Program Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Buffalo, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a temporary Program Specialist, Research Coordinator position with the Cooperative Studies Program in the Office of Research and Development at the Buffalo VA Medical Center. The appointment is not-to-exceed one year and may be renewed for one additional year in accordance with agency needs. This is not a virtual position; the employee must live within or be willing to relocate within commuting distance of the duty location. Temporary appointments may be ended before their expiration date and do not confer eligibility for promotion, reassignment, or noncompetitive conversion to permanent employment. Health insurance is offered if the employee is expected to work at least 130 hours per month for at least 90 days; life insurance and retirement benefits are not offered for this temporary appointment.

The position organizes the day-to-day operations of the Million Veteran Program (MVP), including participant enrollment and data collection, and serves as a key liaison to the Program Coordinating Center. It supports accurate and complete local site records, timely submission of required Institutional Review Board documentation, regulatory compliance, participant safety communications, and local recruitment and enrollment activities.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The work is primarily sedentary, with some walking, standing, bending, and lifting of light items. Recruitment and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 in Federal service managing research settings and coordinating projects, including following protocols, enrolling and interviewing patients, obtaining informed consent, following research investigatory processes, compiling data, and developing and reporting recommendations and findings; or qualifying graduate education; or an allowable combination of graduate education and experience.
• Selective Placement Factor: experience managing clinical research projects and/or programs.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Must complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• Transcripts are required when education is used to qualify; only qualifying education from recognized accredited institutions is accepted. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
• Must live within or be willing to relocate within commuting distance of the duty location.

Responsibilities

• Organize day-to-day Million Veteran Program operations, including participant enrollment and data collection, and serve as a conduit to the Program Coordinating Center.
• Review documentation prepared by MVP personnel for accuracy and completeness, including local site documentation and Investigator Study File records.
• Ensure timely and complete submission of VA Central Institutional Review Board documentation to Coordinating Centers and prepare and submit required documentation to local Research and Development.
• Escalate issues and concerns to relevant stakeholders, including adverse participant safety events, and handle other necessary communications.
• Ensure MVP compliance with applicable regulations, including human subject protections and information security.
• Ensure MVP personnel follow applicable protocols and regulations concerning human subject and research protections, safety, and security.
• Serve as the local site point of contact for enrollment-related activities, including special events and participant visits.
• Develop recruitment expansion plans within IRB guidelines and the MVP protocol, including working with the local site communication office on Veteran outreach programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health insurance may be available to temporary employees expected to work at least 130 hours per month for at least 90 days.
• Federal employees may have access to a comprehensive benefits package; eligibility depends on position type and other factors.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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