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Director, Office of Research Services

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Office of the Director

Summary

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is the largest biomedical research funding organization in the world. NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs).

The Office of the Director (OD), in the NIH, is seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Director, Office of Research Services (ORS). This is a career Federal position in the Senior Executive Service. See "Duties" section for a list of the major responsibilities.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/23/2026 to 04/06/2026
Salary
$151,661 to - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Bethesda, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—a relocation incentive may be authorized, subject to individual approval and 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
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NIH-OD-SES-26-12913253
Control number
861855200

Duties

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  • Provides senior-level communications with other offices and state, local, and federal government agencies, state and county groups, and senior DHHS and NIH management.
  • Advises leadership on the management and provision of technical and administrative services to support NIH's research mission and plans and directs service programs for public safety, security operations, scientific resources and employee services.
  • Manages a wide range of support services to include occupational health; radiation safety; biomedical engineering and instrumentation resources; medical arts and photography; comprehensive library support; veterinary resources.
  • Also manages security and public safety; employee transportation services; mail and printing services; and management of food, travel, childcare, fitness services contracts, and other employee amenities.
  • Develops and administers policies and operating procedures for the ORS including evaluating the accomplishments of those components which provide scientific and other resources for the NIH.
  • Serves as a focal point for the coordination of public safety and anti-terrorism policy and guidance for biomedical research and research institutions.
  • Oversees the initiation, development, implementation and management of a comprehensive security program including law enforcement and protection for the NIH Campus.
  • Besides the NIH Campus, oversees the NIEHS in North Carolina, Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Montana, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in Frederick, Maryland and Bayview in Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Provides logistical support by rapidly deploying field hospital staff and equipment to meet the medical needs of impacted communities and handles emergency planning in concert with leadership of the NIH Clinical Center and other ICs.
  • Provides expert and authoritative scientific leadership, advice and oversight of the entire comprehensive professional, technical, and research support services provided by ORS to the intramural research programs of the NIH other Federal agencies.
  • Oversees the management and administration of reprographic services as well as delivery of the U.S. Postal Service mail for the entire NIH community.
  • Oversees the development of innovative approaches to streamline and improve the services of ORS, presenting sensitive or controversial views to high levels of NIH management and mediating conflicts.
  • ORS has a combined FTE strength of approximately 540 FTE employees and a total budget of approximately $350M.

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.
  • 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.).
  • This position requires completion of a public financial disclosure report.
  • This position is a Testing Designated Position, which requires the incumbent to submit to random testing of urine and illegal drugs or substances.
  • The selectee must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the ECQs or TQs.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

TQ 1: Demonstrated executive ability to lead and apply management and leadership principles to navigate change, ensure results, and solve complex problems in administering research service such as security, public safety, scientific resources, and employee services affecting a large scientific or research organization, while advising top management on critical issues.

TQ 2: Demonstrated executive ability to build organizational capability through designing and implementing strategies aligned with the organization's mission and strategic vision to achieve maximum employee potential in a fair and merit-based manner.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or TQs.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

The NIH seeks candidates who have a commitment to managerial excellence and the energy, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking necessary to lead within a dynamic organization. All competitive candidates for SES positions with the Federal Government must demonstrate leadership experience indicative of senior executive-level management capability.

Applicants must meet the requirements for the GS-0340 series as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Standards Manual for General Schedule Positions which is available at: OPM Qualifications Standards GS-0340 Website and demonstrate in your two (2) page resume that you possess the Technical Qualifications (TQs) listed above. It is recommended that your resume emphasize levels of responsibility, scope, and complexity of programs managed, and program accomplishments and results.

Candidates must possess experience at the senior level (GS-14/15 level or equivalent) in the job-specific Technical Qualifications (TQs). The TQs measure the technical expertise required by this position and must be addressed within your 2-page resume. It is recommended that corresponding TQs be annotated in parenthesis within your 2-page resume.

Political, Schedule C, Non-career SES Appointee*: In the last five years, based on the closing date of this announcement, have you served or are you currently serving as an Executive Branch political, Schedule C, or Non-career SES appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your Standard Form 50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed. (If you have this experience, please state this within your 2-page resume) (Please confirm whether or not you have this experience within your 2-page resume)

*A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an Assistant position to a top-level Federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)). A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations. A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director, OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties.

NOTE: IF SELECTED, a Structured Interview will be used to certify the candidate by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB). 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 participate in a Structured Interview.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

NIH is located in Bethesda, MD; our campus is adjacent to downtown Bethesda, MD, at the Medical Center Metro station, and close to shops, walking trails, and restaurants.

Travel and Transportation expenses may be authorized in accordance with applicable Federal Travel Regulations governing the relocation of current Federal employees and new appointees.

HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, researches emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure: The National Institutes of Health inspires public confidence in our science by maintaining high ethical principles. NIH employees are subject to Federal government-wide regulations and statutes as well as agency-specific regulations described at the NIH Ethics website. We encourage you to review this information. The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521, also requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually, and upon termination of employment.

Financial Suitability: It is the policy of the government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm

If you are a hearing-impaired individual seeking assistance with the application process, you may contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this announcement by phoning a relay operator at 711. For additional information see Maryland Relay.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly, by emailing: EEOSC.Accommdations@hhs.gov. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Selective Service: As a condition of employment, all male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service. If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.

Veteran's Preference: Does not apply to the SES.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

We use a multi-step process 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 found 'not qualified' if you do not possess the minimum competencies required for the position. If your application is incomplete, we may rate you as ineligible.
  2. Rating: A panel of Senior Executives will review your application and evaluate your qualification 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 selection official.
  3. Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to a selection official for consideration and possible interview.

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the premier biomedical research center for the Nation and the world. The NIH is composed of 27 Institutes and Centers and employs approximately 16,000 staff in a vast array of professions, all supporting research efforts for a healthier nation. For more information on the NIH mission, goals, and Institutes and Centers, please visit NIH Overview. To take a virtual tour, visit NIH Virtual Tour.

Are you a senior executive interested in a career with the Nation's premier biomedical research center? Do you want to make a difference in this country's biomedical research enterprise? Do you have what it takes to run the Office of Research Services at the National Institutes of Health? Do you want to perform challenging work in a collegial environment, while enjoying quality of work/life flexibilities and a competitive compensation package? If so, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking a Director, Office of Research Services, which may be the perfect career opportunity for you!

Agency contact information

Emily Ellis
Phone
301-451-0086
Email
ELLISER@mail.nih.gov
Address
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
US

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https://hr.nih.gov/working-nih/work-life

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