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The National Center for Ethics in Health Care develops and implements a range of ethics programs that address the very practical needs of the nation’s largest health care system. The Center’s activities include ethics consultation, policy analysis, ethics education, report development, and program evaluation related to clinical, research, and organizational ethics. The main office of the Center is located at VA headquarters in Washington, DC, with two other offices in New York City and Seattle, WA. We are currently recruiting for the following position:

The Ethics Policy Specialist will assist the Chief Officer and senior staff of the VHA National Center for Ethics in heath care in analyzing and developing ethics related policies, and advise the Ethics Center, field offices, networks, and facilities on ethics policy questions. Duties include:

- Conducts review of current agency policies related to ethics, and appraises the effectiveness of key agency policies related to coordinating the agency's regulatory review, analysis, and implementation of agency ethics policy. Identifies where new or changed policy guidance may be necessary to carry on agency mission.

- Researches, analyzes and prepares written recommendations for changes or additions to current agency policies. Revises selected parts of VHA ethics procedures and guidelines and identifies program matters in which procedures should be established or revised to make the program operate more efficiently.

- Applies scientific and clinical knowledge along with program management experience, to the development and implementation of policies in a specific area of a broader scientific program.

- Investigates and articulates various ethics policy options for the senior staff and plans and implements the decision. Reviews program policies for consistency with the policy direction of the National Center for Ethics in Health Care and identifies specific areas that require additional analysis.

- Serves on Agency-wide and inter-agency committees charged with making recommendations and/or reviewing and updating policies. Serves as a recognized technical expert in ethics in order to contribute to the establishment of specific new VHA ethics policies and procedures.

- Consults with various officials within and outside of the agency on ethics policy issues. Provides policy and procedural consultation, advice and guidance to field offices, other parts of the VHA, other government entities, academia, the media, and industry representatives.

- Coordinates, manages and executes the administrative and logistical aspects of assigned projects.

- Collaborates with various officials on a range of regulatory and policy issues. Serves as an official agency liaison to State and local public health and regulatory organizations on ethics. Maintains collaboration and open communication on shared regulatory and policy projects and issues.

- Provides support to the Chief of Ethics Policy and other office members in the development of policy and in consultations as needed.

- Performs other related duties as assigned.

Location: This position will be located at the national headquarters of the Department of Veterans Affairs near McPherson Square in Washington, DC.

Salary: GS-11/12 level.

Qualifications: Successful applicants will possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

1. Knowledge of Federal policy making processes and the relationship between national and local level.

2. Skill in researching and analyzing complex policies or policy-related issues.

3. Ability to effectively communicate in writing to produce quality ethics related policy documents, reports and correspondence.

4. Skill in effectively dealing with other professionals, including senior officials, in order to elicit input, synthesize different perspectives, and develop consensus.

5. Skill in using personal computers and software packages such as MS Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint.

Application process: This position will be filled through a government-wide application process. This job was announced today through USAJOBS and will remain open for only two weeks. ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY Thursday, November 12, 2009.

Please note that the process of applying for a federal government job can take some time. Please refer to the official announcement for information about this position and how to apply. http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?JobID=84249540&lid=17514&rad_units=miles&brd=3876&pp=50&jbf522=0301&vw=d&re=0&FedEmp=Y&FedPub=Y&caller=series.aspx&pg=1&q=Ethics+Policy+Specialist&AVSDM=2009-10-28+18%3a07%3a00&rc=6&TabNum=5

WORD OF WARNING: You must follow all instructions exactly as specified in the announcement. These materials are screened and rated by HR personnel in a regional office. These HR personnel will automatically disqualify any applicant who does not follow all the instructions to the letter. For example, applicants are eliminated if they neglect to complete and sign any of the required forms or fail to describe their education (e.g., areas of emphasis or specific courses) and employment history (e.g., specific job duties that demonstrate experience directly relevant to this job, number of hours per week) in sufficient detail to prove to HR screeners that they qualify for the desired grade level (e.g., GS-11). Qualified applicants are those whose application materials clearly demonstrate that their education and experience are directly relevant to the advertised job and adequate to justify the grade level. If you do not make it through this initial screening process, the Ethics Center staff will never even see your application!!

For further information, you may contact:

Louis Polk (202) 461-4097 louis.polk@va.gov

Steven Spickler (202) 461-4102 steven.spickler@va.gov

Location
Washington,

Contact
see announcement
see announcement
see announcement