Clarification from the agency

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: This announcement is open to Current, Permanent VHA Federal employees ONLY. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred in the following order: 1) Current, permanent employees of VA Phoenix Health Care System; 2) Current, permanent VA employees.

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30 Day Hiring Model. The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection. This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination, faster assessments, and efficient pre-employment actions. Applicants can expect a more transparent, predictable, and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty. What Applicants Can Expect

• Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes, Human Resources will quickly review applications, issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration.
• Quick Interviews & References

HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager.

• Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer, applicants should be prepared to complete required steps, such as fingerprinting and background check, credentialing, and medical examination within 3 days of the offer.
• Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones, including referral, tentative offer, and onboarding instructions.

After meeting pre-employment requirements, candidates will receive a final job offer and start date. Onboarding tasks may continue after starting, with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service. If selected, applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Reviews all research protocols related to biohazard, chemical, physical, radiation and occupational safety concerns for compliance with all applicable regulations, policies and guidelines prior to submission, and works with investigators to facilitate changes as appropriate. Prepares safety inspection and vulnerability assessment of all research labs Develops equipment specifications for grant proposals.
• Prepares records of animal facility inspections and reports. Reviews Safety Research Subcommittee (SRS) operations including internal and external safety/infection control inspections, lab access, training compliance, protocol approval involving safety hazards, review of the Chemical Hygiene Plan, emergency preparedness and response, and Facility Safety Plan specific to research.
• Monitors compliance with all applicable research safety regulations, policies and guidelines related to biological, chemical, physical and radiation hazards requirements. Prepares a safety inspection and vulnerability assessment of all research labs, annually. Prepares
  records of animal facility inspections and a semiannual report.
• Analyzes and communicates legislation, VA Central Office and other regulatory directives, to develop research safety policies/standards covering Research Safety Program.
• Facilitates maintenance of accreditation with the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) and the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC). Collaborates with university affiliates and community partners.
• Develops and updates policies and procedures related to biohazards, chemicals, radiation, and occupational safety concerns.
• Monitors compliance with all applicable regulations, policies and guidelines related to biological, chemical, physical and radiation hazards requirements. Conducts program assessments and prepares reports necessary to program continuity and reporting.
• The incumbent designs, oversees, implements, and/ or participates in scientific research studies including the development, supervision and performing of experiments, surveys, investigations, or projects, to develop information in such areas as disease prevention, pathophysiology, etiology, treatment and control.
• Develops local procedures, which implement agency policies, on basic and applied research program development, administration and evaluation as related to research safety and assesses the impact of the above listed agents on the safety of research participants and personnel working in research laboratories.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30AM-4:00PM
Telework: 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#: Health Science Specialist (Research Safety Officer)/PD14916-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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, 05/14/2026.

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-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:

• 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: Reviews all research protocols related to biohazard, chemical, physical, radiation and occupational safety concerns for compliance with all applicable regulations, policies and guidelines; Prepares records of animal facility inspections and reports; Reviews Safety Research Subcommittee (SRS) operations including internal and external safety/infection control inspections, lab access, training compliance; Monitors compliance with all applicable research safety regulations, policies and guidelines related to biological, chemical, physical and radiation hazards requirements; Analyzes and communicates legislation, VA Central Office and other regulatory directives, to develop research safety policies/standards; Facilitates maintenance of accreditation with the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) and the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC); Develops and updates policies and procedures related to biohazards, chemicals, radiation, and occupational safety concerns; Monitors compliance with all applicable regulations, policies and guidelines related to biological, chemical, physical and radiation hazards requirements; Designs, oversees, implements, and/ or participates in scientific research studies including the development, supervision and performing of experiments, surveys, investigations, or projects, to develop information in such areas as disease prevention, pathophysiology, etiology, treatment and control; Develops local procedures, which implement agency policies, on basic and applied research program development, administration and evaluation and assesses the impact of the above listed agents on the safety of research participants and personnel working in research laboratories.
  EVIDENCE OF YOUR EXPERIENCE MUST BE DETAILED IN YOUR RESUME TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT.

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: Work is active, involving constant interaction with other laboratory personnel and investigators in the conduct of the research. There may occasionally be long hours and repetitive motions. There is also a substantial component of sedentary work in data collection, analyses and writing of manuscripts. Travel to scientific conferences will be expected.

Work Environment: Work is performed in a research laboratory and in a general office environment involving everyday risks or discomforts, which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, and residence or commercial vehicles. The work area is adequately lit, heated and ventilated.

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/.

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.