Health Science Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Washington, DC

1d

About The Position

This position is assigned to the Office of Research Oversight (ORO) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). ORO reports directly to the Under Secretary for Health and advises on compliance with VA and other Federal requirements concerning the protection of human research subjects, laboratory animal welfare, research safety and laboratory security, research information security, and research misconduct. The position leads and holds primary responsibility for ORO’s research misconduct program, establishes program goals, evaluates effectiveness, interprets policy, and represents VA on inter-agency committees and groups.

The specialist monitors and evaluates VA medical facility and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) responses to allegations of research misconduct, conducts procedural reviews of cases referred for investigation, and advises VA facility personnel on applicable policies and procedures. The role collects and analyzes case data, tracks Research Integrity Officer (RIO) appointments, develops RIO training as needed, and prepares briefings and other materials for VHA senior leadership. It also analyzes facility compliance and complex research data, develops improved compliance oversight strategies, and ensures that program materials are accurate, clear, organized, balanced, objective, and grammatically correct.

The regular work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Virtual work may be authorized for current VA employees who are already subject to the return-to-in-person-work mandate in their current position; return-to-office requirements apply unless an exception or exemption is approved. The work is sedentary, with periodic walking, standing, bending, and carrying light materials. Travel is a significant component of the program. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized; a Critical Skills Incentive is not approved.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• A bachelor's or graduate/higher-level degree with major study in an academic field related to medicine, health sciences, or allied sciences appropriate to the position, from an appropriately accredited institution.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the normal line of progression for the occupation.
• For current Federal employees and certain former Federal employees applying to a GS-14 position, 52 weeks of service at GS-13 by the announcement closing date; supporting SF-50 documentation is required.
• Must meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date of 10/21/2026.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to a background/security investigation and completion of online onboarding requirements.
• Must provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; from May 7, 2025, non-REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or state IDs cannot be used as acceptable employment identification.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, subject to evaluation and written certification for continued employment.
• A transcript must be submitted with the application; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
• Competencies include attention to detail, research, communication, critical thinking, and analytical thinking.
• Ability to perform sedentary work with periodic walking, standing, bending, and carrying light items; travel is a significant component of the program.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and evaluate VA medical facility and VISN responses to allegations of research misconduct.
• Conduct procedural reviews of research misconduct cases referred for investigation to assess compliance with applicable VA policies and procedures.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on VA and VHA policies concerning investigations of research misconduct.
• Interact with VA facility personnel to clarify issues and provide advice and technical assistance.
• Collect and analyze historical and real-time data concerning the disposition of allegations of research misconduct involving VA research.
• Track appointments of VA medical facility Research Integrity Officers, maintain an updated contact list, and provide information to RIOs.
• Develop and implement training for VA medical facility RIOs on applicable VA and VHA policies, as needed.
• Prepare oral briefings and written briefing materials on research misconduct cases for VHA senior leadership and others.
• Ensure presentations and products—including reports, seminars, trainings, exit briefings, memoranda, forms, and checklists—are professional, accurate, clear, logically organized, balanced, objective, and grammatically correct.
• Develop and implement new or improved compliance oversight strategies.
• Analyze VHA facility compliance with Federal and VA policies on research misconduct and analyze complex research data sets and results associated with cases.
• Establish ORO Research Misconduct program goals, identify results demonstrating effectiveness, interpret programmatic and policy matters, lead the program, and represent VA on inter-agency committees and groups.
• Maintain records and prepare statistical and administrative reports.
• Develop integrated, systematic strategies to meet short-, medium-, and long-term program goals and ensure strategies reflect promising directions in research compliance and research bioethics.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families.
• Selected applicants may qualify for prior-service credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior