Grant Management Specialist

Summary
This is a key operations management position in the Administrative Office of Research and Development Service. The Grant Management Specialist functions independently and is personally responsible for review of all requests to conduct research at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and preparation of new requests for VA funding including Biomedical Laboratory Research, Clinical Sciences Research, Rehabilitation Research, Health Services Research and Cooperative Studies.
This job is open to

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

Videos
Duties
***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***
The Grant Management Specialist is responsible for the review of all requests to conduct research at the Ralph H. Johnson VAMC and serves as the intermediate between investigators conducting research and the membership of the R&D Committee and its Subcommittees.
Major Duties:
Research and Development (R&D) Committee Oversight:

• Review of all requests to conduct research and formulation of agendas.
• Implementation of review of research protocols.
• Compliance responsibilities to assure adherence with a network of VA policies as they are described in several separate Handbooks, informing the Committee of modifications in Handbooks, documenting review and compliance by the R&D Committee and its subcommittees.
• Provide broad administrative support to the Associate Chief of Staff for Research (ACOS) for R&D, the Administrative Officer (AO) for R&D, research investigators, prospective investigators, and research staff.
• Controls the processing of protocols, participates in annual review, and coordinates periodic compliance reviews of protocol review procedures, and participates in the preparation of materials for VA Central Office of R&D.

Grants Management and Proposal Submissions:

• Consults, informs, and works with the Budget Analyst as part of the Research Service Grants Administration Core as to the most effective approach to the program.
• Identifies, analyzes, and summarizes information required to prepare guidelines for Principal Investigators, their research project coordinators, and Research Service staff to use in preparation of research proposals for submission to VA Office of R&D.
• Coordinates and provides assistance to investigators, members of the Research Office and other administrative staff regarding the proper procedures, preparation and submission for research proposals for pre-review by the designated local reviewers.

Records and ePROMISE Coordination:

• Serves as the ePROMISE system administrator and the administrator for databases housing R&D approved studies.
• Collects, compiles and tracks data, statistical information, and year end expenditures for active projects in support of the Research Services program operation.
• Coordinates incoming data from a variety of sources.
• Reviews documents, reports, and applications for omissions and inconsistencies, and ensures data entry is complete and accurate.
• Enters and validates pertinent information into an automated tracking system.

Policy Analysis and Procedure Development and Implementation:

• Analyzes new and proposed Office of R&D correspondences, Handbooks, other publications, regulations and directives that pertain to the Research Administration program.
• Provides guidance and advice to the Research Service Grants Administration Core and Leadership on the implementation of the changes in administrative regulations as they pertain to the R&D Committee's oversight of the Research Program.
• Analyzes, researches and independently responds to inquiries in areas of responsibility and to administrative matters relating to the Research Program.

Program Coordination for the Scientific Reviews of Research Studies:

• Arranges, in conjunction with the Grant Administration program, for internal review either with VA experts or outside experts of all R&O proposals being submitted to VA Central R&O Office for funding consideration.
• Performs all duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications
For GS-9:
Specialized Experience: Possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of (GS-7) in Federal service. Specialized experience is reviewing of all requests to conduct research and formulation of agendas and implementation of review of research protocols; understanding of grants management requirements, practices, and procedures for receiving, reviewing, and processing proposals, and administering grants and agreements; possessing of tools in data management, such as modeling techniques, data backup or recovery, data warehousing, data mining, and/or data standardization processes etc. OR
Graduate Education: Possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related? Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR
Combining Education and Experience: Possess a Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels. To be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the 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 for the 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Analytical Thinking
• Data Management
• Grants Management

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of items such as papers, books, and a portable computer.
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
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
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.
Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (843) 577-5011.
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 85 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/.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

• 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The c...