Summary The Program Support Assistant provides administrative and programmatic support in the Research Service of the White River Junction VA Medical Center (WRJVAMC). Serves as the principal provider of support to the Research and Development Committee (R&DC), Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Research Safety Subcommittee (SRS), the Associate Chief of Staff for Research, and the Director of Research Operations, and will be the initial contact person for principal investigators. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Provides administrative and program support to the Research Service, ensuring activities comply with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, ethical standards, and accreditation requirements. Reviews research protocol submissions for completeness and accuracy, verifies required documentation, and facilitates timely processing and committee review. Coordinates administrative activities for the Research and Development Committee (R&DC), Institutional Review Board (IRB), Research Safety Subcommittee (SRS), and other applicable research committees. Serves as a primary point of contact for principal investigators and research personnel, providing guidance on research applications, submission requirements, administrative procedures, and regulatory processes. Assists investigators with mandatory research forms, supporting documentation, electronic submission systems, and compliance requirements. Serves as the Automated Data Processing Application Coordinator (ADPAC), coordinating computer access, Personal Identity Verification (PIV) sponsorship, software support, troubleshooting, and annual access certifications. Provides administrative support to Research Service leadership, including timekeeping, Government Purchase Card procurement, scheduling, logistical coordination, and office operations. Coordinates research personnel credentialing, maintenance of required education, training, and competency records. Serves as Records Liaison, implementing and maintaining research records management systems in accordance with applicable records retention policies and procedures. Coordinates communication and information exchange among research leadership, investigators, regulatory committees, administrative staff, and external stakeholders. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Requirements 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: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work, however, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers, books, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-06: One year of specialized experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in Federal Service, GS-05. Specialized experience includes providing administrative support to research programs; coordinating meetings and timekeeping; reviewing, processing, and tracking research proposals and regulatory documents for completeness and accuracy; maintaining electronic records, databases, and tracking systems; utilizing Microsoft Office applications and automated systems to support research activities in accordance with established policies and procedures. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-07: One year of specialized experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in Federal Service, GS-06. Specialized experience includes independently providing administrative and program support for research activities; coordinating meetings and timekeeping; reviewing and coordinating research proposals and regulatory submissions to ensure compliance with applicable policies and regulations; coordinating committee activities and required submissions; managing research records, databases, and tracking systems; interpreting policies and regulations to resolve complex administrative and regulatory issues; preparing correspondence and reports; and recommending improvements to administrative processes and program operations. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at the GS-6 and GS-7 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 http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
