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Supervisory Research Health Science Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

This position is located at the Charles George VA Medical Center (CGVAMC) in Research Service. Responsible for supervising all Research Health Science Specialist. Manage clinical tests and collect data, recruit, and manage subjects for clinical trials and provide high level technical support of projects in a comprehensive research setting, providing day-to-day support for the VA Research Program and works independently, in conformance with established practices and prescribed procedures.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/05/2026 to 02/10/2026
Salary
$89,508 to - $116,362 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Asheville, NC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBTA-12879304-26-AL
Control number
856703500

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Duties

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The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Supervisory Duties

  • Supervises Research Health Science Specialists working on studies in the CSP and Operational Studies Portfolio at the CGVAMC site.
  • Provides technical and administrative supervision to a unit of GS7-GS11 Research Health Science Specialists.
  • Oversees the daily operation of the unit, ensures that agency policies and priorities are being followed; develops performance standards; and evaluates work performance of subordinates.
  • Interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommends appointments, promotions, and reassignments to unit positions; identifies and provides for training needs; and finds ways to improve production or increase the quality of work within the area of authority.
Manages Clinical Tests and Collects Data
  • Manage implementation, control and reporting on clinical tests.
  • Implement data collection and monitor protocols for difficult clinical research studies.
  • Administer or monitor administration of tests and measurements required by project design.
  • Record data from samples and specimens to ensure that all tracking data is organized and is monitored during the progress of the study.
  • Identify test results and trends requiring further analysis.
  • Maintain all study and regulatory records.
Recruits and Manages Candidates for Clinical Trials
  • Oversee, screen, and evaluate recruitment of candidates for clinical research studies via telephone and/or in person.
  • Use objective rating techniques to identify potential candidates for participation in study where project design is complex.
  • 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.
Research Project Support
  • 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.
  • Analyze processes and documentation to ensure compliance with all technical, regulatory requirements, and information safety regulations. Regularly review guidance, policies, and procedures to maintain regulatory compliance.
  • Conduct quality assurance evaluations for project data and clinical research instruments, as applicable. Establish and monitor remediation plans to correct deficiencies.
  • Performs a variety of duties to maintain specialized data and implement study design.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Research Health Science Specialist/PD044700
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized

Requirements

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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
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/10/2026.

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. 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.

Highly Preferred Requirement: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in any science related field.

All applicants must meet the following Basic Education Requirement:

Basic Education Requirement: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements generally as stated in paragraph A in the individual occupational requirements. NOTE: You must submit copies of transcripts at the time of application. Education will not be credited without documentation.

AND

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement, to qualify for the GS-12 level, you must meet one of the following requirements:

  • 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: performing data gathering and analysis to support clinical research. Directing and overseeing all research related infrastructure, project maintenance and growth of research goals and funding. Managing study documentation and forms. Providing data to the collaborating research organizations or study sponsors. Preparing data reports for presentation and discussion; providing statistical analysis of data pulls.
OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. NOTE: You must submit copies of transcripts at the time of application. Education will not be credited without documentation.
OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond graduate level.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Lead or Supervise
  • Meet deadlines
  • Reliability And Dependability
  • Troubleshooting


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 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 location(s).

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

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/.

Additional information

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.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

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.

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