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Technical Information Specialist (Informationist)

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Library is pleased to announce an exciting employment opportunity for an exceptional candidate to serve as an informationist and lead the Library's data services program. If you have experience providing information and data services in a biomedical library setting and want to play a significant role in a dynamic organization, then consider joining the NIH Library team. For more information, visit https://www.nihlibrary.nih.gov/services/data.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
05/28/2019 to 06/06/2019
Salary
$69,581 to - $128,920 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Montgomery County, MD
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NIH-ORS-DE-19-10463313
Control number
534055900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration.

Duties

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  • Serves as lead and subject matter expert for the Library's data services program.
  • Assesses NIH researchers' training needs in the areas of data management, data visualization, data analysis, and R and Python programming.
  • Develops and delivers graduate-level training to meet identified needs.
  • Provides one-on-one advice and consultations in the areas of data science.
  • Assists NIH researchers in using the NIH Library's data sciences workstation which offers a suite of tools for data analysis, processing, and visualization for a variety of different types of data.
  • Consults and collaborates with NIH staff to aid them in locating, accessing, identifying, and managing information.
  • Performs outreach across NIH and HHS to understand users information needs and markets library services and resources that meet those needs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Position is subject to a background investigation.
  • Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirements:
In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the following Basic Requirements:
A. Have a full 4-year course of study that meets all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with major study in the subject-matter field of the position to be filled;
OR
B. Have four years of experience that provided a knowledge of the basic principles, theories, practices, techniques, and terminology of a discipline or subject-matter field; an understanding of the standard methods, procedures, and techniques of research and analysis in the subject-matter field; and where appropriate, ability to read and comprehend nontechnical material in one or more foreign languages. Such experience is equivalent to that which would have been gained through a 4-year college curriculum.
C. Have a combination of education and experience as described above.

Additional Qualification Requirements:In addition to the above, in order to qualify for this position at the GS-11 level, you must:
A. Have 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent) related to the position;
OR
B. Have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: responding to requests for specialized information in the biomedical field; performing assignments involving the categorization, summarization, or location of scientific, biomedical, or other specialized information; indexing and retrieving specialized scientific and technical materials in the biomedical field; assisting in identifying, evaluating, and implementing tools, methods, and processes to make electronic information more usable.
OR
C. Have a combination of post baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

In addition to the above, in order to qualify for the GS-12 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: modifying standard information retrieval practices, precedents and techniques and adapting automated systems to solve a variety of information organization, access and dissemination problems in a biomedical environment; developing and implementing new and innovative information products and services needed by clinical and biomedical research groups; evaluating the efficiency of operations and quality of products for library automation projects and recommending improvements; collecting, and reporting statistics documenting trends in biomedical research, and recommending changes to the collection; developing training plans and web-based training modules to assist customers in the use of library systems and services.

In addition to the above, in order to qualify for the GS-13 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: evaluating and developing new library information systems, applications and library services to support the information needs of a biomedical research organization; performing reference and research services relating to biomedical subjects; tracking trends in scientific and biomedical research and analyzing their impact on the library collection; performing outreach services to understand user's information needs and marketing library services and resources that meet those needs; evaluating, recommending, and managing electronic library information systems, databases, and other library resources pertinent to a biomedical library program.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10463313

Education

If you qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, you are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application packages. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education

Additional information

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

  • This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
  • PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should also apply online to this announcement in order to receive consideration.
  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: (telework, flexible schedules).
  • A relocation expense maybe paid for this position.
  • A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for prior work experience or active duty uniformed service that otherwise would not be creditable for the purpose of determining his or her annual leave accrual rate. All creditable service must be directly related to the duties of the position being filled and decisions to allow for such credit must be finalized prior to the selectee's entrance on duty. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
  • We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s).
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application and responses to the online questionnaire will be evaluated under Category Rating and selection procedures for placement in one of the following categories:

  • Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria
  • Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria
  • Qualified - for those who only meet the minimum qualification requirements
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points, but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Applicants determined to be Best Qualified will be referred for further consideration. Preference eligibles in the Best Qualified category are referred before all other applicants.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, a review of your resume and supporting documentation may be made and compared against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Because your rating is based on both your responses to the questionnaire and documentation you submit, please make sure that your self-ratings are supported by the information you provide in your application. Your qualifications and self-ratings may be verified at any time during the application and selection process through quality review, interview questions, work samples, demonstrations, reference checks, and any other means. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts on the assessment questionnaire or in any other materials you submit in support of your candidacy (including but not limited to the application), or in any oral statements you may make during the selection process shall be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as having knowledge of your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin prior to receiving an offer.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least an 85 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

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