Company: Department of Health and Human Services - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Location: Multiple Locations

Type: Full Time

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

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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 (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.
CDC participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). If selected, CDC will determine your employment eligibility using your social security number.
Direct deposit is required.
One-year probationary period may be required.
This position may be subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
This public notice may be used to fill supervisory or managerial positions and selectees may be subject to 1 year supervisory or managerial probationary period.
Positions may be filled as permanent or term appointments.
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

Basic Qualifications

Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position OR
Combination of education & experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as above, plus appropriate experience or additional education

In addition to Basic Qualifications above, Minimum Qualifications must be met:

GS-7:
- At least 1 year of graduate-level education OR
- Superior academic achievement (See Education section) OR
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience assisting scientists in the performance of professional biological work in relation to public health risks; and analyzing information and producing authoritative reports, position papers, briefings, and presentations OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience performing scientific work using information systems OR
- A combination of education & experience
GS-9:
- At least 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree OR
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience assisting in monitoring data quality issues as they relate to user data products and collaborates with Informatics and Information Technology professionals; and contributing to the creation of new data science analytic methods or modifying current methods OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience performing scientific work that requires extraction of knowledge from various surveillance systems and programs OR
- A combination of education & experience
GS-11:
- At least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience identifying and analyzing public health issues and their impact on public policies or biological studies or surveys; and participating as the expert in work groups focused on data science and machine learning as applied to public health data OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience conducting biological projects and assisting with evaluating bioinformatics tools that support automation of data analysis OR
- A combination of education & experience
GS-12:
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience analyzing scientific data from active population and laboratory-based surveillance; conducting biologic investigations and studies; and producing static and interactive data visualizations to communicate findings to internal and external audiences OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience conducting biological projects and evaluating bioinformatic tools that support automation of data analysis
GS-13:
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience identifying appropriate biological methods to be used in quality control analysis for respiratory pathogens; and participating in the syntheses of biological data to be applied toward designing effective prevention programs and practice guidelines OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience conducting biological projects and designing bioinformatic tools for analysis
GS-14:
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience performing data science work that requires extraction of knowledge from public health surveillance systems and programs; and identifying and/or developing innovative and effective approaches and methodologies OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience managing biological projects and providing advice on the design and implementation of IT systems integrating biologic and other information from a scientific perspective
GS-15:
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience leading academic research centers focusing on the biological and/or statistical analyses of health data using complex surveys and/or data systems; developing life cycle cost analyses of projects; and assessing data elements and the implications of national data standards for the organization's data collection activities OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience directing biological projects and advising on the design and implementation of IT systems integrating biologic and other information from a scientific perspective

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.

Promotion potential: Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your meeting qualifications and time-in-grade requirements, demonstrated ability to perform the higher-level duties, the continuing need for the higher-level duties, and administrative approval. Promotion to the next grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.

Education

A 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.

A 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/.

Superior Academic Achievement is based on a bachelor's degree with one of the following:

Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
- 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
- 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

Additional information

Telework: This position has been designated as telework eligible and:

May include telework options and/or flexible work scheduling. These options may be requested once you have become an employee and you will be required to sign a Workplace Flexibilities Agreement that details remote or telework working conditions and expectations in accordance with the HHS Workplace Flexibilities Policy.
May be eligible for inclusion in the Bargaining Unit.The name of the union, local, and BU Codes will be provided upon selection.
For more information visit: https://www.usajobs.gov//faq/job-announcement/telework/

May be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays.

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.

Incentives:

Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.
Annual Leave for non-federal service may be authorized.
Student loan repayment incentive may be authorized.
Travel, transportation, and moving expenses may be paid.
PCS Expenses may be authorized, subject to the terms of the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR).

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.