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Associate Director for Communication

Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This job announcement has closed

Summary

CDC is the nation's health protection agency, working to keep America healthy, safe, and secure. As a global leader in public health, CDC works to respond, contain, and eliminate disease. Whether we are protecting the American people from health threats, investigating emerging diseases, or mobilizing public health programs with our domestic and international partners, we rely on our employees to make a real difference in protecting the health and safety of people here and around the world.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/11/2019 to 01/24/2020
Salary
$127,914 to - $192,300 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Atlanta, GA
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
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
HHS-CDC-ES-20-10672920
Control number
553710300

Duties

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As Associate Director for Communication, you will:

  • Lead and direct the development and implementation of a comprehensive communication program;
  • Coordinate major public affairs activities;
  • Serve as the principal public affairs liaison for CDC/ATSDR;
  • Assure the Agency's health information is accurately and appropriately represented to a diversity of internal and external constituencies;
  • Provide leadership, technical assistance, and consultation in reputational risk communication and reputational management;
  • Ensure that health communication activities utilize systematic communication theory and technologies;
  • Provide leadership, technical assistance and consultation in establishing best business communication practices and strategic principles to maximize effectiveness;
  • Identify and build needed expertise and state-of-the-art technology, logistical support, and other capacities required for effective external and internal policy, public affairs communication, and media relations;
  • Provide leadership expertise and support services in the areas of health literacy, graphic design, video production, digital media, and language translation;
  • Build linkages and foster joint projects of mutual interest for capacity building throughout CDC and with partners, communities, national, and international organizations;
  • Oversee consistent and timely translation of policies to media and other influential external audiences;
  • Brief senior management at CDC, HHS and the legislative and executive branches, as appropriate, on the Agency's communication policy, programs and activities;
  • Serve as the CDC spokesperson in responding to questions from the news media and from special interest groups and the general public, about CDC programs and policies.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Drug screening required.
  • Recruitment and Relocation incentives may be authorized.
  • Moving expenses may be authorized.
  • You must serve a one-year probationary period unless you previously completed one year in the Senior Executive Service.
  • This position requires completion of a public financial disclosure report.
  • Background and/or Security investigation, if selected for position.
  • U.S. citizenship is required.
  • Resume, no more than five (5) numbered pages, recommended.
  • Student loan repayment incentive may be authorized.

Qualifications

All competitive candidates for SES positions with the federal government must demonstrate leadership experience indicative of senior executive level management capability. To meet the qualification requirements for this position, you must show in your resume that you possess the six Fundamental Competencies, the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) listed below. Your resume should emphasize levels of responsibility, scope, and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, and results.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT
You must have one year of specialized experience directly related to the position that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to include senior-level managerial and leadership experience in coordinating the functions of subordinates managers and staff in the development and implementation of a comprehensive communication program including policy, public affairs, and media relations.

This executive experience includes serving in a managerial capacity to a large and diverse organization with responsibility for promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of programs and operations.

FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES
Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Integrity/Honesty, Written Communication, Continual Learning, and Public Service Motivation.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs)
1. Leading Change: The ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

2. Leading People: The ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

3. Results Driven: The ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

4. Business Acumen: The ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

5. Building Coalitions: The ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (PTQs)
This position also requires that you have PTQs that represent knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. The following PTQs must be evident in your resume.

1. Progressively responsible senior management experience with providing executive leadership and coordination on strategic plans that reflect oral and written application of communication methods, theories, and practices.
2. Demonstrated senior level experience in the strategic planning, management, and advisory services for communicating policies and activities with partners, communities, and organizations.
3. Demonstrated senior level experience in the coordination of major public affairs activities and media relations.
4. Senior level experience in the implementation of systematic communication theory and technologies to support and coordinate organization-wide communication efforts.

It is strongly recommended that you visit the following Office of Personnel Management (OPM) webpage for more information regarding the Fundamental Competencies and ECQs. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-qualifications/#url=Overview

You can find additional information on the proper preparation of ECQs on OPM's website at http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf. You are encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action, and Result model outlined in the guide.

If selected, you will be required to complete an ECQ package by drafting narratives for each of the ECQs to be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) prior to being appointed to the position. If you are currently serving in a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), you will not need to draft ECQs.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Salary for SES positions varies depending on qualifications. The annual salary range is at the top of this announcement. This position might be eligible for performance bonuses and performance-based pay adjustments.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT/FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
CDC Financial Disclosure: HHS fosters a work environment committed to government ethics. Through its ethics program, HHS seeks to prevent conflicts of interest on the part of executive branch employees. A conflict-free HHS allows its public servants to make impartial decisions based on the interests of the public when carrying out governmental responsibilities, to serve as good stewards of public resources, and to loyally adhere to the Constitution and laws of the United States. As an executive branch employee, you will be subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct and the criminal conflict of interest statutes. An introduction to federal ethics will be available during orientation. You must complete the remainder of your initial ethics training during your first three months at HHS. Further details on this will be provided during orientation.
You might be required to a file a public or confidential financial disclosure report within 30 days of your appointment. You will receive formal notification if a disclosure report is required. This can require information such as recent sources of income, financial interests you hold, and outside activities you participate in, as well as similar information from a spouse or any dependent children. If you have questions, please contact the Deputy Ethics Counselor or Ethics Coordinator for your office, which you can find here: https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/ogc/contact-ogc/agency-deputy-ethics-counselors-and-ethics-coordinators/index.html

Security and Background Requirements
If you have not previously completed a background security investigation, one will be required. Appointment will be subject to your successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation might be required at a later time. All information concerning your qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation can be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection, or appropriate disciplinary action.

E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires, and as a condition of continued employment obligates you to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.

Veteran's Preference does not apply to SES.

To view the questionnaire, click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10672920

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document(s), view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume with no more than five (5) numbered pages is recommended.

A multi-step process is used to evaluate and refer applicants:

1. Minimum requirements: Your application must show that you meet all requirements including the education and/or experience required for this position. You may be rated "not qualified" if you do not possess the qualification requirements for the position. If your application is incomplete, you may be found "ineligible".

2. Rating: A panel of subject matter experts will review your application and evaluate your qualifications for this position based on the information in your application. Your application will be rated, based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of this position. Interviews will be at the discretion of the panel and/or selecting official.

3. Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to a selecting official for consideration and possible interview.

Your supporting documents are an integral part of the process for determining your qualifications for the position. If your responses are not supported by your resume, you will be eliminated from consideration. After reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, if a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Incomplete or late applications will not receive further consideration.

The application process to recruit for this position is the RESUME BASED method. Separate written narratives addressing the ECQs and PTQs will not be considered at this time. Evidence of your qualifications for the ECQs and PTQs must be clearly demonstrated in your resume.

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