda and minutes and following-up on all commitments to ensure that necessary arrangements have been made;
Assist in determining whether funds are being expended in accordance with study goals and budgets
Manage participant compensation, maintain compensation records, and prepare invoices or electronic funds transfer for reimbursement of participants;
Develop clinical research standard operating procedures and policies including those ensuring the protection of human subjects;
Compile and produce educational and training materials, determines contents needed for training binders and tools, supervises production of the educational and/or training tools and materials;
Organize and maintain all study documents for management, data, record keeping and/or compliance purposes;
Perform related duties as required
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
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
Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities
There may be occasion needs to assist study participants with mobility to study locations
Some travel will be required
There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or during program/project visits
Job description
Summary

This position is located in the Office of Research and Development (ORD) of the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach, FL. The employee is responsible for managing clinical tests, collecting data, and recruiting and managing subjects for clinical trials. The Health Science Specialist provides high level technical support for projects in a comprehensive research setting and provides day-to-day support for the VA Research Program.

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

Manages Clinical Tests and Collects Data
• Learn to draw blood samples from patients;
• Manage implementation, control, and reporting on clinical tests;
• Implement data collection and monitor protocols for clinical research studies;
• Maintain all study and regulatory records;
• Prepare project and statistical reports for the review process;
• Assist with data collection and analysis from a variety of sources, including databases and spreadsheets, and conceive and write reports as needed;
• Monitor data collection processes ensuring data integrity and completeness;
• Maintains research databases, working with existing VA administrative databases, and managing spreadsheet files for data tracking, budget tracking, and other project management tracking tasks.

Recruits and Manages Candidates for Clinical Trials
• Oversee, screen, and evaluate recruitment of candidates for clinical research studies via telephone and/or in person;
• Oversee recruitment and enrollment of participants, providing information on study objectives and constraints;
• Perform informed consent process throughout the study and continuously educate participants on study processes and procedures;
• Obtain verbal and/or written informed consent, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization, and background demographic information (as needed) from patients ensuring that the process adheres to HIPAA, information security and other federal regulations regarding confidentiality and the conduct of human subjects' research;
• Manages subject reimbursements and travel.

Research Project Support
• Work with minimal supervision;
• Assist supervisor with managing the routine, day-to-day activities, and administration of the project;
• Plan, develop, complete, and submit on time all required documentation/ paperwork/forms for initial and continuing human subject s review;
• Review guidance, policies, and procedures to maintain regulatory compliance;
• Monitor project progress and timelines as required;
• Respond to general inquiries from program participants, staff, and other stakeholders;
• Draft correspondence, general communication, memoranda, and reports;
• Schedule meetings, including scheduling meeting space, notifying participants, preparing the agenda and minutes and following-up on all commitments to ensure that necessary arrangements have been made;
• Assist in determining whether funds are being expended in accordance with study goals and budgets. Manage participant compensation, maintain compensation records, and prepare invoices or electronic funds transfer for reimbursement of participants;
• Develop clinical research standard operating procedures and policies including those ensuring the protection of human subjects;
• Compile and produce educational and training materials, determines contents needed for training binders and tools, supervises production of the educational and/or training tools and materials;
• Organize and maintain all study documents for management, data, record keeping and/or compliance purposes;
• Perform related duties as required.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.

NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 2 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.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized.

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI):

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.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment
• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1+5+
• 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 201+ (COVID-1+) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

BASIC EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT: A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree with a major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences, or allied sciences that is appropriate to the work of this position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Transcripts required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-07: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in Federal service. Specialized experience includes: maintaining databases; assisting supervisor/lead with managing routines, day-to-day activities, and the administration of a research project; working with spreadsheets and databases and compiling written reports from said data; and responding to general inquiries from staff and stakeholders. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. :OR:

SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHEIVEMENT (SAA): A bachelor's degree with SAA 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:
• 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 2.+5 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 3.45 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 regarding SAA please visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp#e4f. :OR:

One year of graduate education that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position? One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Transcripts required. :OR:

A combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Your experience must be detailed in your resume and transcripts required.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
• Communications
• Database Administration
• Information Technology Research and Development

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 primarily sedentary with occasional walking, standing, and handling and carrying items such as paper and books. There may be occasion needs to assist study participants with mobility to study locations. Some travel will be required. The work is performed in a research setting requiring no special considerations beyond accepted standards of safety. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or during program/project visits.

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

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 11+3.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-1+ 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-1+ 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.

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• Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

West Palm Beach ORD VISN 8

7305 North Military Trail

West Palm Beach, FL 33410

US

United States
Florida
West Palm Beach Show on map Get directions