Health Scientist Administrator (Program Officer & Scientific Review Officer)

Summary

Join one of the 24 Institutes and Centers within the NIH that awards extramural grants! Extramural grants account for approximately 80 percent of NIH's budget and are awarded to investigators at more than 2,500 universities, medical schools, and other research organizations around the world. To learn more about the grants process, types of grant programs, and the peer review process, visit the website for the Office of Extramural Research .

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Duties

This announcement will be used to fill the following positions within the NIH:

As a Health Scientist Administrator (Program Officer), you will perform the following tasks:

• Perform scientific and administrative reviews and analyses of applications/proposals from a programmatic viewpoint.
• Consult with and advise grantees/contractors during preparation of applications/proposals and provide guidance on program issues.
• Develop, coordinate and administer grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts established to fulfill the mission of the Branch and Division.
• Visit universities, research institutions, commercial organizations, other government agencies, entrepreneur/innovation centers, and public and private organizations to promote and explain the objectives of the program.
  
  

As a Health Scientist Administrator (Scientific Review Officer), you will perform the following tasks:

• Provide policy direction and coordination for the planning and execution of initial scientific and technical review conducted within the Institute or Center.
• Utilize scientific knowledge and expertise to perform a variety of management functions associated with the scientific peer review of IC research, research training support activities and other contract activities.
• Manage the initial scientific and administrative review of grant, program project grant, and training grant applications as well as research project applications submitted in response to requests for applications.
• Appoint and manage review panels, including the identification of qualified reviewers to evaluate all applications and proposals and make any recommendations from IC and NIH program officials, to assemble a balanced group of experts and consultants.
• Act as the sole Federal official and agency representative by guiding the activities of a review committee and ensuring continuity in their approach toward evaluating applications, proposals, and adherence to peer review policies and procedures.
  
  

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Remote employees must adhere to all requirements at NIH and in the federal government, including the signing and recertifying of a remote work agreement, and completion of any training. Remote employees may be required to report to an NIH physical location to complete onboarding requirements and while employed at certain times based on agency need. Visit our Remote Work page for information
• 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 qualifications by the closing date of this announcement.
• Males born after December 31,1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• The position has a positive education requirement.
• 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/topics/fd.html
• A one-year trial/probationary period may be required upon selection/ placement.
• 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.
  
  

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirements:

Successful completion of a bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree with major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. (This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained).

Requirements For Applicants To The GS-12 Level:

In addition to the education requirements, to qualify at the GS-12 level, you must have 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. This experience must meet either the Direct/Independent Research or the Research Administration/Extramural sections below.

Direct/Independent Research Qualifying Experience

Applicants must meet all experience requirements in this section.

• independent health-related research, as evidenced by the development of research projects that are competitively or internally funded;
• primary authorship of one of the following: a) internal (i.e., within the company or organization) research report, b) patent, or c) research publication in peer reviewed journal; and
• responsibility for significant aspects of a laboratory/research unit (e.g., establishing processes and procedures, ensuring regulatory/legal compliance, monitoring budgets).
  
  

Typical qualifying positions include Instructor, Assistant Professor, Adjunct Professor, Staff Fellow, Senior Staff Fellow, Research Associate, and Research Scientist.

OR

Research Administration/Extramural Qualifying Experience

Applicants must meet all experience requirements in this section.

• reviewed grant applications, contract proposals, or other research-related works and materials for compliance with requirements and appropriateness;
• applied scientific knowledge to place the proposed research project in its relation to the current state of research being done in the subject matter area and the organization's priorities; and
• responded to issues and concerns about specific applications or proposals pertaining to assigned program areas.
  
  

Requirements For Applicants To The GS-13 Level:

In addition to the education requirements, to qualify at the GS-13 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector. This experience must meet either the Direct/Independent Research or the Research Administration/Extramural sections below.

Direct/Independent Research Qualifying Experience

Applicants must meet all experience requirements in this section.

• management of independent health-related research projects (e.g., R01 grant, R01 equivalent grant or contract, or comparable project) with a defined budget and staff;
• supervised or led graduate researchers/technicians;
• served as primary or corresponding author on publications in refereed journals, presenting published work to scientific organizations, and/or teaching graduate-level courses in biomedical or health-related disciplines; and
• served as a reviewer on peer-reviewed panels or journals.
  
  

Typical qualifying positions include principal investigator (or equivalent), Assistant or Associate Professor, Project Manager, Senior Research Scientist, Section Chief.

OR

Research Administration/Extramural Qualifying Experience

Applicants must meet at least three (3) experience requirements in this section.

• summarized the results of the scientific or technical merit review of grant applications or contract proposals;
• assessed the scientific and/or technical progress of awarded grants and/or contracts to determine effectiveness of support and achievement of objectives;
• evaluated assigned program portfolios to identify new concepts, programs, or initiatives to support program planning and administrative functioning in relation to an organization's priorities;
• formulated and developed new Funding Opportunity Announcements or Program Announcements (e.g., RFAs, RFPs, or a combination of these) to achieve objectives;
• administered the review of grant applications, contract proposals, research project applications or research reports submitted in response to requests for applications, multicenter clinical trial applications, and contract proposals.
  
  

Requirements For Applicants To The GS-14 Level:

In addition to the education requirements, to qualify at the GS-14 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector. This experience must meet either the Direct/Independent Research or the Research Administration/Extramural sections below.

Applicants Must Meet all Experience Requirements In This Section

• directing at least two health-related research projects (e.g., R01 grant, R01 equivalent grant or contract, or comparable project) with separate staff and budgets.
• experience demonstrating extensive scientific expertise by providing leadership, guidance, and direction to researchers;
• coordinating committee and teaching activities and organizing and presenting sessions at national scientific meetings/conferences; and
• serving as an appointed member of a scientific peer review panel or editorial board, or similar private sector leadership position.
  
  

Typical qualifying positions include principal investigator (or equivalent), Associate Professor, Professor, Project Manager, Senior Research Scientist, Section Chief.

OR

Research Administration/Extramural Qualifying Experience

Applicants must meet at least three (3) experience requirements in this section.

• organized and conducted workshops, conferences, symposia, or similar activities to foster the aims of the program, to facilitate communication among investigators, or to advise on the status of progress and emerging directions of research in the assigned program area;
• evaluated program activities for a portfolio of research projects, research programs, other grants/awards, cooperative agreements, and/or contracts in the assigned program area to support an organization's program planning and priority setting;
• recommended funding plans for initiatives and/or establish the criteria and standards for a review panel;
• managed the initial scientific and administrative review of grant applications and/or center grant, program project grant, and training grant applications;
• appointed and managed review panels to include identifying qualified expert Reviewers;
• established the evaluation criteria used to assess all applications and proposals.
  
  

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.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12516326

Education

Basic Education Requirements:

Applicants for all grades must be U.S. Citizens and must meet the requirement described below:

To meet the basic requirements of the position, you must possess a bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in a major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

This position has an education requirement. 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 package. 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.
• A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
• 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 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.
• 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 our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.
• Visit our Total Compensation page and this sample for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement, and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.
• 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 just 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.
• A newly appointed or reappointed individual may receive a recruitment incentive. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
• A current federal government employee may receive a relocation incentive if moving from a different geographic location. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
• Some positions in this announcement are eligible for non-local remote work. Please select the "Location Negotiable" or "All-NIH Locations" location when applying if you wish to be considered for non-local remote work. All other location(s) are not eligible for non-local remote work. Non-local remote is a position designation where little to no onsite presence is required (e.g., once or twice annually). You may work anywhere in the U.S., including any of the territories. Worksites outside of the U.S. are prohibited. Your pay is determined by the geographically defined pay locality applicable to your approved worksite (e.g., home residence). Reporting to an NIH location may also be required during the onboarding process. Visit NIH's Remote Work page for more information and requirements.
• At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: [telework (work from home on a regular basis or ad hoc basis but reports to the office at least once a week/two days a pay period), compressed schedules, flexible schedules].
  
  

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How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Ability to communicate complex scientific topics.
• Knowledge of policies, procedures, rules and regulations related to management and review of grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and theories applicable to biomedical, behavioral health, or health-related research.
• Skill in providing leadership to others.
  
  

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 only 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.

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 85 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.