Summary
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
Duties
The CDC utilizes Direct/Expedited Hire Authorities to fill vacancies in a variety of occupations. This vacancy is a REPOSITORY of applications. Duties and responsibilities vary and may increase according to the grade level of the position. Applications may be periodically referred to hiring managers both during the open period and after the closing date. Because of the large number of applications anticipated, applicants' status will not be updated.
This public notice will be used to fill the positions listed below at multiple grade levels and locations.
- Epidemiologist (Data Scientist): Grades GS-7 through GS-15
- Epidemiologist (Informatics): Grades GS-7 through GS-15
- Epidemiologist (Laboratory Informatics): Grades GS-7 through GS-15
Duties may include but are not limited to:
- Consulting and collaborating with statistical, data science, and public health professionals in the collection, linkage, processing, coding, classification, and analysis of public health surveillance.
- Evaluating and interpreting data extracts and reports from various systems assessing relevant data sources'' validity and reliability to meet project needs to aid stakeholders in understanding and utilizing analytical reports.
- Assisting in preparing comprehensive reports that include discussion of substantive issues related to data science methodology for public health surveillance and related applications
- Producing static and interactive data visualizations to communicate findings to internal and external audiences.
- Planning and carrying out quality control programs and selects appropriate epidemiologic methods to be used in quality control analysis for key influenza and respiratory pathogens.
- Providing scientific advice in coordinating and maintaining public health informatics project goals, objectives, and priorities within the CDC and in the public health community.
- Performing scientific work responsible for evaluating and developing approaches for strengthening the standardization and utility of national health information systems, their products, policies, and processes, with specific emphasis on electronic data interchange and electronic media.
- Providing advice on the application of IT to the development and promotion of uniform data elements in national health information systems.
- Manages projects involved with public health informatics and serves as a subject matter expert in the design and implementation of IT systems integrating epidemiologic and other information from a scientific perspective.
Requirements
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 ().
- 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 (). 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: Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: 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 at the time the degree was obtained.
- 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 GS-05 grade level in Federal service: assisting with extracting data from surveillance systems, data processing or exploratory data analysis related to epidemiology w/emphasis on public health OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-05 grade level in Federal service: assisting in performing scientific studies & identifying systems & tools to assist others in effectively accessing data OR
- Lab Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-05 grade level in Federal service: assisting in preparing comprehensive reports that include discussion of substantive issues related to data science methodology for public health surveillance health issues & their impact on public policies/scientific studies/surveys 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 GS-07 grade level in Federal service: assuring quality of data gathering, analysis & prevention that contributes to integration of informatics, data science & epidemiology w/emphasis on public health OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-07 grade level in Federal service: performing scientific studies; using data science algorithms to manage, analyze, or assimilate fragmented & unstructured data into usable data OR
- Lab Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-05 grade level in Federal service: identifying & characterizing biological &/or other agents that cause several diseases; preparing reports on scientific investigations, studies, & projects 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 GS-09 grade level in Federal service: analyzing & creating algorithmic solutions while conducting epidemiological public health studies OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-09 grade level in Federal service: performing scientific studies & assisting in the design of bioinformatics tools that support advanced data query & automation of data analysis OR
- Lab Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-05 grade level in Federal service: analyzing public health issues & their impact on scientific operations; assisting laboratory scientists in the design of laboratory/ bio-informatics tools; identifying & characterizing biological &/or other agents that cause several diseases OR
- A combination of education & experience
- GS-12:
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-11 grade level in Federal service: developing automated systems & tools to collect, process, classify & analyze public health surveillance, research, & administrative data OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-11 grade level in Federal service: performing epidemiologic studies & designing effective technology systems that gather, store, interpret & manage data to support scientific projects & programs OR
- Lab Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-11 grade level in Federal service: conducting audits, investigative studies, or continuing specialized projects of laboratory functions; conducting quality data analysis & evaluation to use findings, new developments &/or modified processes to resolve problems; conducting studies designed to collect, analyze, & interpret scientific data as part of epidemiological studies
- GS-13:
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-12 grade level in Federal service: providing advice on the use of data science tools, methods, & statistical learning models to collect, link, process, code, classify, & analyze public health surveillance, research, & administrative data with innovative integration of informatics & science OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-12 grade level in Federal service: providing advice & assistance in the development & implementation of procedures, methods, & strategies for obtaining & using scientific data from various surveillance systems or programs for a scientific or public health project or study OR
- Lab Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-12 grade level in Federal service: analyzing laboratory software & public health policy initiatives, direction, & issues to make recommendations to improve the information systems; developing & coordinating epidemiological & other biological science & related field policies; developing/utilizing statistically valid protocols for evaluating data quality & establishing data quality systems
- GS-14:
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-13 grade level in Federal service: providing expert analysis of data science methods & tools using public health data systems, & clinical/administrative data in evaluating, conducting, & publishing results from epidemiological studies or surveillance activities OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-13 grade level in Federal service: managing projects involved with public health informatics & the design & implementation of IT systems integrating epidemiologic & other information from a scientific perspective OR
- Lab Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-13 grade level in Federal service: advising on the development & implantation of data elements in national health information systems; preparing reports related to data science methodology for public health surveillance; consulting on IT systems integrating epidemiologic & other related information
- GS-15:
- Data Scientist: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-14 grade level in Federal service: developing & implementing scientific policies/procedures on epidemiological data science practices/principles; directing the statistical, data science, & artificial intelligence collection, linkage, processing, coding, classification, &/or analysis of public health surveillance, research, & administrative health data OR
- Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-14 grade level in Federal service: developing/implementing scientific policies/procedures on epidemiological informatics practices/principles; directing the development, testing, implementation, & evaluation of Next Generation Sequencing, informatics technologies & applicable software systems relating to public health informatics & lab informatics OR
- Lab Informatics: At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to GS-14 grade level in Federal service: developing/implementing scientific policies/procedures on epidemiological laboratory informatics practices/principles; directing scientific work responsible for evaluating/developing approaches for strengthening the standardization & utility of national health information systems
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 utilization of shared certificates for additional selections within the same geographical area can be made from multiple Centers of the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
This position is being filled through Direct Hire Authority for this occupation and is open to all US Citizens. Vacancies will be filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority. Veterans' preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this announcement. All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the direct-hire authority.
For more information on OPM's authorization of Direct Hire Authority, please visit:
Once the application process is complete, a review of the 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.
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).
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.
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet all of the requirements outlined in the qualification section of this announcement in order to be considered "well qualified."
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you MUST submit a complete Application Package which includes the following. Note: All documents must be in English.
1. Resume - Must reflect name, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (month/year) of employment and duties performed.
Current/former Federal employee:
- Must reflect pay plan, series and grade, i.e., GS-0301-9.
2. Transcripts (if applicable) - You may submit an unofficial transcript. An official transcript from an accredited educational institution is required if you are selected.
3. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/ Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):
- Supporting documentation i.e., Reduction in Force (RIF) notice or Certificate of Expected Separation (CES), AND most recent:
- Current annual performance appraisal
- SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action)
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
For Résumé and Application Tips visit:
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.
