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. 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 2.95 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/. ["***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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