The Research Compliance Officer is responsible for providing strategic direction and developing, implementing and documenting a comprehensive program to ensure compliance of research and development activities conducted. The RCO is primarily concerned with expertise and mastery of research compliances program development to provide guidance and counsel to management on incorporating compliance related activities in the operations of the organization as part of the integrated compliance program.

Duties

Major Duties Program Management/Administration: Ensures Research & Development (R&D) program compliance in the areas of credentialing, training and education of investigators and research staff. Plays a critical role in the preparation and application for accreditation of the facility's Human Research Protection Program (HRPP). Works closely with other departments such the Office of Research Oversight (ORO) regarding review of HRPP activities, including development of remediation plans, initial and follow-up reports. Serves as the primary liaison with outside entities concerning compliance issues in accordance with the "Common Rule" (45 CFR 46) and other regulations and policies of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), State of Utah, and SLCHCS. Animal Studies: Reviews Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) activities, records (including databases and meeting minutes) to ensure compliance with national requirements, including those of the Department of Veterans Affairs Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and NIH. Participates in semi-annual Animal Research Facility walk-through inspections. Participates in the process for American Association for the advancement of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) accreditation. Reviews Research Safety, Biosafety and rDNA Subcommittee Activities, records (including databases and meeting minutes) to ensure compliance with national requirements, including those of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (SSHA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and NIH. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm 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. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist-Research Compliance Officer/PD143530 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/19/2024. 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. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-12: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Research-related expert knowledge and experience in performing verifiable research auditing that utilizes accepted national and VA methods for auditing of research projects. Auditing research required knowledge of nationally recognized auditing and monitoring systems, as well as applicable laws, regulations, and policies. GS-13: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Research-related expert knowledge and experience in performing verifiable research auditing that utilizes accepted national and VA methods for auditing of research projects. Auditing research required knowledge of nationally recognized auditing and monitoring systems, as well as applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Ability to address VA's wide range of research activities (e.g. pharmaceutical, mental health, health services, social sciences, physical health, tumor and tissue research, behavioral and other non-biomedical methods, animal research, and laboratory research); the requirements of the other federal departments and agencies such as the Department of Defense, that may participate in VA in collaborative research undertakings; and the requirements of a variety of sources that may fund VA research (e.g. National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, other federal agencies, the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, and private entities) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementCustomer ServiceLeadershipTechnical Competence 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: No special physical exertion is required other than walking in a large primary facility. The work does require good speaking ability (for training and education purposes) and manual dexterity (computer keyboard skills). The work is primarily performed while sitting though some work requires walking and periods of standing. Occasionally incumbent is required to carry light objects, such as files, mail, laptops, supplies and papers 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.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA SALT LAKE CITY HCS 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: Victoria Becoat
• Phone: 970-263-5042
• Email: [email protected]