Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

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Duties include but not limited to:

• The position will work with all VAPORHCS principal investigators and research stakeholders to develop plans for adequately staff, evaluate research progress relative to staffing levels, monitor funding levels for staffing, and transition personnel following completion of specific research projects and other related translational and operational activities.
• The position will review complex multi-year financial, regulatory, and organizational reports and applies standard analytical techniques and evaluated workflow to determine potential problem areas to develop recommendations to propose and implement corrective actions in those areas to improve coordination between organizations at local, regional, and national organizations.
• The position will participate with research and clinical colleagues in the immediate organization in formulating and administering plans and policies designed to meet R&D program objectives.
• The work involves isolating and defining unknown conditions, resolving critical problems, or developing new theories, major aspects of scientific programs or missions, and portions of broader programs and initiatives impacting research strategy.
• The position serves as an expert on VA regulations, rules, procedures, and practices for initiating, preparing, and monitoring procurement, and contractual agreements. Serve as a COR designee for the service and oversees areas of acquisition administration and contractor's performance, as it pertains to R&D.
• Responsibilities include ongoing contacts with researchers to disseminate all materials including R&I, IRB, etc., problems solve any difficulties with subject recruitment, data collection or entry issues and general project procedures.
• Performs budget work for the R&D Service in support of one or more of the phases or systems involved in budget administration including the formulation, presentation, or execution of a budget. Performs studies and audits on control and use of funds throughout each fiscal year.
• Provides regular and accurate budgetary information, commitments, and projections in a variety of forms and reports including ORD reports and project budget reports. Prepares a variety of management reports related to the status of funds, expenses, obligations, FTEs, and workload, adjusting to ensure accurate portrayal of status of funds.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• 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)

• 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet specialized experience requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/04/2026.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): The 0671 series requires specific education or experience to be met in order to be appointed into a position of this series. You must meet one of the pre-determined Education or Experience Individual Occupational Requirements listed below as set by Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

1. Undergraduate and Graduate Education in a Major study of hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. OR
2. Specialized Experience: 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:
   • Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems;
   • Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and
   • Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement

• Specialized Experience: You must have 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 System Specialist. Qualifying specialized experience would typically include but not limited to the following:
  • assisting investigators in completing application for studies and grants;
  • analyzing various action documentation and communications regarding studies, conducting preliminary reviews to determine scope of work and proposals and recommending document preparation and review;
  • formulating and administering plans and policies designed to meet program objectives;
  • recognizing opportunities for improvement and offer solutions using management principles and techniques, leading to changes in existing methods, techniques, processes, or practice;
  • providing regular and accurate budgetary information, commitments, and projections in a variety of forms and reports;
  • conducting a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results;
  • developing, scheduling, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and managing projects and resources, including technical performance;
  • preparing, justifying, reporting on, and executing the budget; and the relationships among program, budget, accounting, and reporting systems; and
  • overseeing of acquisition and contracts.

• One or more years of experience with federal regulations, rules, procedures, and practices for initiating, preparing, and monitoring accounts, procurement, and contractual agreements.
• Experience with reviewing projects accounts, grants, budgets, and contract requests for a national-level research program within a healthcare organization.
• Experience working as a contracting official representative for the Service and oversees areas of acquisition and contractor performance.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Resume Reminder - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:

• Job title
• Duties (be as detailed as possible)
• Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
• Salary/Rank etc.
• Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
• References, current or recent supervisor

• Classified or Government sensitive information
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Photos of yourself
• Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.