Do you have a passion for process and the ability to critically think through organizational advancements? Are you ready to join a team serving our country's veterans? We are looking for candidates who enjoy analyzing, breaking down, and solving complex challenges. You will be trusted to share your insights and recommendations with clients to inform their organizational, strategic, and programmatic initiatives.

Position Expectations:

• Perform all required responsibilities and duties in accordance with LMI/MRSS policies and procedures. 
• Actively engage in your role, make informed decisions, be accountable for all outcomes, critically think, and be a positive influence for LMI/MRSS. 
• Deliver exceptional service to internal and external clients, partners, teammates. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Support and facilitate the government-client with the in-take, validation, and compliance review of all peer-reviewed scientifically based merit proposals.
• Consult and assist the government-client with tasks supporting all pre and post peer-review meeting activities such as logistics, communication, facilitating and coordinating participant involvement, etc.
• Interact and collaborate with service area Project Manager in the support of the merit review process.
• Analyze and disseminate data regarding program support.
• Critically think through MRSS processes, positively impacting efficiency
• Analyze data integrity of scietiifc merit based proposals
• Interface with internal and external peer-review program participants to coordinate and provide consultation on overall activities to support government-client goals.
• Provide program management support to scientific portfolio managers in the administrative management and budgetary tracking of the research and development portfolio.
• Upon government-client approval facilitate the dissemination of peer-review proposal funding results to Department of Veterans Affairs research facilities.
• Manage the government-client in ensuring all peer-review meetings are conducted per established requirements.
• Manage all Merit review research proposals activities using eRA Commons system.
• Facilitate, manage, and analyze peer-review program documentation to include reports, correspondence, schedules, technical instructions/procedures or related materials..

• Review and analyze scientific research-based proposals for further consideration of funding.

• Evaluate funding requests from Principal Investigators and report discrepancies to VA-ORD research staff.
• Consult with VA-ORD staff on process enhancements and organizational process updates.
• Provide best practices regarding merit review facilitation to Scientific Portfolio Managers.
• Allocate funds to Principal Investigators within the Electronic Research Administration system based off research service decision making.
• Review and analyze Pre and Post meeting reviewer conflicts for validity.
• Analyze Merit review processes and provide enhancements or changes to client support.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills:

• Associates Degree in Business or related field.
• 3-5 years experience in a similar administrative role.

• Demonstrated critical thinking abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a team and collaborate to solve problems.
• Strong attention to detail.

• Ability to effectively communicate with internal and external clients, partners, teammates.

• LMI/MRSS may choose to substitute education with relevant experience.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills:

• Experience working with the Veteran Affairs Office of Research and Development.
• 1-2 years of mentoring/training other peers or employees.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively facilitate meetings.
• Experience working in research-based systems. (eRA , NIH, etc.)

Disclaimer

This description in no way implies that the duties listed here are the only ones the employee can be required to perform. The employee is expected to perform other tasks as dictated by their supervisor or MRSS leadership.