Work with Research

Prospective applicants may search for current job openings and apply for Research positions at the Los Angeles VA Medical Center and within the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System on the USAJOBS.gov website. 

If you are an organization or company looking to do research work with our VA, you will need to set up a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). For more information, visit https://navref.org/CRADAs/.

Visit the Work with Us page for more information about general staffing at VA Greater Los Angeles outside of Research Service. 

Interagency Personnel Act appointments are used to hire a qualified applicant with specific skills that is working for one eligible agency to be assigned to work on a program or project at another agency that has a need for these skills.

IPA assignments can be made for up to two years (on an intermittent, part-time, or full-time basis), and can be extended for two additional years.

For more information on IPAs, visit Intergovernment Personnel Act (opm.gov). 

Preparing an IPA Agreement for Mobility Requests

Review the list of IPA items listed below, download, and submit the completed supplemental documents at least 90 days (3 months) prior to your needed staffing start date.

1. IPA Cover Letter Memo (template available via email request)
2. Provide a copy of search results from the Office of Inspector General (OIG)Exclusions Database by searching last and/or first name. https://exclusions.oig.hhs.gov/
3. CV/Resume of Applicant
4. Cost Summary Worksheet (template available via email request)
5. IPA Assignment Agreement OF69 Form. To download form, please visit Optional Forms (opm.gov).

IPAs are not contracts/firm agreements until approved by the VA GLA Facility Director and Human Resources Department. They are executable only after approval. Applicants should receive a copy once approval is confirmed.

For any questions about the required IPA documents, contact Nui Brown, IPA Coordinator at Nui.Brown@va.gov. If you have questions about the IPA submission process, email VHAWLAResearchSvc@va.gov.

Applicants may be hired under a Without Compensation (WOC) Appointment. Applicants may include, but are not limited to, students, university employees, non-paid interns, fellows, residents, other non-VA employees working at VA sites, volunteers, and visiting scientists who are not compensated by the VA for their employment but may be paid with other funding sources. 

New WOC Applications are for employees who are applying for the first time and WOC Renewal applications are for existing employees who have previously had a WOC appointment which has expired or is set to expire within 3-6 months. 

Preparing an Application for a WOC Appointment

Applicants must complete the following steps to submit the WOC application:

1. Contact Wendy.Enriquez@va.gov to begin the application process for new or existing research staff at least 90 days (3 months) prior to the required start date.
2. Submit the required documents:
   1. WOC Checklist Form (available by request)
   2. Applicant CV or Resume
   3. Two professional references, contact information- name and email (Must be from a current or previous supervisor)
   4. TMS required training certificates (See required training below)  
   5. CITI training certificates (See required training below)
3. Background checks and fingerprints must be cleared with the Human Resources Office before a WOC appointment is approved.
4. All applicants must visit Employee Health to complete a physical and obtain a possible drug test before a WOC appointment is approved.

For any questions about WOC applications and forms, contact Wendy.Enriquez@va.gov.

All VA Research Employees including IPA and WOC appointment applicants must complete the following required training courses during the hiring process. 

VA Talent Management System (TMS 2.0) Training 

• Please visit  https://www.tms.va.gov/SecureAuth35/
• Create a new non-employee user account, self-enroll under Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and select WOC (those working for VA without VA compensation).   
• Complete the required research TMS annual training courses:
  • Government Ethics – The Essentials (VA 3812493)
  • VA Privacy and Information Security Awareness and Rules of Behavior (VA 10176)
  • VA Privacy and HIPAA (VA 10203)
• Direct any questions to Young.Lee3@va.gov, Research TMS Coordinator.

CITI Program Training

• Please visit https://about.citiprogram.org/ *Link outside of VA
• Register a new account listing your institution as Greater Los Angeles CA-691.
• Complete the account profile questions, then select required course(s) based on research tasks:
  • VA Human Subjects Protection (for contact with Human Subjects) AND/OR
  • Laboratory Hazard (for contact with Biomedical Laboratory Specimens)
• If applicant has an existing CITI account that is registered under another affiliation (e.g., University, etc.), a new affiliation for Greater Los Angeles CA-691 must be added.
• Direct any questions to Young.Lee3@va.gov, Research TMS Coordinator.

For any questions about VA GLA Research training, contact Wendy.Enriquez@va.gov.