Health System Specialist

Veterans Health Administration•Oklahoma City, OK

27d•Onsite

About The Position

The Health System Specialist supports the Office of Research and Development Service by managing regulatory committees and providing subject matter expertise on regulations that ensure research compliance. The role provides high-level analytical and procedural support for projects in a comprehensive research setting and day-to-day support for the VA Research Program. The specialist supports animal, basic science, and human research activities, including clinical trials involving investigational drugs, devices, and procedures. The role oversees research-protocol review processes, trains committee members, communicates regulatory updates, conducts quality assurance reviews, and evaluates program operations. It also provides guidance to resolve compliance concerns and manages program activities such as preparing committee materials, coordinating reviewer documentation, ensuring appropriate personnel involvement, and resolving project-related issues. The position is full-time, with 8-hour shifts Monday through Friday scheduled between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework may be authorized, but the position is not virtual. Return-to-office mandates require in-person work unless an exception or exemption is approved. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized, and the Critical Skills Incentive is not approved. The work has no inherent physical requirements that cannot otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. The position has an individual occupational requirement that may be met through undergraduate or graduate education in hospital administration, public health administration, or a related field such as business or public administration with coursework in health care administration; qualifying specialized experience in health care; or, for in-service placement, successful completion of an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program meeting the stated conditions. Qualification may be based on experience, education, or a combination, with grade-specific requirements for GS-9 and GS-11. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met; selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Meet the position's individual occupational requirement through qualifying education, specialized health-care experience, or the specified agency-sponsored on-the-job training provision for in-service placement.
For GS-9, meet the qualification requirement through one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-7, qualifying graduate education, or a combination of qualifying experience and education.
For GS-11, meet the qualification requirement through one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-7, qualifying doctoral-level graduate education, or a combination of qualifying experience and education.
Current or former federal employees subject to time-in-grade rules must meet the applicable 52-week requirement by the announcement closing date: GS-7 for GS-9 consideration or GS-9 for GS-11 consideration.
Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
Subject to background/security investigation and completion of an online onboarding process.
Provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; starting May 7, 2025, identification that is not REAL ID compliant cannot be used for employment.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
Submit transcripts if using education to meet qualification requirements; qualifying education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Meet all requirements by the announcement closing date of October 21, 2026.

Responsibilities

Serve as a subject-matter expert supporting animal, basic science, and human research activities, including clinical trials involving investigational drugs, devices, and procedures.
Oversee the full review process for research protocols involving animal and/or human subjects to ensure timely and compliant review, approval, and follow-up.
Provide primary training for new committee members on policies, procedures, and responsibilities associated with their regulatory roles.
Communicate regulatory updates and evolving requirements to research committees.
Conduct comprehensive reviews of local investigator studies as part of institutional quality assurance processes.
Apply analytical and evaluative methods to assess research program operations, identify process issues, and implement improvements to committee or board effectiveness.
Resolve compliance concerns by providing guidance, support, and negotiated solutions when committee recommendations or determinations are disputed by investigators or coordinators.
Oversee program activities, including preparing committee materials, coordinating reviewer documentation, ensuring proper personnel involvement, and resolving outstanding project-related issues.