Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizen and past, current, or upcoming VHA Health Professions Trainees (HPTs). Consideration Order - 1. All preference eligible; 2. All others [NOTE: Non-Vets will be referred only after all preference eligible applicants have been exhausted.]

• Initiates study(s), assists and facilitates selection of study participating sites, training of site study personnel, coordinating and/or overseeing development and implementation of (a) protocol revisions, updates and modifications, (b) study operations manual, and (c) study monitoring processes including participant enrollment and follow up, study close-out, interim (if applicable) and final reports/analysis of study data.
• Analyzes collected data in order to elucidate significant factors, relationships, and trends; prepares cross tabulations or frequency listings of selected variables to assess the validity of data.
• Ensures the high quality of the research data; performs informatics and data processing activities and conducts critical interim (as applicable) and final statistical analyses using appropriate statistical methodology.
• Works closely with the Study Chairperson(s), Site Investigators, Site Study personnel, CRPCC Research Pharmacy staff, CSPCC Study Team and management, and, if, applicable pharmaceutical sponsors and other government agency sponsors representatives on approved CSP multi-center clinical trial(s).
• In conjunction with the Study Chairperson(s), leads (a) study group (b) Data Monitoring Committee and (c) Executive Committee meetings and/or conference calls and any other committee established per study protocol.
• Works closely with several different workgroups (beyond the Study Team(s)) within CSP, and with its community partners in healthcare, industry, and academia.
• Works closely with the Principal Proponent and the Planning Committee to develop a successful Study Protocol for clinical trial proposals assigned to the Center.
• Provides guidance and direction in study design, statistical methodology for sample size estimation and data analysis, protocol requirements, data collection and management, inputs to the study budget, and adherence to International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH), Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and VA CSP guidelines and policies.
• Works closely with the study team's statistical programmer and research associates to develop case report forms and data management procedures.
• Evaluates and adapts new statistical procedures and software applications when necessary.
• Modifies existing statistical methods or develops new and innovative statistical methods for a specific study or of general interest.
• Demonstrates the continued ability to design sound research study protocols and conducts complex statistical analyses.
• Takes a leadership role in drafting and coordinating the submission of the primary and secondary publications resulting from study data analyses.

Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Ad-Hoc
Position Description/PD#: Statistician (Health- Biostatistician)/PD00298A and PD00297A

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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 dentification 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

"NOTE: This applies to past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professions Trainees (HPT) only. VA HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or admitted to the VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC)."

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Individual Occupational Requirements Basic Requirements: A. Degree: that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology, etc. Credit toward meeting statistical course requirements should be given for courses in which 50 percent of the course content appears to be statistical methods, e.g., courses that included studies in research methods in psychology or economics such as tests and measurements or business cycles, or courses in methods of processing mass statistical data such as tabulating methods or electronic data processing.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience - courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

AND

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

Preferred Experience:
GS-12 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: successful study protocols for clinical trial proposals; performs high quality research data and informatics and data processing activities; conducts critical interim (as applicable) and final statistical analyses using appropriate statistical methodology; research initiatives that require advanced statistical and methodological support; helps coordinate design and specifications of center-wide process and business analytics data; professional knowledge of commonly used statistical software packages.


GS-13 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Comprehensive knowledge of bio or mathematical statistics; statistical theory and methodology germane to multi -center clinical trials and research design; analyses of large databases, and techniques of quality control, biological sciences and management; familiar with human diseases applicable to protocols being designed; professional knowledge of commonly used statistical software packages such as SAS, R, S Plus, PASS, NQUERY, StatXact, and EAST; Visual Basic, Perl and Matlab to perform computer analysis of statistical data and findings; using a range of statistical methods such as sample size and power, non-adaptive and adaptive randomization schemes and designs, sampling techniques, group and sequential analysis, ANOVA, ANCOVA, linear and multiple regression, generalized linear models, etc; advise and consult on a variety of issues involving theory/application of statistical methods; communicate detailed scientific information in a clear, logical and concise manner orally and in writing; work effectively with others and lead diverse groups of col leagues.


The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-12 to GS-13.

Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for 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; religions; 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.

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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• Transcript

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Health Professions Trainee Supporting Documentation
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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