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Veterinary Medical Officer

Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
NCEZID-DGMQ-TRAVEL RISK ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION BRANCH

Summary

As a global leader in public health & health promotion, CDC is the agency Americans trust with their lives. In addition to our everyday work, each CDC employee has a role in supporting public health emergency management, whether through temporary assignments to emergency responses or sustaining other CDC programs and activities while colleagues respond. Join our team to use your talent, training, & passion to help CDC continue as the world's premier public health organization. Visit www.cdc.gov

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/12/2026 to 05/15/2026
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$133,007 - $172,915 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Atlanta, GA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
HHS-CDC-IMP-26-12941049
Control number
868866100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to employees of CDC/ATSDR only.

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Duties

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As a Veterinary Medical Officer you will:

  • Serve as a field veterinary medical officer providing veterinary and public health expertise on surveillance systems, outbreak response planning, data collection, training, field research, and related projects for the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases.
  • Collaborate with national partners (i.e., U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agency for of International Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture), international organizations (i.e., World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), and industry and private-sector partners to promote the One Health concept that cross-sects human, animal, and ecosystem
  • Work with program managers, policy makers, and experts in the fields of veterinary medicine, public health, and health services research from across CDC, as well as national and international animal and human health agencies, and nongovernmental organizations, to improve the quality and scientific rigor of zoonotic public health services research and evaluation.
  • Develop and coordinate the sharing of health related educational or informational materials on zoonotic diseases so that scientific advice and assistance is shared.
  • Design, conduct, analyze, and/or participate in epidemiological studies, surveillance projects, surveys, or investigations of zoonotic diseases to evaluate their reliability and validity in measuring the effectiveness of programs and strategies designed to prevent and control their spread.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) process enhancement to use Shared Certificates throughout the Agency, some of the requirements below may differ:

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov).
  • May be subject to a Background/Security Investigation. Security clearance level may differ from the position announced when certificates are shared.
  • One-year probationary period may be required.
  • This position may be subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • Time in grade (TIG) must be met within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
  • This 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.
  • This position may be subject to the OGE Financial Disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). CDC inspires public confidence in its trust responsibilities and mission by maintaining high ethical principles. If selected, you may 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. If identified, this will be an annual requirement.
  • In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 15, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. This position may require a Drug Test and be subject to Random Drug Testing. The position may require the submission of a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. If required to submit to urinalysis, the appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative test result.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Basic Qualifications:
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org, has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools.
Or
a graduate of a foreign veterinary medical school that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (Refer to AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org for information about schools in this category) must meet one of the following requirements.- Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG).- Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT).- Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g. residency or graduate program). Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below: - Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE; Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE; - Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing. - Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing.

Minimum Qualifications:
To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 grade level, which must include the following experience: 1) providing leadership, direction, and strategic guidance on public health issues involving zoonotic diseases at the human-animal interface, 2) leading and advising on national-level surveillance, epidemiologic investigations, and risk assessment activities related to emerging and re-emerging zoonotic threats, and 3) delivering authoritative recommendations that inform public health policy, interagency coordination, and disease prevention and control strategies.

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

Copy of your transcripts or equivalent documentation is required for positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

College or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For more information, visit https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

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 if declared a drug-testing position. 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.

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.

Incentives:

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.

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.

The utilization of shared certificates for additional selections within the same geographical area can be made from multiple Centers of the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): For information on how to apply as a CTAP eligible see http://opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictapTo 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.

Your application will be rated and ranked among others, based on your responses to the online questions regarding your experience, education, training, performance appraisals and awards relevant to the duties of this position. You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards within the last 3 years in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process.

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires two additional assessments:

SME Resume Review - Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume will be completed Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the required specialized experience referenced in this announcement. If, after reviewing your resume, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position and may not move forward to the next phase of the hiring process.

Structured Interview - Upon determination the required specialized experience has been met, you may be invited to participate in a structured interview led by panel members to measure critical general competencies required to perform the job.

The Structured Interview includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in the below critical competencies:


You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the interview.

If you are found to be among the top-qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a major operating component of the Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation's leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the public's health. For more than 75 years, we have put science into action to help children stay healthy so they can grow and learn; to help families, businesses, and communities fight disease and stay strong; and to protect the public's health.

In addition, CDC also has a critical preparedness and response mission: we protect the American people from health threats, research emerging diseases, and mobilize public health programs with domestic and international partners. CDC's 24/7 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) unites highly trained experts, well established processes, and state-of-the-art technology to coordinate resources and information as CDC responds to emergencies worldwide.

Every CDC employee has a role in supporting public health emergency management, whether through temporary assignments to emergency responses or sustaining other CDC programs and activities while colleagues respond.

CDC offers exciting and dynamic opportunities in Public Health with global impact. Examine how you can use your talent, training, and passion to help CDC continue as the world's premier public health organization. Please visit www.cdc.gov for more information.

Agency contact information

CDC HELPDESK
Phone
(770) 488-1725
Email
HRCS@CDC.GOV
Address
NCEZID-DGMQ-TRAVEL RISK ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION BRANCH
1600 CLIFTON RD NE
ATLANTA, GA 30333
US

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