Summary

The Research Biologist is a key member of the Laboratories of Research and Development at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center, reporting directly to the Director of Research Operations for Research Service and Development. This position holds primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Research Safety Program at the Tampa VA Medical Center.

Duties

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• Ensure compliance with safety protocols and federal, state, and VA research laboratory regulations
• Oversee laboratory decommissioning, hazardous waste management, access restriction, and physical security
• Coordinate and conduct laboratory inspections; prepare compliance reports and risk assessments
• Develop, update, and deliver research safety training; maintain Biosafety, Chemical Hygiene, Security, and Disaster Preparedness plans
• Serve as Research Safety Officer and Chemical Hygiene Officer; manage chemical inventory, review and implement safety policies/SOPs
• Participate in safety and radiation committees, emergency drills, and address Environment of Care (EOC) findings
• Liaise with Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, and other entities to implement research safety plans
• Facilitate laboratory moves and act as regulatory inspection point-of-contact
• Supervise and train staff in basic and animal science laboratories; oversee hiring, onboarding, scheduling, and performance reviews
• Assist with grant/protocol development and maintain compliance/regulatory records
• Manage laboratory equipment and resources; conduct inventories, schedule maintenance, and oversee acquisitions/disposals
• Administer environmental monitoring systems for critical equipment/spaces
• Support research planning, resource allocation, protocol compliance, and collaboration
• Facilitate biomedical equipment procurement; maintain supporting documents and vendor quotes
• Organize contractor records; document performance and verify deliverables
• Enforce policies, resolve conflicts, ensure Equal Employment Opportunity compliance, and track staff time and attendance
• Maintain inventory, equipment/service records, supply orders, administrative documentation, and furnish regular reports to leadership
• Manage government vehicles for staff and supply transport

Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 8:00am - 4:30 pm

Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work. Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to the in-person work mandate in their current position.

Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA-owned or leased space.

Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in-person work unless they are approved for an exception or an exemption. Any approval for an RTO exception, exemption, or extension will happen after a tentative job offer, but before a final job offer.

Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Biologist/PD856360

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical 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.
• 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 identification 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)

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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/18/2026.

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 the 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

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:

• Experience with biosafety, chemical hygiene, hazardous waste management, and emergency preparedness within a biomedical research environment.
• Possess expertise in laboratory operations, program management, compliance reporting, and coordination with regulatory bodies.
• Strong understanding of the scientific process, research protocol development, facility and equipment management, and supervisory principles necessary for leading a diverse laboratory team.
• Developing and implementing standard operating procedures, conducting risk assessments, presenting training sessions, and ensuring ongoing regulatory compliance across all research activities.
• Independently resolving conflicts, interpreting regulations, and coordinating with multiple departments to ensure operational and safety standards are met. AND,

The Individual Occupational Requirement: For the 0401 Occupational Series you must have

• A degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines

OR

• A Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

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.