Careers

Description:

Are you interested in helping to improve the healthcare of United States Veterans through meaningful work in a collaborative environment? The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Cooperative Studies Program (CSP) is a nationally renowned program of epidemiology and clinical trial research centers that produce innovative and effective solutions to Veteran and national healthcare problems through high quality multi-site research studies.

The Colonoscopy vs. Fecal Immunochemical Test in Reducing Mortality from Colorectal Cancer (CONFIRM) Study is a CSP study that is hiring a full-time National Research Assistant.

Key Duties for all positions:

• The incumbent will assist in scheduling various study-related meetings and conference calls and minutes of meetings. Incumbent must have superior organizational skills.
• The incumbent will contact participants about change of address and obtain medical records from VA and non-VA facilities for the use of the study.
• The incumbent will use search services if participants cannot be located.
• The incumbent will respond to positive flags from the annual survey.
• The incumbent will report to the National Study Coordinator, Study Chairman, and Study Sponsor if any problems that occur.
• Demonstrate understanding, tact, empathy, and cooperation with team members and stakeholders to provide optimal customer service 

Study Description and Study-specific Key Duties

The CONFIRM study (Colonoscopy vs. Fecal Immunochemical Test in Reducing Mortality from Colorectal Cancer CSP #577) is the largest interventional study the VA has ever done to date. It has 46 participating VA Medical Centers nationwide, two Co-Chairs offices in Seattle, WA and White River Junction, VT, a coordinating center in West Haven, CT and a pharmacy coordinating center in Albuquerque, NM. The 46 participating sites have been divided between the two Co-Chair offices for follow-up of the 50,126 study participants. The National Study Research Assistant will assist the Study Co-Chairman and National Study Coordinator in the daily administration of the study. This position will require an individual who understands the basic principles of scientific investigation and clinical trials, who is capable of in-depth understanding of the study protocol. Thus, the incumbent must possess scientific, organizational, and interpersonal skills. A BS or BA is required; a degree in scientific research-related field is strongly recommended. This position is subject to random drug testing which includes marijuana as this is a federal organization and marijuana use is not legal federally. 

Application Information

All positions are based in Seattle, WA and all candidates must be U.S. citizens. Top candidates’ education and experience will be evaluated by Human Resources to determine if they meet the criteria for the targeted range of GS-5 to GS-7. To examine salaries in the GS-5 – GS-7 range, see the current year’s General Schedule (GS) salary table for Seattle on the OPM.GOV website. 

It is understood that your circumstances may change during the interview process. Please be sure to share any updates relevant to your situation such as your employment status and current location throughout the process. 

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Skills/Eligibility:

Qualifications for all positions:

• BA/BS in a scientific - or health-related field required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) required
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with a diverse group of researchers and staff
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Excellent time management
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and timelines
• US citizenship

How to Apply:

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Meaghan.Larson@va.gov.  See detailed instructions below. If you do not provide sufficient detail or required information, Human Resources may not find you eligible for the position. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. 

Please format your resume according to the following guidance for federal submission: 

• The USAJobs website has tips on submitting a resume for a federal position. Some of the following items come from that guidance.
  • List all relevant and previous employment in an easy-to-read format
  • List all degrees and years obtained (i.e., MPH or MS, BA or BS, etc.)
  • For each past job or position held, include the following information:
    1. Employer name and address
       1. Salary (if unpaid, list as “$0/hour”) and number of hours worked
          1. Supervisor name and contact information
          2. Permission to contact supervisor: Yes/No
          3. Internships that you received academic credit for should also be listed
          4. Any internships that were not paid and you did not receive academic credit for should be listed in a separate volunteer section
  • Highlight and elaborate on your research and healthcare experience and related academic and presentation/publication achievements, spelling out abbreviations and explaining any terms and jargon from your background. Consider a non-research audience when describing your experiences. It is acceptable for your resume to be longer than 1-2 pages as federal resume are typically quite thorough and detailed. Please provide as much detail as you can.