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Program Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Multiple Institutes/Centers

Summary

NIH is seeking Program Specialist to provide organizational support for planning, analyzing, coordinating, evaluating, and directing the development of priorities, performance metrics, resource allocations, work force management, and/or performance for organizational objectives to support NIH operational requirements. If you have expertise in these fields, please make sure to highlight and thoroughly describe your experience in your resume.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/31/2026 to 04/06/2026
Salary
$61,722 - $111,087 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Baltimore, MD
Montgomery County, MD
Hamilton, MT
Durham, NC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NIH-SR-IMP-26-12916187
Control number
863139100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

You must be currently employed by the National Institutes of Health, serving on a permanent appointment in the competitive service. This job is also open to USPHS Commissioned Corps Officers and Call-To-Active Duty (CAD) Candidates.

Duties

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  • Develop and implement comprehensive plans and strategies for the internal and external integration of day-to-day and long-range projects, actions and activities.
  • Analyze and evaluate, on a quantitative or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs or operations in meeting established goals and objectives and analyze program performance data to identify issues and make recommendations for improvement.
  • Participate in developing timely and executable plans of action for assigned programs requiring extensive coordination.
  • Evaluate the impact of new program policies and procedures and determine measures of effectiveness and participate with decision-makers in setting organizational goals and objectives.
  • Participate in special studies, which include analyzing data, developing formats to report the results of studies, and recommending alternative courses of action.
  • Develop recommendations and policies and prepare and issue procedures and guidelines for implementation of program or administrative policies, delegations, and requirements.

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.)
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
  • If selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450 annually.
  • If selected, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) vacancy is covered by a bargaining unit (union).

Qualifications

In order to qualify for a Program Specialist, GS-0301 position at the GS-09 level, you must have:

A. completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.B. or J.D., if related; OR

B. 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: assisting in the development and implementation of program practices and procedures; participating in administrative or management studies, such as analyzing data, developing formats to report the results of studies; and providing support for program planning and analysis activities utilizing integrated reporting systems; OR

C. a combination of post baccalaureate education related to the position and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position

In order to qualify for a Program Specialist, Gs-0301 position at the GS-11 level, you must:

A. completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M., if related; OR

B. 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: evaluating program efficiency and effectiveness; interpreting the impact of regulations and policies on administrative programs; planning, analyzing, and evaluating priorities, resource allocations, work force management, and performance in support of operational requirements; participating in the development and implementation of plans for organizational projects and initiatives; reviewing information and developing analytical reports with recommendations; OR

C. a combination of post baccalaureate education related to the position and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

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.

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 with 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 knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12916187

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

  • 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.
  • 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/fd.
  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: flexible schedules.
  • Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
  • PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration.
  • We may make additional selections for similar positions across the National Institutes of Health within the local commuting area(s) identified in this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s) at NIH. Clearance of CTAP will be applied for similar positions across NIH.
  • 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 Help Applying for helpful information on the application process.
  • Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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 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 80 points on the assessment(s) and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. 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, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. NIH employs approximately 18,000 employees in varied occupations, all supporting research efforts that improve health and save lives. For more information on NIH's mission and goals, and its 27 Institutes and Centers, visit the NIH website.

Virtually explore the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Bethesda campus, learn about scientific research, and get to know NIH community members who are working to help people live longer, healthier lives: https://www.nih.gov/virtual-tour/.

This recruitment will be filling multiple positions across NIH. The following Institute/Centers are seeking to fill positions:

Montgomery County, MD
- National Eye Institute (NEI)
- National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

Baltimore, MD
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Durham, NC
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Hamilton, MT
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Agency contact information

Nichole Tedesco
Phone
(301) 827-1925
Email
tedesconm@mail.nih.gov
Address
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at National Institutes of Health, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

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

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