Food and Drug Administration Logo
Position Title
Interdisciplinary Scientist
Agency
Food and Drug Administration
Announcement Number
FDA-CDRH-22-11538746LL-IMP Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, July 27, 2022 to Tuesday, August 9, 2022
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Are you a current employee of any agency within the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) who has been notified that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If so, you may be entitled to selection priority under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP).

To be eligible, you must:
1. Meet the definition of 'surplus' or 'displaced' employee, as defined in Section 330-2-30; and
2. Have a duty station in the local commuting area of the vacancy; and
3. Have a performance rating of at least Fully Successful or equivalent; and
4. Be applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you're being separated; and
5. Be applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you're being separated; and

6. Be well-qualified for the position. Refer to the vacancy announcement for a description of the criteria; and
7. Submit the following supporting documentation:
  • RIF separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice; and
  • Copy of your latest performance rating; and
  • Copy of your most recent SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action showing your position, grade and step, tenure code, and duty location.
See the Career Transition Assistance site on USAJOBS for more information about CTAP.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for selection priority under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)?


 
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2. Are you a current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employee? If so, you may be eligible to apply competitively to this vacancy announcement.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be a current permanent FDA employee on a career or career-conditional in the competitive service. If you are unsure, review your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action for the following:
  • Block 24 (Tenure) must be '1 - Permanent' or '2 - Conditional'; and
  • Block 34 (Position Occupied) must be '1 - Competitive Service'
AND
2. Have never held a permanent position with the same or greater promotion potential. Review the vacancy announcement for the promotion potential of this position.
AND
3. Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action with your application package. Review the Required Documents section of the vacancy announcement.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered as a current FDA employee (Competitive)?
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3. Are you a current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employee? If so, you may be eligible to apply non-competitively to this vacancy announcement.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be a current permanent FDA employee on a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service. If you are unsure, review your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action for the following:
  • Block 24 (Tenure) must be '1 - Permanent' or '2 - Conditional'; and
  • Block 34 (Position Occupied) must be '1 - Competitive Service'
AND
2. Currently hold or have previously held a permanent position with the same or greater promotion potential. Review the vacancy announcement for the promotion potential of this position. You must submit a copy of your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action showing the highest grade (or promotion potential) held.
AND
3. Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action with your application package. Review the Required Documents section of the vacancy announcement.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered as a current FDA employee (Non-Competitive)?
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4.
Are you a current Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps Officer stationed at a position within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? Not all positions are appropriate for the Commissioned Corps and it is at the supervisor's discretion to fill a position through the Corps.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be a current PHS Commissioned Corps Officer with FDA; and
2. Submit a copy of your most recent PHS personnel orders or letter from the Public Health Service verifying you are currently in, or have been accepted to, the Commissioned Corps.
See the PHS Commissioned Corps website for more information.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for a Commissioned Corps appointment?
 
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5.
  • Are you a current HHS employee in a bargaining unit position represented by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU)? NOTE: This question is not used to determine if you are eligible for consideration; it is only used to ensure proper referral in accordance with the HHS and NTEU collective bargaining agreement effective October 1, 2010, revised March 6, 2014. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must also respond "Yes" to the applicable eligibility questions below.
    If you answer yes, Block 37 (Bargaining Unit Status) of your SF-50 must be 3591.
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Preferences
1. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING MERIT PROMOTION ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS VERY CAREFULLY.
Your responses to these questions will impact your eligibility.

This vacancy announcement is being advertised under Merit Promotion procedures. This means that only specific groups of applicants are eligible to apply to this announcement. The following eligibility questions will determine if you are among any of these specific groups eligible to apply. You will only be considered for each eligibility which you respond "yes" to. If you respond "no" to all eligibility options in this list, your application will not be considered under this advertisement. For more information about Merit Promotion advertisements, visit the USAJOBS Which Vacancies am I Eligible For? article. The specific area of consideration (those groups of applicants eligible to apply) are listed in the "Who May Apply" section of this announcement. If you still have questions about this advertisement or your potential eligibility, please reach out to the FDA Applicant Help Desk | quickquestions@fda.gov | 888-478-4340.
By answering "yes" below, you are indicating that you have read and understand this information.
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2. In the last five years, based on the closing date of this announcement, have you served or are you currently serving as an Executive Branch political, Schedule C, or Non-career SES appointee?
You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your Standard Form 50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.
  • A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
  • A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
  • A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
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3. Select the series you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one series. (limit characters)
4.

