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Health Scientist (Bilingual)

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

Summary

This announcement will be used to fill positions in various geographical locations. This announcement can also be used to recruit for positions that will require a detail to an International Organization such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, etc.

This position serves as a recognized agency authority or consultant for health programs and conducts scientific research to develop a national system to monitor public health capacity and performance at local, state and national levels.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/30/2022 to 06/29/2023
Salary
$116,147 to - $150,989 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Locations
Few vacancies in the following locations:
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Congo (DRC)
Remote job
No
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
Term
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
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-D4-22-11545017
Control number
662798900

Duties

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As a Health Scientist (Bilingual), you will:

  • Serves as a recognized expert in health sciences for the agency with responsibility for developing policy and objectives, appraising programs, and initiating requirements for health science studies. Serves as advisor for the planning, design, implementation, and analysis of projects. Brings expertise in the fields of epidemiology, survey research and public health surveillance, demography, statistics, and program development and evaluation.
  • Designs, oversees, implements, and conducts scientific surveys/studies or projects to identify and solve health system related problems. Identifies and analyzes public health issues and their impact on scientific operations that are critical to the public health community at large. Analyzes epidemiologic investigation data utilizing new methodologies or existing techniques that have been extensively revised. Conducts major statistical studies or continuing projects that represent an important segment of the center's primary investigative program.
  • Leads scientists and program consultants in various aspects of the study or survey design process, and other study support duties including analyzing and reporting of data and data dissemination to audiences. Analyzes study or project implementation procedures for improvement. Prepares and provides timely status reports to the supervisor and management and effective guidance to staff assisting in the review. Provides advice and assistance in evaluating the methodology of past and proposed studies conducted within the program and assists subject-matter experts in the design of studies conducted within or sponsored by the program.
  • Collaborates on projects/studies and coordinates efforts, as appropriate, with other program staff, other CDC Centers, other federal agencies, state and local health agencies, and private and non-private organizations.
  • Provides technical advice to state and local health agencies and to various other health-related organizations about measuring and evaluating public health capacity and performance at local, state and national levels.
  • Provides expert advice and assistance for public health projects or studies. Consults with epidemiologists, statisticians, and public health professionals concerning on-going and established studies or other projects where extensive methodological or subject matter interpretation is required. Provides advice on programming software used in survey data and other data analyses. Provides consultation as a recognized authority in public health.
  • Reviews literature to maintain current knowledge about measuring and evaluating public health capacity and performance at local, state and national levels. Develops and prepares bibliographies that identify critical issues and areas for future research. Synthesizes and interprets the relevant literature and provides analytical review of current research. Prepares scientific articles and technical reports for publication in national and international public health journals. Makes presentations to other scientific staff, federal, state and local health program managers; and other health officials and health-related organizations.
  • Serves as a Project Officer on grants, cooperative agreements and contracts with full responsibility for carrying out all required monitoring and management duties. Serves as technical consultant on contracts for scientific services. Performs duties such as: writes statement of work, serves on technical review panels for contract proposals, and monitors contracts for quality assurance and quality control. Monitors progress of research projects through all phases to assure adherence to research and programmatic objectives. Participates in negotiations on the type and amount of assistance provided to contractors, cooperative agreement participants, or cooperating agency activities.
  • Leads a small contingent of positions. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, set and adjust short-term priorities, and prepare schedules for completion of work, when necessary. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, considering difficulty and requirements of assignments as well as the capabilities of employees. Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters. May interview candidates for positions in the work unit. Identifies developmental and training needs of employees and provides for or arranges for needed development and training. Develops performance standards and evaluates work performance of subordinates.
  • Furthers the goals of equal employment opportunities (EEO) by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of workforce diversity and affirmative action objectives and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employee practices in regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, age, sexual orientation, or status as a parent.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Background Investigation may be required.
  • One-year probationary period may be required.
  • Travel, transportation, and moving expenses will be paid:
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Drug Screening Required: Positions requiring a top secret or secret clearance will be required to be drug tested.
  • Supervisory position: This announcement may be used to fill supervisory positions. If position is supervisory, candidates must also have demonstrated or shown the potential to develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. A supervisory probationary period may be required. Applicants should describe any previous experience or responsibilities which could be used in relation to the supervisory requirements of this position. If position has 20% supervisory duties, candidates must also have demonstrated or shown the potential to develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. Applicants should describe any previous experience or responsibilities which could be used in relation to the supervisory requirements of this position.
  • Mobility agreement may be required.
  • Positions will require a top secret or secret clearance depending on the position.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
  • In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the Federal workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. Appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative applicant drug test result.

Qualifications

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50.

CDC Financial Disclosure -OGE form 450 Holding ourselves to a higher standard; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention inspires public confidence in its trust responsibilities and mission by maintaining high ethical principles. This position may be subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). Therefore, 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 will be required annually.

Special Notes:
-Although this announcement is advertised for multiple duty locations, it is not intended to convey any implication nor expectation that positions will be filled at all locations.
-This announcement is being used to create an inventory of applicants for Health Scientist (Bilingual) positions and will be used to fill immediate and future needs.
-Applicants are encouraged to apply early in order to maximize their employment opportunities. Your application will remain in the inventory of tentatively qualified applicants. Applicants that are among the best qualified will be referred to the selecting official for consideration as requests to fill vacancies are processed by the Human Resources Office. The next cut-off date for you to be referred will be September 30, 2022. Thereafter, additional referral lists will be generated throughout the open period as vacancies occur. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
-This is an open continuous announcement. Qualified applicants will be considered as job opportunities occur and may or may not receive further notification regarding the status of their application.
-Term appointments may be shortened or extended up to a maximum of four years based on the needs of the agency without further competition. Subsequent employment for CDC positions must be through the appropriate competitive process or special employment program hiring authorities.


Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (external link) at the time the degree was obtained.

In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirements, applicants must meet the specialized experience as stated below:

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the position which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of the position to include scientific leadership in formulating, developing, implementing and evaluating scientific studies or surveys related to public health programs.

Special Notes:
Specialized language requirement. Proficiency required to read and write and speak French, a foreign language.

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.

Education

Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the education requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/jobs/future-applicant-information.html.

Additional information

Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.

Overseas Assignments: Overseas assignments are for two years. The assignment may be extended based on the needs of the agency.
-This position will be entitled to comparability pay once deployed to overseas location.
-These positions may be eligible for special pay allowances (e.g., post differential, housing, relocation, etc.).
-Immunizations are required and will be administered by the CDC before relocating overseas.
-Potential selectees will remain in a different location, whether domestic or international, from the specific advertised position location. This is to complete the required training and security and/or medical clearances.
-To work overseas for the CDC, the selectee will need to obtain security and medical clearances before being cleared to report to the overseas duty station. Continued employment will be subject to submission of all documentation necessary to obtain the medical and security clearances (including documentation for any accompanying dependents), within thirty (30) business days and obtaining the security clearance within six (6) months of the initial appointment. Please note the inability to secure the clearances necessary for overseas duty will result in termination of the appointment to the position.
-Citizens or permanent residents of the host country are not eligible to be considered.
-Current permanent status CDC employees will be processed using a Term appointment. The selectee will not have statutory return rights. Subsequent employment for CDC positions must be through the appropriate competitive process or special employment program hiring authorities. You must apply to the merit promotion announcement for statutory return rights to your permanent CDC position title, series, and grade.
-Additional information on living and traveling abroad may be found at http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?ontent_id=184&menu_id=78

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.

For more information on veterans' preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov).

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible see http://opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position.

To view the questionnaire, click on the following link:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11545017

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.

Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Category rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates.

The category assignment is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Qualified candidates will be ranked into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified or Qualified. 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. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics).

  • Ability to conduct scientific studies using innovative methodologies and technologies
  • Ability to provide direction and guidance for scientific studies.
  • Skill in oral communication.
  • Skill in written communication.

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