Physiologist

Summary

This position is a Physiologist with the organizational title of Exercise Physiologist located in the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS), Ann Arbor, Ml - a level 1b complexity VHA facility.

Duties

• Program Management - Conducts and manages an exercise program tailored to individual patients, taking into consideration their age, health conditions, and physical functioning. - Plans and sustains a portfolio of funded research in the field of aging, exercise, and functional decline. - Selects and administers physical performance measures for Gerofit research and clinical activities. - Acts as Program Manager for Gerofit research and clinical project(s) and leads and participates in the activities of the team. Manages communications and changes to the scope, direction, and processes of projects. - Plans management approach for projects; conducts complete evaluations of project operations; collects, analyzes, manages and documents data; interprets results; and documents and reports findings. - Organizes the data collection and data management processes. Assures compliance with study protocols, study operations manuals, standard operating procedures, and other relevant policies and procedures. - Develops follow-up procedures to monitor participant progress. Establishes, coordinates, monitors, and manages outcomes-based research and analyses. - Assigns specific duties to program employees, as required, and monitors activities and quality of work specific to projects. - Prepares reports for both written and oral presentations to the general scientific community to be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at meetings and conferences. - Monitors program progress, budget requirements, and timelines as required for VA reports and other relevant guidelines. Reviews regular status reports and statistical data to verify compliance with research reporting and administrative criteria. - Plans, develops and completes required documentation/paperwork/forms to applicable Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) for initial and continuing human subjects review. - Establishes program goals and objectives and identifies results indicative of successful program accomplishments. - Establishes a schedule of team meetings, develops meeting agendas, and facilitates ongoing study activities. - Provides training and consultation to program team personnel in project protocols, policies, and procedures, including appropriate clinical interview procedures and data collection and maintenance. Data Management - Implements study interventions and/or data abstraction, data collection, and data management procedures. Gathers statistical and narrative data on program status, including resource utilization, statistical data on participation, and adherence to study protocols on matters such as participant education and study interventions. - Organizes data collection processes, statistical analysis, and data management, summarizing research data using computerized programs. - Develops study operations manuals, defining systems and procedures to follow for optimal operation of complex research projects. - Maintains records and prepares administrative and statistical reports for review. - Arranges and conducts complex literature searches required for research projects. - Conducts audits of research study records for compliance with applicable federal rules and regulations. This position is at the full performance level Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am -3:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Physiologist/PD924430 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/10/2026. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. Basic Requirements: 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-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Developing, designing, and conducting exercise programs for patients. Assessing, planning or implementing fitness programs that included exercise or physical activities. Conducting exercise testing to develop individualized exercise plans. Administering and interpreting physical performance tests and record responses to treatment. Data collection and monitoring protocols for treatment program. Using basic life support (to assess and adequately initiate basic life support) as needed during day to day program activities. Using safety practices in physical activity programs, particularly those enrolling patients with multiple co-morbidities which will require the ability to adapt or extend current practice based upon the complexity of the patient population. Applying national physical activity guidelines (HHS, AHA, ACSM) for adults with sufficient mastery of the underlying theory in order to adapt programs to meet individual needs while adhering to established guidelines, policies and regulations. Computer use, database development and statistical analysis sufficient to evaluate program effectiveness, patient improvement and develop professional presentations. Motivational interviewing as applied to behavioral change and lifestyle modification. Managing priorities and coordination of work in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely manner. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or (3) three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this Physiologist position. Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the second year and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet total experience requirements for this grade level. This education portion must include graduate courses that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of a Physiologist and must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Preferred Experience: Experience creating and administering exercise prescriptions for an older adult population with complex health issues and/or comorbid conditions. Experience creating and leading group exercise classes with modifications as dictated by class need. Experience with administrative programs, including complex Excel databases, Outlook calendar and scheduling, Teams planner and channels, Redcap and Qualtrics. Physical Demands: The work involves a wide range of physical demands from sedentary work in a standard office setting to moderate to heavy physical demands which include the ability to lead exercise classes, move exercise equipment, and transfer patients in an emergency setting. Work Environment: The work is performed in an office and/or Gerofit clinic setting requiring no special considerations beyond accepted standards of safety. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement. For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/. 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/.

Requirements

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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: 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 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.

Education

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/.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13052449. The application process is as follows: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date, 09/10/2026. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. NOTE: Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started. Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume: Prioritize most relevant and recent experience Use concise, results focused language Align language from the job announcement Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies Remove outdated or unrelated experience Use the USAJOBS resume builder Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit