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Quality Assurance Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Office of Research Services (ORS), Division of Physical Security Management (DPSM)

Summary

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Division of Physical Security Management (DPSM), is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time Quality Assurance Specialist position. The selected candidate will support the NIH Physical Security Program by helping ensure that all NIH owned and leased facilities comply with federally mandated physical security requirements and are protected against current and emerging threats.

Overview

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Accepting applications
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$70,623 - $133,142 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Promotion potential
12
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
NIH-ORS-DE-27-13086646
Control number
889682700

Duties

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If selected for this position as a Quality Assurance Specialist, GS-1910-09/11/12, your duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Performs quality assurance activities related to physical security programs, systems, services, and contractor operations supporting NIH facilities.
  • Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews, audits, inspections, surveillance activities, and technical evaluations of contractor performance, operational processes, physical security systems, and related support services.
  • Applies statistical methods, sampling techniques, root-cause analysis methodologies, and quality assurance principles to evaluate performance and document results.
  • Performs inspections, testing, validation, and verification activities for physical security systems to determine whether products, systems, equipment, installations, and services meet technical requirements and acceptance criteria.
  • Participates in the development and review of Statements of Work (SOWs), Performance Work Statements (PWSs), Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs), quality assurance surveillance plans, acquisition packages, and technical evaluation criteria to ensure quality requirements are accurately documented.
  • Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and/or Project Officer for assigned contracts, as delegated. Monitors contractor performance and contract deliverables, conducts surveillance activities, evaluates compliance with contract requirements, and provides technical findings and recommendations.

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 a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • If selected, you will be tested for illegal drug use; and during employment you will be subject to random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug testing. Employment is contingent on a negative drug test result.
  • The selectee must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle license.
  • 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.
  • The selectee must be able to successfully complete all requirements necessary to obtain Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) certification within the timeframe established by the agency after placement in the position.
  • Current COR certification is preferred but is not required at the time of application.

Qualifications

You qualify for a Quality Assurance Specialist, GS-1910 at the GS-09 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements:
A. Demonstrated in your resume 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: 1) Assisting with quality assurance inspections, reviews, or surveillance activities to determine compliance with established procedures, technical specifications, and quality standards; 2) Reviewing inspection records, audit findings, or test results to identify discrepancies and document conditions requiring corrective action; 3) Collecting and organizing quality assurance data, inspection results, or contractor performance information to identify deficiencies and prepare routine reports; 4) Maintaining inspection checklists, surveillance schedules, tracking systems, or other documentation used to monitor quality assurance activities and follow up on identified deficiencies. - OR -
B. 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., with a major study in quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or other fields if related to the position. - OR -
C. Have a combination of post-baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

You qualify for a Quality Assurance Specialist, GS-1910 at the GS-11 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements:
A. Demonstrated in your resume 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:1) Planning and conducting quality assurance inspections, audits, reviews, or surveillance activities to evaluate contractor performance and compliance with technical specifications, contractual requirements, and established standards; 2) Evaluating contractor quality records, inspection procedures, quality control plans, and technical documentation to identify deficiencies and assess compliance with established requirements; 3) Analyzing quality assurance and contractor performance data using statistical methods or sampling techniques to identify adverse trends, recurring deficiencies, and conditions requiring corrective action; 4) Investigating quality deficiencies or contractor performance issues to identify contributing factors, document findings, recommend corrective actions, or monitor resolution. - OR -
B. 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., with a major study in quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or other fields if related to the position. - OR -
C. Have a combination of post baccalaureate education in a related field, and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

You qualify for a Quality Assurance Specialist, GS-1910 at the GS-12 level, if you meet the following qualification requirement:
A.Demonstrated in your resume 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks:1) Independently planning and conducting quality assurance evaluations, audits, inspections, or surveillance activities involving complex systems or contractor operations to determine compliance with contractual requirements, technical specifications, and established standard; 2) Evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of contractor quality management systems, quality control plans, inspection procedures, and surveillance methods to identify systemic weaknesses and recommend improvements; 3) Applying statistical methods, sampling techniques, or root-cause analysis to evaluate quality assurance data, determine contributing factors, and develop recommendations to address recurring deficiencies or adverse performance trends; 4) Evaluating contractor corrective and preventive actions and making technical recommendations concerning improvements to quality assurance procedures, surveillance strategies, operational controls, or contractor performance.

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 or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

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 application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13086646

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

  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities.
  • 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.
  • Visit our Help Applying page for helpful information on the application process.
  • Military Spouses selected from this announcement will remain in their current duty location (i.e., the official duty station of the military service member.
  • 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: Reasonable Accommodation.
  • We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s). Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions.
  • If selected, you may be eligible to receive a salary above the minimum based on superior qualifications and/or a special need of the Government for your services. This applies to employees paid under the General Schedule (GS) and Federal Wage System (FWS) pay systems and is at the discretion of the hiring manager. A salary above the minimum must be approved before the appointment.
  • NIH may repay certain outstanding Federally insured student loans to facilitate the recruitment and retention of highly qualified people. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
  • A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for prior work experience or active-duty uniformed service that otherwise would not be creditable for the purpose of determining his or her annual leave accrual rate. All creditable service must be directly related to the duties of the position being filled and decisions to allow for such credit must be finalized prior to the selectee's entrance on duty. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.

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) and your responses to the 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.

If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application and responses to the online questionnaire will be evaluated under Category Rating and selection procedures for placement in one of the following categories:
  • Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria
  • Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria
  • Qualified - for those who meet the minimum qualification requirements
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. Applicants determined to be Best Qualified will be referred for further consideration. Preference eligibles in the Best Qualified category are referred before all other applicants.

How You Will Be Evaluated
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 an 80 on the assessment 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 position is located in the Division of Physical Security Management (DPSM), Office of Emergency Planning, Protection and Response (OEPPR), Office of Research Services (ORS).

Agency contact information

NIH HR Service Desk Branch C
Email
OHRCSDBRANCHCSRVDSK@od.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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