Program Specialist - Research Grants Manager

Summary This position is located at the VA Western New York Healthcare System (VAWNYHS), Buffalo, NY, and is organizationally aligned under the Research & Development (R&D) Service. Duties ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The primary responsibility of the Grant Manager is to manage the Research & Development Grants Application Program and identify/analyze problems as they pertain to the management of new and active Federal Grants within the Enterprise Project Management Information System (ePROMISe), the Just-In-Time (JIT) System, and the eRA Commons System. Provides expert advice to investigators in the in the electronic grant application submission process and resolution of submission problems in the eRA Commons, Grants.gov Adobe Professional and other grant submission software and databases. Serves as a consultant to management and Research Investigators regarding grant management strategies and techniques and ensures compliance with federal regulations. Manages all aspects of budget and Human Resources (HR) processes to facilitate grant related transactions. Oversees and monitors data entry in the ePromise, RAFT, RDIS and JIT programs. Performs in-depth review and compilation of committee/subcommittee approvals of required documents for VA funded projects. Collects and analyzes data to prepare a variety of reports for research and facility leadership and VA Central Office. Analyzes and reviews grant accounts to determine what additions, modifications and deletions to data bases are needed. Conducts special studies to resolve a wide variety of administrative problems that arise in the operation of a research program. Performs outreach activities designed to grow the research program. Maintains up-to-date information on all research investigators and annual administrative progress reports on all research protocols. Acts as a liaison with Office of Research and Development and university affiliate; And All other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved 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 To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must meet one of the following requirements: Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) in Federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is (1) performing grant administrative duties, (2) interpreting existing federal grant policies and monitoring and reviewing grant proposals for accuracy, (3) coordinating with research administrative staff and Human Resources to facilitate grant-related transactions, (4) providing guidance and information to leadership regarding grant management issues (6) advising on budget and proposal preparation to principal investigators and research staff and (7) utilizing IRBNet software to support Research & Development Service committees and subcommittees. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week. ~OR~ Education: In order to substitute education for experience, you must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: You must have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience that may be used to meet total experience requirements. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Analysis and Problem Solving Customer Service Project Management Technical Competence 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 performed in an office environment and requires alternating periods of walking and sedentary work. Manual dexterity is required for operating office equipment. Typing and computer operation may involve long periods of hand and wrist movement. 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.