Program Specialist

Summary This position is located at the George E Wahlen VA Medical Center (VAMC). The incumbent serves as the Program Specialist (Institutional Review Board (IRB) Liaison) in the office of the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development. The primary purpose of this position is to provide support for VA Research Investigators – VA personnel and non‑VA personnel on matters pertaining to human studies – IRB submissions – and documentation. Qualifications To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 06/10/2026. 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‑9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS‑7. For a GS‑11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS‑9. 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. 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. Qualifications for GS‑9 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS‑7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include – but are not limited to: Demonstrating basic knowledge of Institutional Review Board (IRB) functions and the importance of human subjects protections in research; Assisting in reviewing research protocols by noting potential human subject protection concerns and referring to applicable federal and state requirements; Applying foundational understanding of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) – and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations to support routine compliance tasks under close supervision; Providing basic explanations of regulatory or policy requirements to investigators or colleagues by following established guidance and instructions; Supporting IRB staff by gathering regulatory information – organizing documentation – and assisting with interpretation of agency policies. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS‑9 level. Must possess a Master’s or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree – or LL.B or J.D. – if related. (Transcript(s) must be submitted.) Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post‑high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table – and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS‑9 and GS‑11. Qualifications for GS‑11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS‑9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include – but are not limited to: Demonstrating working knowledge of IRB functions and their role in ensuring protection of human subjects in research activities; Reviewing research protocols to identify potential human subject protection issues and applying applicable federal and state requirements with supervisory guidance as needed; Utilizing developing knowledge of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) – and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations to assist with compliance review tasks; Explaining general regulatory and policy requirements to investigators – IRB members – and others by using established guidance and instructions – seeking clarification for detailed or complex questions as needed; Assisting with interpreting and applying established regulatory guidance to support routine compliance tasks. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS‑11 level. Must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree – or LL.M. – if related. (Transcript must be submitted.) Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post‑high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements – and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS‑9 and GS‑11. For more information on these qualification standards – please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Duties Areas of Consideration– Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: Current federal employees designated as surplus or displaced– Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) eligible candidates; Current permanent employees of the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System (current SF‑50 must show 660 in box 40); Current permanent VA employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) (current SF‑50 must show VHA in box 22); Current permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs; All other status eligible candidates. Primary contact for all VHA Principal Investigators (PI) and PI Staff (paid and non‑paid) and provides them with the necessary guidance and training for preparing Institutional Review Board (IRB) documents. Maintains a database of the appropriate guides– reference sources– manuals– desk references– and similar materials to ensure correct guidance is available to administration staff, PIs and PI staff. Pre‑reviews new and renewal Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions for content– accuracy and completeness following all applicable laws– regulations– and policies. Communicates updates or changes in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)– Office of Research Oversight (ORO)– Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) regulations and laws regarding IRB matters to the appropriate IRB of record and ensures the necessary changes are made in IRB procedures to ensure compliance. Responsible for reviewing applications to ensure all listed personnel have the appropriate scope of practice– license– credentialing and/or privileges for their role on the study. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory– qualification– and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday– Friday– 8‑hour tour between 7:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. MST. Compressed/Flexible: available. Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in‑person work unless they are approved for an exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception– exemption– or extension will happen after a tentative job offer– but before a final job offer. Position Description/PD#– Program Specialist/PD125660 and PD125670. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives– Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI)– Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS)– Not authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr