Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Technical Information Specialist

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

Summary

We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for an exceptional candidate to serve as coordinator for the NIH Library Bioinformatics Support Program, helping researchers and staff to learn and apply bioinformatics analysis techniques to their research. If you have stellar customer service skills and experience providing information services and instruction in a clinical or biomedical research setting, then consider joining our team.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/11/2022 to 03/20/2022
Salary
$74,950 to - $138,868 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-22-11374514
Control number
642131100

This job is open to

Help

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

Help
  • Serves as a senior Technical Information Specialist and coordinator for bioinformatics - identifying goals and objectives and developing strategies to meet them.
  • Recommends guidelines, policies, and procedures; and, ensures that administrative tasks, such as collecting, analyzing, and reporting statistics which document the service levels and trends in service provision, are accomplished.
  • Coordinates bioinformatics classes from outside vendors and guest speakers for NIH researchers and staff, including developing and delivering a program of instruction in the use of bioinformatics databases and analytical tools.
  • Teaches NIH researchers and staff to use a range of bioinformatics databases and various analytical tools related to the following areas: sequence analysis, similarity searching, structural analysis, gene expression, and text/data mining.
  • Acts as information advisor and consultant to NIH branches and laboratories to aid them in locating, accessing, identifying, and managing information.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • 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 Qualifications:
A. 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. 4 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 must have been equivalent to that which would have been gained through a 4-year college curriculum; OR
C. a combination of education and specialized that meets the qualification requirements for this position as described above.

AND

In addition to meeting the above qualification requirements, in order to qualify for a Technical Information Specialist, GS-1412 position at the GS-11 level, you must have one (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: assisting in providing web-based library services, including the creation and administration of web content related to bioinformatics; performing assignments involving the categorization, summarization, or location of specialized scientific or technical information; assisting with digital library development, automation, and maintenance projects; and providing technical assistance with digital repositories and digital collections.

In addition to meeting the above qualification requirements, in order to qualify for a Technical Information Specialist, GS-1412 position at the GS-12 level, you must have one (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: analyzing potential user groups and identifying appropriate audiences for targeting library services and programs; participating in tracking trends in scientific and medical research and in analyzing their impact on the collection, retrieval, and analysis of biological information using information technology; providing assistance to customers in using a range of bioinformatics databases; assisting in writing training plans, class manuals, and web-based training modules.

In addition to meeting the above qualification requirements, in order to qualify for a Technical Information Specialist, GS-1412 position at the GS-13 level, you must have one (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: developing information products and library services to support the information needs of a biomedical research organization; tracking trends in Bioinformatics and medical research and analyzing their impact on the library collection; providing reference and research services by retrieval and analysis of biological information; evaluating, developing, and managing bioinformatic databases and systems to support the information needs of a biomedical organization; providing guidance on the use of bioinformatic systems and databases.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11374514

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.

  • Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine. Employees providing healthcare or services in support of healthcare (Healthcare Workforce) may be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine because they are expected to perform duties that put them in contact or potential contact with patients. We may request COVID-19 vaccination, and other vaccination documentation from Healthcare Workforce personnel at any point during the onboarding process or at any time during your employment with NIH.
  • Due to COVID-19, we are currently operating in a maximum telework state. If selected, you may be expected to telework. As employees to return to the office, you may be required to report to the location listed on this announcement within 30 calendar days of receiving notice, even if your home/temporary telework site is located outside the local commuting area. At the discretion of the supervisor and NIH policy, you may be eligible for workplace flexibilities, which may include remote work or telework options, and/or flexible work scheduling. These flexibilities may be requested in accordance with NIH Workplace Flexibilities guidance.
  • 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.
  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: telework (work from home on a regular basis or ad hoc basis but reports to the office at least once a week/two days a pay period), compressed schedules, flexible schedules.
  • 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.html.
  • A current federal government employee may receive a relocation incentive if moving from a different geographic location. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
  • 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.
  • PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration.

How you will be evaluated

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

  • 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). Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions.
  • 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.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Visit our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.
  • Visit our Total Compensation page for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.
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, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings by the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may 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 be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and 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.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.