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

Supervisory Program Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health

Summary

This position is in the Immediate Office of the Director, NIH, and reports to the Director, Office of the Executive Secretariat (ES). This organization supports the NIH Director's and Principal Deputy Director's responsiveness, decision-making, meeting participation, and official records. Learn more about ES here https://execsec.od.nih.gov/

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/06/2026 to 04/10/2026
Salary
$169,279 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Montgomery County, MD
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
15
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NIH-OD-IMP-26-12924937
Control number
863524600

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

You must be currently employed by the National Institutes of Health, serving on a permanent appointment in the competitive service.

Duties

Help

  • Oversees the sensitive, confidential, and fast-paced work of the organization using critical broad and specific knowledge of NIH components' research focus, programs, and equities to coordinate and harmonize NIH responses to policy- and program-driven correspondence and clearance assignments from the White House and HHS.
  • Serves as the Executive Secretariat Deputy Director using specialized experience in biomedical research and public health coupled with exceptional communication skills to drive staff initiatives, procedures, critical internal and external interactions and all-encompassing support for the NIH Director.
  • Fosters unique and timely interactions with and presentations to senior leaders describing Exec Sec's role to facilitate effective collaboration to perform multiple critical functions.
  • Acts as a surrogate for the ES Director, with responsibility for participating in meetings representing the views and work of the NIH Executive Secretariat with senior leaders throughout NIH, HHS, and across Government, including the White House.
  • Oversee and ensure harmonization of day-to-day mission activities, programs, and operations, by managing three staff teams, and integrating he staff mission areas to achieve a high-functioning organization.
  • Lead and direct teams of analysts and management professionals, and advise ES Director on functions and operations, provide oversight in assessment of the size and types of resources needed to maintain and/or improve the organization
  • Manages a wide variety of scientific and policy issues that include, but are not limited to, internal strategic plans and reports, cross-agency clearance assignments, and proposed HHS initiatives that may impact NIH.
  • Oversees the development of budget, administrative, recruitment, program, and technology strategies to reflect staff requirements and the vision and goals of the ES Director.
  • Contributes to establishment of standards by which the organization is assessed.

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 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.

Qualifications

You qualify at the GS-15 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: using advanced professional or educational background in biomedical research or public health to provide supervisory leadership to and oversee the work of a professional staff who review and assign complex sensitive, often confidential, policy, scientific, and organizational matters, and who interact directly with scientific and executive-level leadership; reviewing, editing, and improving a wide variety of written communications on behalf of, and to be presented to, executive leadership, including the ability to edit and harmonize scientific policy information; communicating complex information to a variety of audiences and managing fast-moving, detailed information related to Executive Branch priorities; demonstrating a high degree of confidentiality, political savvy, originality, resourcefulness, and judgment in carrying out the planning, coordination, and implementation of information management programs and policies and assessing assignments at the highest level of the organization; working within the political and institutional climate in which decisions are made and implemented and contributing substantive knowledge to executive level decision-making; identifying policies and priorities to support, formulate, or implement strategic planning in a biomedical, public health, or similar organization; mentoring and leading staff members on developing and prioritizing standards for planning and communicating to entities in the public and private sectors.

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/12924937

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

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.
  • 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.
  • A one year supervisory probationary period may be required.
  • 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.
  • If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire.

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:

  • Accountability
  • Customer Service
  • Decisiveness
  • Flexibility
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Resilience
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.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP), 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/.

Agency contact information

Daniel Schrader
Email
schraderdb@mail.nih.gov
Address
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
US

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.