Lead Nurse (Clinical Research)

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Duties

The Lead Clinical Nurse-Clinical Manager reports directly to a Nurse Manager within a complex multi-specialty clinical research program area such as an inpatient unit, day hospital, or outpatient clinic with a staff of specialized nurses, which may serve multiple admitting institutes and provide services to a diverse and changing patient population. Lead Clinical Nurse-Clinical Manager career opportunities are available in the following areas: Oncology Critical Care Service

• 3NE Inpatient Unit Hematology / Oncology Transplant - Evening/Night position.
• Blood Services Section

Nursing Operations Service

• Operating Room

For specific unit descriptions please follow the link below: If you are selected for this position your responsibilities will include :

• Communicating the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision and values to staff and integrating them into the team's strategies, goals, objectives, work plans and services.
• Coaching the team in the selection and application of appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques, providing advice on work methods, practices and procedures, and assisting the team and/or individual members in identifying the parameters of a viable solution.
• Leading the team in identifying, distributing, and balancing workload and tasks in accordance with established workflow, skill level and/or specialization.
• Serving as coach, facilitator and/or negotiator in coordinating team initiatives and in consensus building activities among team members.
• Maintaining program and administrative reference materials and relevant background documents. Making available policies, procedures and written instructions from the nurse manager. Maintaining current knowledge to answer questions from team members on procedures, policies.
• Preparing reports and maintaining records of work accomplishments and administrative information, as required, and coordinating the preparation and communication of work-related information to the nurse manager.
• Primary point of contact with the nurse manager for the purpose of obtaining resources (e.g., computer hardware and software, use of overtime or compensatory time), and securing needed information or decisions from the supervisor on major work problems that arise.
• Reporting to the nurse manager periodically on team and individual work accomplishments, problems, progress in mastering tasks and work processes and individual and team training needs.
• Leading the team in assessing its strengths and weaknesses and provide leadership to the team in exploring alternatives and determining what improvements can be made (e.g., in work methods, processes and procedures).
• Approving emergency leave for up to three days; eight hours or less for medical appointments, and/or other types of leave as delegated by management.
• Resolving simple, informal complaints of employees and informing supervisor. Referring others, such as formal grievances and appeals, to the supervisor or an appropriate management official.
• Assisting with fiscal management of unit budget, as delegated by supervisor.
• Communicating team consensus and recommendations to the supervisor on actions affecting team and individual awards, rewards and recognition.
• Facilitating communication with the nurse manager on behalf of the team to inform the manager of performance management issues/problems and to recommend/request related actions, such as: assignments, reassignments, promotions, tour of duty changes, peer reviews, and performance appraisals.
• Exercising the full domain of practice for the specialty of clinical research nursing including providing clinical care to research participants, supporting protocol implementation, data collection, continuity of care, human subject's protection and dissemination of clinical research findings. Utilizing advanced critical thinking and nursing skills to assess, plan, perform, and evaluate nursing care for individual patients, their families and significant others, who are participants in biomedical research protocols. Incorporating evidence-based practice into nursing practice.
• Providing patient-focused nursing leadership within the interdisciplinary team and collaborating with team members to create and communicate a plan of care that balances clinical care needs with research needs and allows for safe and effective collection of clinical research data. Leading and contributing to multidisciplinary conferences and activities regarding research participant care and protocol implementation.

The ideal candidate for the Lead Clinical Nurse-Clinical Manager possesses expertise and knowledge related to the specialty area, strong leadership with the experience of leading nursing teams and demonstrating the ability to build consensus while mentoring and coaching individuals. The candidate will possess strong communication skills and a proven ability to utilize advanced critical thinking.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
• Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• This position is designated as Tier 1 Emergency Essential. See Additional Information section for specific details on this designation.
• Position requires Education (Please provide transcripts).
• If selected, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination.
• You must be able to lift and move heavy items weighing 35 lbs. with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• This position requires weekend hours, night shifts, regular or rotational shifts, and holiday hours.
• The position has on-call or call-back requirements.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: In order to meet the Basic Qualification Requirements for a Lead Nurse (Clinical Research), GS-0610-13, you must: A. Have a graduate or higher-level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. NOTE: Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools. License: B. Possess a current, active, full and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. AND C. You must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) or obtained licensure before the implementation of the NCLEX-RN. Individuals who have not passed the NCLEX-RN, but meet all other qualification requirements will be subject to a comprehensive evaluation of both their education and experience prior to final appointment. ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: In addition, to qualify for a Lead Nurse (Clinical Research) position at the GS-13 level, you must have at least 1 year of professional Nurse experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: Coaching a team of nurses in a clinical research environment in the selection and application of appropriate problem solving methods and techniques, providing advice on work methods, practices and procedures, and assisting the team and/or individual members in identifying the parameters of a viable solution; providing clinical care to varying patient populations with complex needs; serving as the primary nurse or coordinator of care for a specific population of patients; initiating appropriate referrals and coordinating routine care; assessing complex and sensitive health education needs in individual patient populations with like conditions, protocols or other characteristics; contributing to, and leading, multidisciplinary conferences and activities regarding patient care and protocol implementation. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply:

