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Clinical Trials Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

Summary

This position resides within the National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute and will serve as a Clinical Trial Specialist within the extramural divisions.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/27/2026 to 05/01/2026
Salary
$102,415 - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Montgomery County, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NIH-SR-MP-26-12928735
Control number
866207400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

You must be a current or former federal employee eligible to apply under merit promotion procedures or otherwise be eligible as a status applicant (e.g., Veterans Employment Opportunity Act) OR be an individual who is eligible through an OPM interchange agreement or for a non-competitive appointment. This job is also open to USPHS Commissioned Corps Officers and Call-To-Active Duty (CAD) Candidates.

Duties

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  • Serve as a scientific resource on research teams collaborating with the Investigator, Protocol Coordinator and other team members to plan, develop and implement research protocols.
  • Assist with the preparation of Manuals of Operation and other study documents such as recruitment brochures, web site content, etc. monitor and review adverse events files and reports and submitting timely and accurate reports on adverse events in accordance with NIH policy; and preparing evaluation reports and developing recommendations.
  • Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for adverse event data collection, processing and reporting systems; collaborate with other staff to evaluate the adequacy of Data and Safety Monitoring Plans and provide recommendations for improvement and compliance.
  • Monitor the regulatory and procedural aspects of clinical site monitoring and performance evaluation and prepare reports and documents for review by the Data and Safety Monitoring Board.
  • Develop background materials for site visits, prepare site visit reports, and identify scientific and administrative issues requiring special attention; review and analyze summary reports of monitoring site visit findings and recommend consistent
    sanctions to be adhered to if institutions are not in compliance.
  • Develop training materials and conduct training sessions for clinical trials specialists and clinical site coordinators; communicate effectively with staff at all levels involved in the conduct of clinical studies within NIH; conduct literature searched for content background for protocols; assist in preparing articles for publication; and prepare scientific and clinical research material to present at local, regional and national meetings.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
  • Position has an education requirement. Please submit transcripts.

Qualifications


Basic Qualifications
In order to qualify for a Clinical Trials Specialist, GS-0601, position you must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree or graduate/higher level degree with major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. (This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation) at the time the degree was obtained).

Additional Qualifications
GS-12:
In addition, to qualify for a Clinical Trials Specialist position at the GS-12 level you must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: (1) Preparing comprehensive reports on the progress of clinical trials for review by senior leadership; (2) Reviewing clinical trial protocols for completeness and adherence to standards; (3) Compiling clinical research information for use in presentations; (4) Reviewing consent forms to ensure special considerations are met; and (5) Monitoring research milestones to verify the project is on track.

GS-13:
In addition, to qualify for a Clinical Trials Specialist position at the GS-13 level you must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: (1) Reviewing progress reports to ensure adherence to budgets; (2) Developing and maintaining standard operating procedures for adverse event data collection; (3) Training clinical research staff on policies and procedures impacting clinical trials; (4) Reviewing protocols to ensure compliance with all organizational policies; and (5) Preparing site visit reports and providing recommendations to senior officials.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12928735

Education


This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Additional information

  • This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
  • PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration.
  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: telework.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
  • Visit Help Applying for helpful information on the application process.
  • If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: Reasonable Accommodation Information
  • Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.


Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least 80 points on the assessment(s) and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

The position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by the agency's Reemployment Priority List (RPL). RPL candidates will be rated, placed into one of the quality categories below, and referred to the hiring office, once veterans' preference is applied.
  • Qualified
  • Well Qualified
  • Best Qualified

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the largest biomedical research funding organization in the world. NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. NIH employs approximately 18,000 employees in varied occupations, all supporting research efforts that improve health and save lives. For more information on NIH's mission and goals, and its 27 Institutes and Centers, visit the NIH website.

Virtually explore the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Bethesda campus, learn about scientific research, and get to know NIH community members who are working to help people live longer, healthier lives: https://www.nih.gov/virtual-tour/.


The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides global leadership for a research, training, and education program to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood disorders and enhance the health of all individuals so that they can live longer and more fulfilling lives.The Division of Cardiovascular Sciences (DCVS) supports research to advance understanding of and interventions for promoting heart and vascular health across the lifespan.

Agency contact information

Sabina Green
Email
greenso@mail.nih.gov
Address
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
US

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