Biologist (Safety) at National Institutes of Health in Montgomery County, MD

Summary

This is a Biologist (Safety) position within the BioRisk Management Branch, Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS), Office of Research Services (ORS), National Institutes of Health (NIH). If you have experience participating in assigned safety and health programs in a clinical or research science laboratory AND you want to play a significant role in a dynamic organization, then consider joining the NIH Office of Research Services! For more information, visit

Duties

If selected for this position as a Biologist (Safety), GS-0401-12/13 your duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Serves as Program Manager and responsible for leading operations of the NIH Quarantine Permit Service Office (QPSO).
Ensures that NIH research staff are aware of federal requirements (USDA, CDC, DOC, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, etc.) for import and export of etiological agents and vectors of human disease and animals or products from endangered or threatened species.
Serves as a subject matter expert for dealing with the use, handling, and storage of microbiological materials to include pathogenic bacteria, toxins, viruses, and recombinant DNA components.
Performs periodic and unscheduled inspections of registered laboratories and biological toxins facilities and operations and evaluates compliance with applicable regulations.
Serves as the Alternate Responsible Official (ARO) for the Select Agent Program and ensures compliance with Federal Select Agent Program requirements codified in 42 CFR Part 73, 7 CFR Part 331, and 9 CFR Part 121.

Requirements

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.
A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
Position requires Education.
Requires long periods of standing and bending when completing facility/lab surveys and risk assessments. Requires use of PPE including respiratory protection and enrollment into the Animal Exposure Program.
If selected, must be able to serve as Alternate Responsible Official (ARO) for the Select Agent Program and ensures compliance with Federal Select Agent Program requirements codified in 42 CFR Part 73, 7 CFR Part 331, and 9 CFR Part 121.
If selected, required to participate and meet all requirements of the NIH Biological Surety Program. Tier 3 background investigation and annual behavioral health assessments are included in the NIH BSP.
If selected, must obtain a positive FBI Security Risk Assessment (SRA) in compliance with 7 CPR Part 333; 9 CPR Part 121; and 42 CFR Part 73.
If selected, will be required to gain/maintain access to BSL 3, BSL 4, and associated animal facilities and/or labs.
4 year degree preferred. Experience with Safety oversight for BSL3 and BSL4 facilities preferred.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for a Biologist (Safety), GS-0401 position you must meet the Basic Education Requirement:
Completed the requirements for a bachelor's (or graduate) degree in a biological science, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to this position, from an accredited college or university. 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.
OR
Have a combination of experience and education which includes courses comparable to a major in a biological science, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to this position, AND have appropriate experience or additional education which demonstrates similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the duties of this position.

In addition to the above basic requirements, to qualify for a Biologist (Safety) at the GS-12 level, you must have:
(1) One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following types of tasks: 1) performing assignments for a biological safety program for a biomedical research organization; 2) monitoring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and requirements for the use of microbiological materials in biomedical research; 3) providing information on the use, handling, and storage of microbiological materials; and 4) coordinating with other staff or organizations on biorisk or biological safety programs and requirements.

In addition to the above basic requirements, to qualify for a Biologist (Safety) position at the GS-13 level, you must have:
(1) One year of specialized year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following types of tasks: 1) managing a biological safety program for a biomedical research organization; 2) ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and requirements for the use of etiological agents, animals, or products from endangered or threatened species in biomedical research; 3) providing guidance on the use, handling, and storage of microbiological materials; and 4) coordinating and advising other staff or organizations on biorisk and biological safety programs and requirements.

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.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings with the information you provide in your application. 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:

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 position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by a direct hire authority. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants, including category rating, does not apply to this vacancy. You will be initially evaluated against the basic qualifications only. Qualified applicants will be referred for consideration in accordance with the . Veterans' Preference does not apply to positions covered by a direct hire authority.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the and the , you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

Required Documents

REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS

RESUME:
Your resume must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. We cannot assume you have performed the necessary experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career.

To ensure all of the essential information is in your resume, we encourage you to use the r. If you choose to use your own resume, you must ensure it contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position:

Job title
Name of employer
Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format)
Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.
Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)
Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position)

If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.

For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: , , and the .

ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE:
You must submit a completed assessment questionnaire.

Unless otherwise stated, we will only use the information above to determine your qualifications. Not providing the required information may result in a determination that you do not meet minimum requirements for the position (e.g., an ineligible rating) or a lower rating.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR CAREER TRANSITION CLAIMS
Visit our websites to claim selection priority through the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):

CTAP:
ICTAP:

If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility.

Please do not submit any other supplementary documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.