Health Science Specialist

Summary Employee will be assigned to Medical Research Services, Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA. The primary purpose of the position is to apply health services research, public health practice, project management, as well as administration and evaluation expertise to the design, implementation, and analysis of research and quality improvement projects. 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 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 may not be limited to the following: Project Leadership: provides operational leadership and coordination for the implementation of VA research and quality improvement projects as directed, according to the principles set forth by the Center of Innovation and study Principal Investigators. Handles project questions and problems independently in coordination with the Principal Investigator. Manages timelines and deliverables for successful completion of the projects, writes research policies, guidelines and procedures, and other documents, facilitating compliance with all regulatory and administrative requirements. Monitors the activities of all sites to maximize achievement of scientific aims of their assigned projects, including issues of accuracy of data and accrual of project participants. Management of Local Health Services R&D Programs: works closely with the Principal Investigators and project sites to develop and implement procedures for data collection and management, to identify information technology (IT) needs and to coordinate scientific management; identifies data access, management and storage requirements; and organizes the response to scientific (merit) review and evaluation of research programs. Monitors compliance with program requirements, conducts program assessments, and prepares reports. Procurement/Contracting/Fiscal Management: ensures timely execution of all study-related research contracts; manages contracts for logistics, services and personnel; coordinates the acquisition of supplies, equipment and services; originates and manages Intergovernmental Personnel Agreements (IPAs) with affiliate institutions and non-profit agencies. Supervision of Research Personnel: develops appropriate work plans based on broad consultation with study Principal Investigators regarding priorities and overall project needs; oversees Study/Project Coordinators, Research/Program Assistants, support staff, assisting the Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators to monitor their work and set priorities; plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, consideration of the difficulty of work and capabilities of employees. Identifies and arranges for development and training needs of staff. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: 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 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 dentification 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. Qualifications BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT - Applicants must possess a Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree with 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS - In addition to meeting the above requirement, you must also meet one of the additional requirements as described below to qualify for this position. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE - Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped them with the knowledge, skill and ability to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes: providing project management services essential to the direction and operation of a clinical/health services research program to include budget/fiscal management and oversight of staff and human resources requirements; collecting and analyzing data to ensure the effectiveness of research program operations; identifying and arranging for staff development and training; ensuring research studies are conducted in accordance with applicable guidelines and regulations; and utilizing software programs to formulate presentations, maintain and manipulate databases, and prepare reports. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) - Successful completion of 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree with a major in a field appropriate to the work of this position that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work is qualifying at the GS-11 grade level. OR COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) - Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Administration and Management Project Management Research 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, although some slight physical effort may be required. There is periodic walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as 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/. 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 Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits 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.