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Social and Behavorial Scientist Administrator

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

Summary

As an SBSA Program Officer you will provide advice in program planning, solicitation, and evaluation to perform day-to-day administrative functions related to research grants and interagency agreements supporting research projects in your assigned area.
As a SBSA Scientific Review Officer you will initiate, plan, advise, direct, and evaluate program activities for a portfolio of research projects and programs.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/22/2019 to 01/31/2019
Salary
$81,548 to - $148,967 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 14
Location
Montgomery County, MD
many vacancies
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
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
NIH-SR-MP-19-10397297
Control number
521994200

Duties

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As a Program Officer, you will:

  • provide technical leadership and guidance in a major subject-matter area while coordinating the review activities of the Office of Extramural Research Grants Review Committee and Special Emphasis Panels;
  • evaluate the availability and level of resources that can be applied to program area needs and stimulate interest in projects and special activities through communication with the social science community;
  • organize and conduct discussions with social science and/or behavioral researchers concerning an overall agenda for the assigned program area;
  • provide suggested recommendations concerning program direction, priorities, and funding levels for areas of responsibility;
  • perform scientific and administrative reviews;
  • analyze applications and proposals from a programmatic viewpoint;
  • prepare information for an attend advisory review committee or panel meetings and respond to issues and concerns about specific applications and proposals;
  • consult with and advise grantees and contractors during application preparation and provide guidance on program matters;
  • collaborate with other Branch and Division staff and NIH offices, as required;
  • organize and conduct workshops, conferences, symposia or similar activities to foster the aims of the Branch or Division;
  • perform other duties as assigned.
As a Scientific Review Officer, you will:
  • provide policy direction and coordination for the planning and execution of initial scientific and technical review;
  • utilize scientific knowledge and expertise to perform a variety of management functions associated with the scientific peer review of research and research training support activities and other contract activities;
  • manage the initial scientific and administrative review of grant, program project grant, and training grant application as well as research project applications submitted in response to requests for applications;
  • appoint and manage review panels;
  • establish the criteria and standards for the review panel to follow;
  • prepare summary statements of review committee findings and recommendations;
  • act as the sole Federal official and agency representative by guiding the activities of a review committee and ensure continuity of approach toward evaluating applications, proposals, and adherence to peer review policies and procedures;
  • perform other duties as assigned.

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.
  • Status candidates, please provide a Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50)
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement.
  • Please provide a copy of your transcripts.
  • The position has an education requirement.

Qualifications

Basic Position Requirements:
You meet the Basic Requirements for this position if you:
A. have a bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in the behavioral or social sciences, or related disciplines appropriate to this position;
OR
B. have a combination of education and experience that provided me with the knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field;
OR
C. have four years of appropriate experience demonstrating that I have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
AND
You have worked independently in planning, organizing, and conducting behavioral or social science health, or health-related research; served in research program administration in these fields; and acquired an understanding of the history, interests, internal dynamics, and relationships of organizations in which health research is conducted.

Additional Requirements for Applicants to the GS-12 level:
The requirements for fully qualifying at this level can be gained through any of the environments, or combination of the environments listed below provided they were performed for 52 weeks or 1-year:
A. Academic Environment - serving as principal investigator or equivalent on a grant or contract, which may include institutional grant support or foundation funds, but should have been obtained competitively; independent research, as evidenced by the development of a research project, and primary authorship of research publications in peer-reviewed journals; held position of Instructor, Assistant Professor, or equivalent.
B. Intramural Environment - independent research, as evidenced by the development of research projects, and primary authorship of research publications in peer-reviewed journals; evidence of responsibility for significant aspects of laboratory/research unit; held position of Staff Fellow, Senior Staff Fellow, Research Associate or equivalent.
C. Private or Public Sector (Profit/Nonprofit) Environment - conceptualization and implementation of a research project, primary authorship on internal research reports or patents and/or publications in peer-reviewed journals; held position of Research Scientist or equivalent.
D. Extramural Environment: review for completeness applications for research grants or contracts; study scientific literature in order to place the proposed research project in its relationship to the research being done in the subject matter area; respond to issues and concerns about specific applications or proposals pertaining to assigned program areas.

Additional Requirements for Applicants to the GS-13 level:
The requirements for fully qualifying at this level can be gained through any of the environments, or combination of the environments listed below provided they were performed for 52 weeks or 1-year:
A. Academic Environment - the management of significant independent research projects (analogous to an R01 and R21 grant) and supervision of graduate researcher or technicians; publications in refereed journals, presenting published work to scientific organizations and teaching graduate level courses in behavioral or social sciences or health-related disciplines; served as a reviewer on peer-review panels or journals; held position of Assistant or Associate Professor or equivalent.
B. Intramural Environment - responsible for multiple scientific projects, supervising graduate researchers or technicians; publications in refereed journals, presenting published work to scientific organizations and teaching graduate level courses in behavioral or social science or health-related disciplines; served as a reviewer on peer-reviewed panels or journals; held position of Research Scientist (permanent position), Section Chief, or equivalent.
C. Private or Public Sector (Profit/Nonprofit) Environment - evidence of increasing responsibility in research or research administration within the company; held position of Senior Research Scientist/Project Manager or equivalent.
D. Extramural Environment: review the technical and scientific merit of applications and proposals received requesting grant or contract funds; provide advice in program planning, solicitation, and evaluation to perform day-to-day administrative functions related to research grants and interagency agreements supporting research projects in your scientific area; identify new basic, translational and clinical research concepts, projects and initiatives to appropriate advisory groups and formulate and develop Program Announcements, RFAs, RFPs, or a combination of these, to achieve objectives.

Additional Requirements for Applicants to the GS-14 level:
The requirements for fully qualifying at this level can be gained through any of the environments, or combination of the environments listed below provided they were performed for 52 weeks or 1-year. At the GS-14 level, qualifying experience must demonstrate extensive scientific expertise incorporating research experience with varied responsibilities for providing leadership in a scientific area functioning as a leader for a variety of efforts, such as directing research and coordinating committee and teaching activities, and organizing and chairing sessions at national scientific meetings.
A. Academic Environment - responsible for at least two concurrent research projects with separate staff and budgets and supervising doctoral level staff; held position of Associate Professor, Professor, or equivalent.
B. Intramural Environment - responsible for at least two concurrent research projects with separate staff and budgets and supervising doctoral level staff; held position of Section Chief or equivalent.
C. Private or Public Sector (Profit/Nonprofit) Environment - evidence of increasing responsibility in research or research administration within the company; held position of Senior Research Scientist/Project Manager or equivalent.
D. Extramural Environment: organize and conduct workshops, conferences, symposia or similar activities to foster the aims of the program, to facilitate communication among investigators, or to advise on the status of progress and emerging directions of research in the assigned program area; manage the initial scientific and administrative review of center grant, program project grant, and training grant applications, as well as research project applications submitted in response to requests for applications, multicenter clinical trial applications, and contract proposals assigned to the program area; plans, advises, and evaluates program activities for a portfolio of research project, research program and other grants/awards, cooperative agreements, and/or contracts in the assigned program area and the discovery, development and evaluation of associated prevention and therapeutic strategies; review and evaluate periodic and interim progress reports to determine effectiveness of support and achievement of objectives; recommend funding plans for initiatives; establish the criteria and standards for a review panel.

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/10397297

Education

Please refer to the "Qualifications" section.

This position has an education requirement. 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 package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign 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 b considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: telework, remote work, compressed schedules, flexible schedules.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
  • If selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450 to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency. This information is required annually. For information, visit the NIH Ethics website: https://ethics.od.nih.gov/topics/fd.htm.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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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