The Health Science Specialist, (R&D Safety and Operations Officer (RSOO) serves within Research Service, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network, VISN 22, Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Long Beach, CA.

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 VALBHS supports a large research enterprise within the Department of Veterans Affairs and hosts significant activities in all four VA research programs, including Research Career Scientist, Career Development, Cooperative Studies, and regular Merit Review offerings as well as integration with research supported by the VA-associated research foundation, Southern California Institute for Research and Education (SCIRE). Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Works closely with the Administrative Officer R&D for planning and execution of all space management. Works with all the investigators and their research staff, assisting them in the analysis and resolution of operating and management problems in order to maintain a safe and operationally sound research environment. Development of Policies and Procedures: Monitors and develops all safety programs of the Research Service. Implements all standards mandated by the various regulatory agencies within the Research Service. Develops policies and procedures for organizing the laboratory space including initiation of new laboratories, decommission of laboratories after departure of investigators, and organizations of common research facilities including common equipment, core facilities and animal care facilities. Develops policies and procedures for management of core facilities and common equipment including training research staff on the use of the equipment, organizing schedule of use, establish billing and collection procedures if needed, arrange for maintenances of equipment, and supervise research staff in using the core facilities. Ensures high performance of research operations. Maintains efficient communications with various offices and departments within VALBHS such as with engineering, occupational health, police, contracting office, education department and executive leadership. Emergency Response: Develops procedures to deal with minor spills and releases of hazardous substances in the Research Service and works with medical center personnel in response to major spills in research areas. Acts as the Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Coordinator for the Research Service. Tests periodically the readiness of staff by conducting emergency or unscheduled drills. Compliance Designation and Duties: Serves as the Research Chemical Hygiene Officer, the Research Biosafety and Biosecurity Officer, the Alternate Responsible Official for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Select Agents Program (if applicable), and the Service Safety Coordinator for the VALBHS Safety Program. Performs or coordinates inspections of all research laboratories according to established timelines specified in SOPs. Reviews all research protocol submissions for the use of chemical, biological and physical hazards. Research Program Inspection: Manages all aspects of preparing for and responding to all internal and external safety and space inspections involving the Research Service. Serves as the service representative to inspectors accompanying them on all site visit activities. Research Space Planning and Management: Oversees effective and equitable allocation of assignable research space to facilitate the independent research programs of PIs at VALBHS. Oversees maintenance of the Research Space Database. Coordinates with Engineering Service, Facility Space Committee, Clinical Services as needed in matters of research space allocation, reconstruction/repairs, and impacts of research operations on other services. Serves as the Research Service lead representative for all design and construction projects involving research space. Coordinates with the Administrative Officer for Research to secure resources needed (e.g., moving/maintenance contracts, repairs, etc.). Serves as the designated Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for contracts involving space and/or safety. Oversees security of the research facilities as a liaison between Police and Engineering. Reviews access logs and mitigates vulnerabilities. ***Preferred: have the knowledge and experience to be a Registered Biosafety Professional or Certified Biological Safety Professional*** Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Telework: May be available upon supervisor's approval. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: "Having program management experience in a healthcare research program". and ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. and BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT -Applicants must have a bachelor's degree (or higher) with major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Specialized Experience- In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must also possess the specialized experience to qualify for this position as described below. Specialized Experience GS-13: having one (1) year of specialized experience equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Health Science Specialist position. To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to the GS-12 level in Federal Service. Specialized experience is having expert knowledge of analytical and evaluative methods plus a thorough understanding of how regulatory programs are administered to select and apply appropriate program evaluation and measurement techniques; determines the extent of compliance with rules and regulations issued by the agency, or in measuring and evaluating program accomplishments; has technical understanding of the safe performance of research on/with biological substances, hazardous chemicals, laboratory gases, and use of radioisotopes or radiation producing, machines in the laboratory setting, familiarity with experimental design, and laboratory organization and/or construction; mastery of formulation, writing, and implementation of policies and procedures for delivery of services, whether through existing programmatic activities and staffing or other means within the constraints of existing resources, broad service goals and a wide variety of applicable regulations and ever changing and increasing regulatory; translates as applicable to research the Code of Federal Regulations, (CFR), CDC, agency handbooks and directives and recommendations from site visits by Office of Research Oversight (ORO), OHSA, etc. into program goals, actions, and services; retains a high level of proficiency with use for various computer programs; and ability to master agency and research program compliance databases. (This experience must be documented in your resume). You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: ComplianceOrganizational AwarenessPlanning and EvaluatingSafety Engineering 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, although some physical effort may be required. No special physical demands although it may involve some walking, standing, bending, or carrying of light items such as binders, books, instructional materials, and thick files. Concentration and sustained performance under prolonged stress is required due to time factors involved and the nature of work. The Health Science Specialist has a strong understanding of the requirements for entering research space including research laboratories, clinical research, and animal research unit. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. 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.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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).

Contacts

• Address Long Beach ORD VISN 22 5901 East Seventh Street Long Beach, CA 90822 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]