This position is organizationally aligned to the Office of the Hospital Director at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital (578)

• a Level 1a Complexity VHA Facility.

The primary purpose of this position is to develop, implement, maintain and provide leadership, strategic direction, and oversight of compliance and training activities for the Research Program. Hines VAMC includes five community-based outpatient care clinics located in Aurora, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Bourbonnais, Peru, and Oak Lawn.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/09/2026.

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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at GS-11 . 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: The Health System Specialist occupation has an Individual Occupation Requirement that must be met to qualify for the position. Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) :

Undergraduate and Graduate Education :

Major study

• hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration.
• OR•Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5) Progressively responsible analytical or administrative, or clinical management or supervisory experience in the health care field.

This work may have been performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities. Work must have involved a close working relationship with facility managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities, and provided knowledge of the following: Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. Special Provision for

In-service Placement :

Successful completion of an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program may be substituted for qualifying experience, provided it included a formal individualized training plan. Such a training program must have been conducted in an operating health care system and included: Assignments providing a knowledge of basic health system administration philosophies, practices, and procedures, and basic government administrative policies and requirements; Practical assignments providing an opportunity to apply health system administration skills and principles (as the individual progresses, work assignments must be characteristic of the grade level to which he or she is assigned); and Oversight by an experienced health system administrator with periodic evaluation of the individual's progress and appropriate adjustment of the training program. In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement, you may qualify for this position based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-12

Qualification Requirements :

Specialized Experience GS-12: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level ( GS-11 ) in the Federal Service in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization, that is typically in or related to the work of this position and has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully duties of the Health System Specialist (Research Compliance Officer). Examples of specialized experience would typically include (but are not limited to): Comprehensive knowledge of Federal and VA research regulations, human-subject protections, research safety and security requirements, administrative policies, and legal precedents and the operational and funding requirements governing publicly and privately supported medical research programs. Expertise in auditing and monitoring research projects, documenting findings, and report to oversight committees; analyzing compliance data and performance trends; preparing reports; developing improved compliance procedures; communicating clearly with senior staff, researchers, affiliates, and administrators; building positive stakeholder relationships; delivering audience-appropriate training and consultation; and using databases, information systems, telecommunications equipment, and business software to support research compliance activities. The ability to lead and provide strategic direction for research compliance programs, establish and maintain effective oversight activities, and address complex interdisciplinary issues with resourcefulness and innovation. It also involves developing strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including information security, privacy, institutional review, animal care and use, research safety, and radiation officers. In addition, the position requires independent judgment, effective planning, and adaptability to changing regulations, technologies, and program requirements.

• OR•

Education:

Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR, 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR, LL.M., if related.

• OR•

Combination:

Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond 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.

Preferred Experience:

Prefer individual with experience evaluating compliance with Federal and VA requirements for the conduct of research, which may include requirements in one or more of the following areas: the protection of human research subjects, laboratory animal welfare, and research safety and security. Experience in research information security, research privacy, conflict of interest in research, training of research personnel. Research program accreditation, research misconduct, and/or other research compliance activities consistent with VHA requirements.

Physical Requirements:

Work is mainly sedentary. Traveling off station to other sites of care or various meetings is necessary and working overtime and odd hours, to include weekends may be necessary. There may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items, such as instructional material, manuals, papers, and books. 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/ .