Clarification from the agency

You must be a current or former federal employee eligible to apply under merit promotion procedures or otherwise be eligible as a status applicant (e.g. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act) OR be an individual who is eligible through an OPM interchange agreement or for a non-competitive appointment.

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 stimulating interest in projects and special activities through communication with the social science community.
• Identify opportunities and problem areas, research gaps and relevant program needs and making recommendations to the Branch Chief.
• 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 and analyzing of applications/proposals from a programmatic viewpoint.
• Prepare information for and attending advisory/review committee/panel meetings and responds to issues and concerns about specific applications/proposals pertaining to assigned program area.
• Consult with and advising grantees/contractors during preparation of applications/proposals and provides guidance on program issues.
• Collaborate with other Branch and Division staff and NIH staff offices, as required.
• Organize and conduct workshops, conferences, symposia, or similar activities to foster the aims of the Branch and the Division.
• Visit universities, research institutions, commercial organizations, other Government agencies, and public and private organizations.
• Facilitate communication and collaborative efforts with other Institute components, other ICs, and other DHHS agencies in assigned area of responsibility.

• 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 applications as well as research project applications submitted in response to requests for applications.
• Appoint and manage review panels, including the identification of reviewers to evaluate all applications and proposals, to assemble a balanced group of experts and consultants.
• Establish the criteria and standards for the review panel to follow based upon expert knowledge of the relevant scientific fields, program review policies and procedures.
• Provide information to the consultants on each committee assembled as a basis for reviewing and evaluating grant applications, contract proposals; collects and provides essential information for committee members.
• Prepare summary statements of review committee findings and recommendations for use by the advisory committee; attends committee meeting and responds to impromptu questions related to the review of the assigned application.
• Act as the sole Federal official and agency representative by guiding the activities of a review committee and ensuring continuity in their approach toward evaluating applications, proposals, and adherence to peer review policies and procedures.

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 the pre-appointment process (i.e., background investigation, verification of qualifications and job requirements, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, etc.)
• 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.
• Positive Education Requirement. Please provide transcripts.
• This position requires completion of the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450.
• This position is designated as an ""non-emergency/teleworker" position.
• Location of position is negotiable after selection. Your salary will be based upon the locality pay of your work site as determined by law.
• The selected individuals may work anywhere in the United States, including onsite at NIH's main campus in Bethesda, MD. Work sites outside of the U.S. are prohibited.
• Remote employees must adhere to all regulations and policies regarding remote work at NIH and in the federal government, including the signing of a remote work agreement.

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 you 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 you have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

AND

ADDITIONAL POSITIONS REQUIREMENTS: Applicants for all grades must meet the following requirement:

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.

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.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11547492

How you will be evaluated

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

This announcement accepts applications during the open period 6/27/2022 through 7/6/2022; unless the applicant cut-off (250 applications) is reached. This announcement will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time (ET) on 7/6/2022, or on the day the 250th application is received, whichever comes first.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

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 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.