Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recruitment for Behavioral Scientist


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:

Job Position: Behavioral Scientist

Job Announcement Number: HHS-CDC-OM-17-1952140
Control Number: 469951700
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Work Schedule: Full Time - Temporary NTE 2 years
Who May Apply: Current Career-Career-Conditional HHS employees
Series & Grade: GS-0101-14/14
Promotion Potential: 14
Supervisory Status: No
Relocation Authorized: No

Job Summary

  • The January 23, 2017, Presidential Memorandum, entitled "Hiring Freeze," ordered government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to freeze all hiring of Federal civilian employees.
  • In an effort to ensure CDC is best positioned to resume hiring after the hiring freeze expires and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)/Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issues a joint plan to reduce the size of the Federal Government's workforce, CDC will continue its recruitment efforts (post job vacancy announcements, evaluate and screen applicants, interview, etc.).
  • This position will not be filled and no job offers will be made until resolution of the hiring freeze, or the position qualifies for a hiring exemption and is approved pursuant to OMB guidance.

What exciting career opportunities await you at CDC?

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the agency Americans trust with their lives.
  • As a global leader in public health, CDC is the nation's premier health promotion, prevention, and preparedness agency.
  • Whether we are protecting the American people from public health threats, researching emerging diseases, or mobilizing public health programs with our domestic and international partners, we rely on our employees to make a real difference in the health and well-being of people here and around the world.

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 position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Global HIV and TB, Overseas Strategy and Management Branch.
  • 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.
  • This vacancy is also being announced concurrently with vacancy announcement HHS-CDC-OD-17-1952619 under competitive procedures.
  • Please review that announcement to see if you are eligible for consideration under competitive procedures. 

NOTE: Applicants must apply separately for each announcement in order to be considered.

Duties
As a Behavioral Scientist position you will:

  • Lead and direct studies of the behavioral aspects of public health issues and problems, and develop strategies to address those issues.
  • Provide authoritative and professional expertise in dealing with the behavioral aspects of public health issues.
  • Lead the development of strategies and programs to address the behavioral component of public health issues, including educational campaigns to raise awareness.
  • Collaborate with other CDC staff in the design of public health programs, to incorporate behavioral aspects in an integrated approach to disease prevention.
  • Partner with other government agencies and private organizations to accomplish program objectives.
  • Lead the evaluation of public health program effectiveness by measuring and assessing the extent of behavioral change.
  • Recommend changes in policy, program operations, and resource levels to improve effectiveness

Travel Required:

  • Occasional Travel
  • As required by the position.

Job Requirements / Qualifications
Key Requirements:

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Background Investigation is required.
  • Security and Medical clearance are required.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Applicants must have successfully completed a full four-year course of study at an accredited College or University leading to a Bachelor's or Higher Degree in Behavioral or Social Science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position OR have a combination of education and experience that provided knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field OR have four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
  • In addition, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience as defined in the next paragraph.

Minimum Qualifications

  • 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 leading and directing studies of the behavioral aspects of public health issues and problems and developing strategies to address those issues as it relates to public health prevention 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.

Conditions of Employment

  • Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
  • E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form 1-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires, and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.
  • Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
  • One-year probationary period may be required.
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Drug Screening Required: No
  • Time in grade (TIG) must be met within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
  • Mobility agreement may be required.

CDC Financial Disclosure:

  • OGE Form 450 Holding ourselves to a higher standard; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention inspires public confidence in its trust responsibilities and mission by maintaining high ethical principles.
  • This position is subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521).
  • Therefore, 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 will be required annually.

Salary Range
$88,136.00 to $114,578.00 / Per Year

Deadline
2nd June, 2017.


Special Notes

  • Term appointments may be shortened or extended up to a maximum of four years based on the needs of the agency without further competition. Subsequent employment for CDC positions must be through the appropriate competitive process or special employment program hiring authorities.
  • Temporary promotions may be extended up to a maximum of five years based on the needs of the agency without further competition.
  • Temporary reassignments may be extended up to a maximum of six years based on the needs of the agency without further competition.
  • Supervisory position: This announcement may be used to fill supervisory or lead positions.
  • CDC is an Equal Opportunity