Health Scientist Vacancy at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is the nation's health protection agency, working 24/7 to protect America from health and safety threats, both foreign and domestic. CDC increases the health security of our nation.


Armed with a budget of only $10 million and fewer than 400 employees, the agency’s early challenges included obtained enough trucks, sprayers, and shovels necessary to wage war on mosquitoes.

CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish our mission, CDC conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise.

We are recruiting to fill the position of fill:

Job Title: Health Scientist


Job Announcement Number: HHS-CDC-OM-15-1482372
Location: Nigeria
Position Information: Full Time
Department: HHS CDC Center
Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Job Summary
Who May Apply:

  • Current HHS Federal employees with career or career-conditional appointments in the competitive service, displaced HHS Federal employees requesting special priority selection consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and PHS Commissioned Corps Officers.
  • This vacancy is also being announced concurrently with vacancy announcement HHS-CDC-OD-15-1482373 under competitive procedures. Please review that announcement to see if you are eligible for consideration under competitive procedures.
  • announcement will be used to fill positions in various geographical locations. This announcement can also be used to recruit for positions that will require a detail to an International Organization such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, etc.
  • PHS Commissioned Corps Officers interested in performing the duties of this position with the Commissioned Corps may apply online to this announcement. Candidates will be referred as (CC) personnel and not as candidates for conversion to a permanent career or career-conditional appointment.
  • Note: Applicants must apply separately for each announcement in order to be considered.
  • CDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Duties
As a Health Scientist you will:
  • Serve as a recognized agency authority or consultant for health programs and conducts scientific research to develop a national system(s) to monitor public health capacity and performance overseas.
  • Conduct major statistical studies or continuing projects that represent an important segment of the center's primary investigative program.
  • Collaborate on projects/studies and coordinate efforts, as appropriate, with other program staff, other CDC Centers, other federal agencies, state, local and international health agencies, and private and non-private organizations.
  • Identify and analyze public health issues and their impact on scientific operations that are critical to the public health community at large.
  • Analyze epidemiologic investigation data utilizing new methodologies or existing techniques that have been extensively revised.
Qualifications Required

Basic Qualifications:
  • Must possess a full 4-year course of study in an accredited College or University leading to a Bachelor's or Higher Degree with major study in an academic field related to the Health Sciences or Allied Sciences appropriate to the work of the position.
  • In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirements, applicants must meet the specialized experience as stated below.
Minimum Qualifications:
  • GS-13: Applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the position which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of the position to include experience planning, conducting, and analyzing scientific studies or surveys related to public health programs.
  • GS-14: Applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the position which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of the position to include experience providing scientific leadership in formulating, developing, implementing and evaluating scientific studies or surveys related to public health programs.
Foreign Education:
  • Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the education requirements.
  • You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.
  • Click here for more information on how foreign education is evaluated.
How you will be Evaluated:
  • Once the application process is complete, a review of resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
  • Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and other Characteristics):
  • Ability to provide direction and guidance for scientific studies.
  • Skill in oral communication. 
  • Ability to conduct scientific studies using innovative methodologies and technologies.
  • Skill in written communication.
  • Ability to work with multi-disciplinary officials or groups.
Remuneration and Benefits Other Information

Overseas Assignments:
  • Overseas assignments are for two years. The assignment may be extended based on the needs of the agency.
  • Upon completion of the overseas assignment, CDC employees on temporary promotion/reassignment will be placed in accordance with CDC placement procedures. Subsequent employment for all others for CDC positions must be through the appropriate competitive process or special employment program hiring authorities.
  • This position is eligible for special pay allowances (e.g., post differential, housing, relocation, etc.)
  • Citizens or permanent residents of the host country are not eligible to be considered.
  • Current permanent status CDC employees will be processed using the appropriate temporary promotion or other temporary assignment authority for permanent employees of CDC. The selectee will have statutory return rights to their permanent CDC position title, series and grade once the overseas assignment is completed.
  • Other current permanent status HHS employees will be hired on a term appointment. There are no statutory return rights. Subsequent employment for CDC positions must be through the appropriate competitive process or special employment program hiring authorities.
  • Additional information on living and traveling abroad may be found at: http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?ontent_id=184&menu_id=78
  • Immunizations are required and will be administered by the CDC before relocating overseas.
  • To work overseas for the CDC, the selectee will need to obtain security and medical clearances before being cleared to report to the overseas duty station. Continued employment will be subject to submission of all documentation necessary to obtain the medical and security clearances (including documentation for any accompanying dependents), within thirty (30) business days and obtaining the security clearance within six (6) months of the initial appointment. Please note the inability to secure the clearances necessary for overseas duty will result in the termination of the appointment to the position.
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  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service Click here for more information
Application Deadline   11:59 PM (EST) on Tuesday, March 01, 2016

How to Apply
Qualified and interested candidates should:
Click here to apply online  

Application Steps

  • To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
  • To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  • Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
  • To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete