Senior Human Subjects Protection Scientist

Duties
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• Serves as a senior subject matter expert on human subjects protection for the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Research and Development directorate.
• Acts as a designated Human Research Protection Official (HRPO), conducting reviews and providing oversight for research involving human subjects.
• Supervises staff and their work in the Office of Human Research Oversight.
• Ensures reviews completed by staff are compliant with applicable regulations and ethical principles.
• Leads the human research protection program, providing authoritative advice on regulatory compliance for both intramurally and extramurally conducted human subjects research and cadaver use activities.
• Formulates and implements unique solutions to complex challenges in the field of human research protection.
• Composes detailed correspondence and other official materials to explain and interpret federal and Department of Defense (DoD) policies.
• Develops operating procedures and guidelines to standardize processes for staff, Principal Investigators, and other stakeholders.
• Ensures research funded by the DoD/DHA receives required HRPO review and approval in an efficient manner.
• Fosters regulatory compliance through tailored education for researchers and other customers on human subjects protection requirements.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance
• This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 5% of the time.
• Appointment to this position is subject to a one-year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 315.
• This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

DHA Research & Development (R&D) is participating in an alternative personnel system known as the Personnel Demonstration Project (PDP). The DB-04 payband is equivalent to the GS-15 step 1 to GS-15 step 10 level. In keeping with the Demonstration pay fixing policies, employees earning a salary that falls within this payband equivalent, may not receive an immediate pay increase (promotion) if appointed to this position. Future pay increases within the payband will be accomplished through the pay for performance management system.

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document .

Basic Requirement for Senior Human Subjects Protection Scientist:

Degree: Bachelor's or graduate (or higher level) degree with major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences, or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S.Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

You MUST submit copies of your transcripts supporting your education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes:

1. Experience applying and/or implementing regulations and ethical principles for the protection of human subjects in research.
2. Experience in providing oversight or review of human subjects research by conducting audits, site inspections, assessments, and/or investigations to ensure regulatory compliance.
3. Experience developing solutions for complex problems related to human subjects protection policies and procedures.
4. Experience interpreting and communicating complex policies, procedures, and guidelines related to human research protection to diverse audiences.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (DB-03 / GS-14).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ .

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.