Program Specialist

Company: US Veterans Health Administration
Location: Decatur
Posted on: June 25, 2022

Job Description:

Duties This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-9. At the GS-7 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-9. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Major Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Responsible for the management of animal research and safety components of research applications submitted for review and demonstrates judgment, as well as analytical, organizational, and time management skills.
• Gives technical support and guidance on regulatory matters during meetings and takes complex meeting minutes describing in detail the committee deliberations outline of controverted issues and their resolutions, scientific justification and ethical principles analyzed and reviewed by the committee prepares committee minutes of each committee meeting that summarize the review of each protocol and other issues discussed in committee.
• Develops and maintains operational policies and procedures for the efficient processing of research, educational and other proposals involving the use of animal subjects and hazardous materials.
• Applies strong organizational skills and effective teamwork skills to manage a large volume of protocol submissions, deadlines, and customer expectations; completes critical and comprehensive pre-review of animal research and safety submissions, seeks clarification or alteration of the submission from researchers, and makes independent determinations or presents recommendations to the IACUC.
• Assists in managing the Just in Time (JIT) (Pre-Award) System for the Atlanta VA Research System ensuring that all relevant grant information is entered into the JIT document management system for processing of the documents that must be submitted.
• Prepares reviews and/or monitors training by providing consultation to investigators regarding federal and state regulations and facility policies and procedures governing the use of animal subjects in research and education in order to facilitate the review and approval of their applications.
• Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized 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. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required 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
  • 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 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. In order to qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following: Superior Academic Achievement: (SAA) at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed below is 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 related to and qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following: 1. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. (NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Transcript must show a degree was conferred in order to qualify on SAA.) -OR- Specialized Experience at the GS-7 level: Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) in federal service, involving the performance of administrative and management work or equivalent, in the normal line of progression for the occupation, that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes experience applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature; experience utilizing regulatory information regarding the use of animal subjects in research and education; and experience utilizing a variety of computer software packages to write clear, precise, detailed, comprehensive and grammatically correct technical letters, memos, reports and training materials. (NOTE: Your experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates, AND hours worked per week.) -OR- Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute graduate education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level, you must possess 1 full year of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Master's degree. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Program Specialist. (NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.) -OR- Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Program Specialist. (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:
    • Educational Experience (ACWA)
    • Mathematical Skills (ACWA)
    • Rating (ACWA)
    • Social Organizations (ACWA)
    • Work Experience (ACWA) 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. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional information Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of sedentary work as well as standing and walking. Manual dexterity is needed for computer operation and preparation of materials and files for committee operations. Extensive computer work and document examination require good near vision. Preparation of copies and IACUC files, as well as setting up for meetings requires occasional lifting and bending. Preparation of pre-meeting notebooks and other materials. Work is typically performed in an office setting. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. May require occasional travel.Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at .The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a VA job announcement includes language requiring applicants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply to this Job Announcement. VA may request information regarding your vaccination status, if selected, for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
      • 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. How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:
        • Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
        • Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
        • Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
        • Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors. Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher). It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
          • 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.
          • Required Documents As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies. IMPORTANT: Please ensure your resume include up-to-date contact information (phone number(s), email address(s), etc.) To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
            • Resume The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
              • Cover Letter
              • DD-214/ Statement of Service
              • Disability Letter (VA)
              • OF-306
              • Other (1)
              • Other (2)

Keywords: US Veterans Health Administration, Atlanta , Program Specialist, Other , Decatur, Georgia