===== Acknowledgement of Restrictions on the Employment of Relatives by Public Officials =====
5 U.S. Code, § 3110 lays out specific and important restrictions on the employment of relatives within an agency.
A public official of a government agency may not appoint, promote, or otherwise advocate for the employment, advancement, or promotion of relatives within the agency for which the public official is employed or has control over.
Employees hired in violation of 5 U.S. Code, § 3110 will not be entitled to any pay for their period of employment, and any pay already received before the violation becomes known, will be considered as a debt to the government on the part of the employed individual.

For the purpose of this question, a "relative" is defined as: father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister.

QUESTION:
After having read the definition of "relative" as stated above, does the Food and Drug Administration employ any of your relatives?

IF YES: You must provide the following information, for each relative employed by the FDA:

  1. The full legal name of the relative.
  2. The relative's relationship to you (from the list above).
  3. If known, the relative's employing organization and position.
IF NO: Please type "No" in the box below.
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5. If you are a male at least 18 years of age, born after December 31, 1959, have you registered with the Selective Service System?


(Note: If you currently do not have an approved exemption or Status Information Letter you must request one from the Selective Service System. A copy of your proof of registration or the exemption/Status Information Letter must be provided prior to appointment.)
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6. If you are a male at least 18 years of age, born after December 31, 1959 AND you have NOT registered with the Selective Service System, do you have an approved exemption or Status Information Letter from the Selective Service System?


(Note: If you currently do not have an approved exemption or Status Information Letter you must request one from the Selective Service System. A copy of your proof of registration or the exemption/Status Information Letter must be provided prior to appointment.)
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7. Please indicate all the Division(s) and Team(s) you would like to be considered for. (limit characters)
8. Your responses to the all questions, and any information or documentation which you provide as part of your application, will be thoroughly reviewed for accuracy and truthfulness. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. If you fail to answer this question, your application will not be considered. Knowingly providing false information in your application (or submitted documentation) is a crime!
  1. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in my application is true, correct, and provided in good faith.
  2. I understand that if I intentionally make a false statement, or commit deception or fraud in my application, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 USC, Sec 1001); my eligibility may be canceled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 CFR, Part 731).
  3. I understand that any information I provide may be investigated.
  4. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in my not being considered for this position.
Do you accept the conditions above?
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Assessment 1
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
1. I currently work for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), serving on a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service or am a CDRH CTAP eligible in the local commuting area or I am a Commissioned Corps Officer currently working for CDRH. (This includes active duty officers, inactive reserve officers and applicants who have been approved for Commissioning in the USPHS Commissioned Corps.) (limit characters)
2. From the descriptions below, select the option which best describes your education and/or experience and meets the Basic Qualification Requirement for a Physicist, GS-1310. (limit characters)
3. From the descriptions below, select the option which best describes your education and/or experience and meets the Basic Qualification Requirement for a Chemist, GS-1320. (limit characters)
4. From the description below, select the option which best describes your experience which meets the Minimum Requirement/Specialized Experience for an Interdisciplinary Scientist (Leader), GS-1310-1320-14. (limit characters)
5. Where in your resume can this experience be found? (limit 100 characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
6. Perform regulatory reviews of information from stakeholders to evaluate safety and efficacy of medical products. (limit characters)
7. Write justifications to support analytical findings of scientific data. (limit characters)
8. Refer to existing laws, regulations and current guidances to evaluate scientific data related to medical products. (limit characters)
9. Confirm that data is accurately reflected in the information provided and conclusions reached are supported by the data. (limit characters)
10. Evaluate scientific data and descriptions of medical products to determine safety and quality. (limit characters)
11. Prepare responses to internal and external stakeholders regarding safety and quality of medical devices. (limit characters)
12. Synthesize information from multiple sources and make recommendation to improve safety and quality of medical products. (limit characters)
13. Provide guidance on the interpretation of regulations applicable to medical products. (limit characters)
14. Make presentations on the key issues surrounding the safety and effectiveness of medical products. (limit characters)
15. Discuss key medical device issues with internal and external stakeholders. (limit characters)
16. Develop strategies and/or guidelines to support the safety of medical products. (limit characters)
17. Manage, direct and/or oversee the work of a team or working group. (limit characters)
18. Establish guidelines and performance expectations for a workgroup. (limit characters)
19. Develop short- and long-range plans for the management of human and material resources to achieve objectives of a workgroup. (limit characters)