Administrative Officer

Summary

The Administrative Officer position is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a highly complex, multifaceted research program supporting both clinician and non-clinician researchers. The duties encompass supervisory, administrative, professional, and technical aspects for the comprehensive development and evaluation of research efforts of the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) located in Nashville, TN.

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Duties

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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Duties include but may not be limited to the following:

• Direct and supervise staff performing administrative, technical, and research support functions.
• Plan and assign work, establish priorities, and coordinate schedules based on program needs and staff capabilities.
• Develop performance standards, evaluate employee performance, and provide guidance on work and administrative matters.
• Identify employee training needs, coordinate staffing actions, and arrange development opportunities.
• Address employee concerns, recommend personnel actions, and promote improvements in staff productivity and work quality.
• Manage daily administrative operations and coordinate support services for complex research programs.
• Develop program and project budgets, funding requests, financial estimates, and operating plans.
• Monitor budget execution and expenditures, ensure proper accounting of funds, and recommend adjustments to spending plans.
• Evaluate resource requirements and coordinate the allocation of personnel, equipment, supplies, and laboratory space.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate administrative policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines.
• Coordinate research oversight and compliance activities involving human research protection, animal welfare, laboratory safety, and conflict-of-interest requirements.
• Review research proposals for program relevance, budget requirements, and compliance with established guidelines.
• Coordinate with program officials, research investigators, and external organizations, and prepare reports and briefings to support management decisions.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: Work often requires intensive concentration. The work is mainly 85 percent sedentary; however, travel will be required. Occasionally, the position will be required to work in the Animal Care Facility lifting objects and moving materials no more than 25 pounds when Animal Care staff is low. No special physical demands are required to perform this work. The position may be required to work weekends and other irregular tours of duty.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-13 GRADE LEVEL, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties the Administrative Officer, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes supervising staff by assigning and reviewing work, evaluating performance, and identifying training needs; coordinating administrative operations for a complex program, including managing budgets and allocating resources; evaluating program processes and implementing procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies; and analyzing operational issues to recommend improvements that enhance program efficiency and effectiveness.

NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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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.

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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.