The Health Systems Specialist whose working title is Research Compliance Officer (RCO) will coordinate research compliance assurance activities and perform assessment and adherence to established research compliance policies and procedures at the Washington DC VA Medical Center.

Duties

The Health Systems Specialist - Research Compliance Officer (RCO) provides executive oversight for the collaboration of and with Principal Investigators (PIs) and research personnel to ensure that all research activities are conducted ethically. The incumbent(s) assume a substantial and continuous responsibility for the development, implementation and oversight of Washington DC VAMC research quality management programs. The RCO uses an analytical framework to ensure that research protocols submitted to the Washington DC VAMC R&DC are compliant with VHA and other policies and federal regulations. Major duties and responsibilities include: Conduct ongoing educational sessions to research staff on the VA, IRB, IACUC, SRS, and IBC submission process. Forecasts new knowledge needs for changing practice of research environments/population groups. Provides executive oversight for the development, evaluation, and implementation of educational programs for professional nurses, principal investigators and research staff. Provides oversight for the systematic evaluation and improvement of the quality and effectiveness of research practice(s). Responsible for the administration of audits of research protocols, aid in the development of corrective action plans and the education of staff and PIs based on audit results. Collaborates with PIs and research staff across all disciplines to ensure protection of human subjects, research animals, and all research personnel. Assure that research practices are consistent with external standards, relevant clinical practice standards and protocols, and other Federal and state regulations applicable to research, and internal standards. Communicates verbally and in writing with researchers to advise them on policy matters, process issues, and procedural requirements for conducting research involving humans, animals and basic science. Reviews research projects involving human subjects, including thorough review of all informed consent documents. Develops procedures and systems for establishing, operating, and assessing the effectiveness of compliance control systems and the accomplishment of audits, inspections, or management of internal control reviews. Performs audits/inspections and forwards action items to the responsible entitles. Evaluates Research Service policies and SOPs and ensures compliance with applicable federal regulations and accreditation requirements. Participates, as needed, in accreditation visits and other site visits. Ensures and maintains compliance with laws and regulations related to bio-safety, privacy and information security. Participates in reviews of research matters involving Conflict of Interest. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Virtual: This is a virtual position within the local commuting area. The incumbent is required to report to the facility, as needed, to conduct site visits. Position Description/PD#: Health Systems Specialist (Compliance Officer)/PD18031-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): May be authorized for highly qualified applicants. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/24/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 grade level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. GS-12 Minimum Qualifications: Do you possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal Service that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Health Systems Specialist (Compliance Officer)? Qualifying specialized experience is defined as: progressively responsible analytical or administrative, or clinical management or supervisory experience in the health care field. This work may have been performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities. Work must have involved a close working relationship with facility managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities, and provided knowledge of the following: (1) Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; (2) Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and (3) Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementAnalytical ThinkingAudit ReportingResearch 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be physically active to meet the need to carry records, visit, and evaluate research sites. Work Environment: The work environment typically involves everyday risks or discomfort, which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, and libraries. However, the work may involve moderate risks or discomforts, which require special safety precautions, e.g., working in laboratories with irritant chemicals, animals, or infectious diseases. The incumbent may be required to use protective clothing or gear, such as masks, gowns, ear plugs, coats, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields to moderate risks, or to follow procedures for minimizing risk. Travel may be required on a limited basis. The ability to adjust to changes in procedure, work pressures, and deadlines is also required. 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Washington VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20422 US
• Name: Steven Ton
• Phone: 909-683-4072
• Email: [email protected]