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Additional information

• This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage.
• A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
• PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should also apply online to this announcement in order to receive consideration.
• The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
• The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
• Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Visit our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.
• Visit our Total Compensation page and this sample for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement, and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.

• Benefits

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS. The position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by a direct hire authority. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants, including category rating, does not apply to this vacancy. You will be initially evaluated against the basic qualifications only. Qualified applicants will be referred for consideration in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management direct hire guidelines. Veterans' Preference does not apply to positions covered by a direct hire authority. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings by the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as having knowledge of your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin prior to receiving an offer. To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

• Benefits

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS RESUME: Your resume must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. We cannot assume you have performed the necessary experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career. To ensure all of the essential information is in your resume, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS online Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, you must ensure it contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position:

  • Job title
  • Name of employer
  • Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format)
  • Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.
  • Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)
  • Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position)
  If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications. For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: NIH Jobs website, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Writing Video Tutorial. ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit a completed assessment questionnaire. Unless otherwise stated, we will only use the information above to determine your qualifications. Not providing the required information may result in a determination that you do not meet minimum requirements for the position (e.g., an ineligible rating) or a lower rating. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR CAREER TRANSITION CLAIMS Visit our websites to claim selection priority through the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):
  • CTAP:
  • ICTAP:
  If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility. Please do not submit any other supplementary documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• How to Apply

  To apply for this position, please read and follow all instructions in this announcement, complete the online application, and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 12/08/2025 to receive consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application . You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply.
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package . See the "Required Documents" section for any additional forms and/or supplemental materials required.
  • Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly to any Eligibility you wish to claim . You will only be considered for those Eligibility questions (Status Applicant, Reinstatement, Schedule A, etc.) you respond in the affirmative to, regardless of what documentation you submit. We cannot assume you intended to respond differently to a question based on other information in your application package.
  • Complete the assessment questionnaire . Applicants are asked all questions regardless of their consideration preferences. We will only consider you for the grades, series, locations, specialties, and other considerations that you self-identify as being qualified for or interested in. Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply:
  • Verify all required documentation is included in your application package , review your responses to the assessment questionnaire for accuracy, and then submit your application.
  In addition to the required documents, we encourage you to submit a cover letter, copy of your transcripts, and any applicable certifications or licenses. Even though this information is not required at the time of application, we may request this information later. We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements. For technical difficulties, contact HR Systems Support between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday at View email address on us.edajobs.com. If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying, please contact NIH HR Service Desk Branch E at View email address on us.edajobs.com. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date. NIH's EEO and Diversity and Inclusion Policy Statement Visit the NIH's Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion site for information on NIH's EEO program, Reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.

  Agency contact information

  NIH HR Service Desk Branch E

  Email

  View email address on us.edajobs.com

  Address

  National Institutes of Health 6701 Rockledge Dr Bethesda, MD 20892 US

  Next steps

  HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, researches emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats. Once you submit your application package, you will receive an acknowledgement email. You will be notified of the status of your applications via email. In addition, you can track the progress of your application package through your USAJOBS account. At the discretion of the agency, you may be contacted via phone or email for an interview or to provide additional information up to several months from the closing date of the announcement. Please ensure you have provided accurate contact information. To remain in consideration, you must respond in a timely manner to our correspondence and requests for documentation or information throughout the hiring process.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS RESUME: Your resume must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. We cannot assume you have performed the necessary experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career. To ensure all of the essential information is in your resume, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS online Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, you must ensure it contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position:

• Job title

• Name of employer

• Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format)

• Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.

• Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)

• Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position)

If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications. For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: NIH Jobs website, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Writing Video Tutorial. ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit a completed assessment questionnaire. Unless otherwise stated, we will only use the information above to determine your qualifications. Not providing the required information may result in a determination that you do not meet minimum requirements for the position (e.g., an ineligible rating) or a lower rating. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR CAREER TRANSITION CLAIMS Visit our websites to claim selection priority through the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):

• CTAP:
• ICTAP:

If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility. Please do not submit any other supplementary documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Help

This job is open to

• The public

  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration.