Food and Drug Administration Logo
Position Title
Policy Analyst
Agency
Food and Drug Administration
Announcement Number
FDA-CTP-23-MP-11723802-SM Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, November 14, 2022 to Friday, December 2, 2022
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. 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)?


 
(limit characters)
3. Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces? If so, you may be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.
To be eligible, you must be:
1. The spouse of a member of the armed forces on active duty; OR
2. The spouse of a service member who is 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury; OR
3. The spouse of a service member killed while on active duty.
AND
Submit the following documentation:
To verify your eligibility for option 1 above, you must submit:
  • Active duty orders for your spouse or other documentation from the military showing that your spouse is on active duty (i.e., active duty orders, PCS orders, statement of service, military ID); AND
  • Documentation verifying marriage (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
To verify your eligibility for options 2 and 3 above, you must submit:
  • Documentation showing your spouse was released or discharged from active duty due to a service-connected disability or discharged due to death;
  • Documentation showing your spouse retired, or was released or discharged from active duty, with a disability rating of 100 percent, or killed while serving on active duty;
  • Documentation verifying marriage (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage); and,
  • A statement certifying that you are the un-remarried widow or widower of the service member (if applicable).
Reference Standard Form 15 (SF-15) for qualifying documents listed above.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for a non-competitive appointment as a military spouse?

 
(limit characters)
4. Are you an overseas family member of a Federal employee who is employed with the Federal government and are returning to the United States? If so, you may be eligible to be considered for a non-competitive appointment.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be living overseas while accompanying a family member who is officially assigned to an overseas duty station; and
2. Be the family member's spouse, domestic partner, or unmarried child younger than 23; and
3. Have worked at least 52 weeks in an appropriated fund position, under a local hire appointment; and
4. Have received a successful or equivalent performance rating during your time on the job; and
5. Submit supporting documentation such as:
  • Copy of your latest SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action; and
  • Performance appraisal; and
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Orders; and/or
  • Any other documentation supporting your eligibility.
                                
See the Family of Overseas Employees site on USAJOBS for more information.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered as a family member of an overseas employee?
(limit characters)
5. Are you an individual with a documented intellectual, severe physical, or psychiatric disability?
If so, you may be eligible for employment through a Schedule A appointment.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Submit medical documentation of your disability. Documentation must:
  • Be obtained from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal, state, or District of Columbia agency or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits; and
  • Be printed on the official letterhead of a medical professional and must include a signature, must include the following information: date of issuance, medical professional's name, address/location, contact information (i.e. valid phone number, email address, and fax number), and signature. Letters that no not provide this information will be invalid.
See the OPM site for sample letters. While you may use any of the sample letters; however, the information cited above must be included.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for a Schedule A appointment?
 
(limit characters)
6. Are you a current or former Federal employee who has been or will be displaced from your position?  If so, you may be entitled to selection priority under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP).
To be eligible, you must:
1. Meet the definition of '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 ICTAP.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for selection priority under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)?
 
(limit characters)
7. Do you wish to be considered under an Interchange Agreement eligibility?
If you are a current Excepted Service employee of an agency with a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management you may quality for this eligibility type.
  • Postal Career Service Employees
  • Postal Rate Commission Employees
  • Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employees
  • Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employees
To learn more, see the Interchange Agreements page on USAJOBS...

To verify your eligibility:
You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action reflecting your employment status, appointment type, tenure, position information, and full biographic data.
(limit characters)
8. Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management or Base Management Agency? If so, you may be eligible to apply to this vacancy announcement.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Have served on a time-limited (term or temporary) appointment with one of the following agencies:
  • Department of Agriculture's Forest Service; or
  • Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, or Bureau of Reclamation; or
  • Department of Defense's, Defense Industrial Base Facility or Major Range and Test Facilities Base
AND
2. Meet the individual requirements and submit the required documents for either eligibility listed below: Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered as a Land or Base Management agency employee?
 
(limit characters)
9. Are you a former Peace Corps or AmeriCorps VISTA member? If so, you may be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Have at least two (2) years of service with the Peace Corps or one (1) year of service with AmeriCorps VISTA; and
2. Have completed your service within the past year; and
3. Submit your Peace Corps or AmeriCorps VISTA certification of service documents.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered as a Peace Corps volunteer or AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer?
 
(limit characters)
10.
  • 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.
(limit characters)
11. Are you a current Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps Officer? 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; 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?
 
(limit characters)
12. Do you wish to be considered for eligibility as a Competitive Merit Promotion, Reassignment, Reinstatement, or Transfer?
You may qualify for this eligibility if any of the conditions below apply to you:
  • You are currently employed as a Federal civilian employee in the Competitive Service and you've never held the full performance level of the position being advertised.
  • You are currently employed as a Federal civilian employee in the Competitive Service and hold a career or career-conditional appointment at a lower grade level than the position being advertised.
  • You were formerly employed as a Federal civilian employee, on a permanent competitive appointment, and you have never held the full performance level of the position being advertised.
  • You were formerly employed as a Federal civilian employee, obtained career-conditional status, are within 3 years from the date of separation, and, you've never held the full performance of the position being advertised.
  • You were employed as a Federal civilian employee, on a career or career-conditional appointment, are a preference eligible Veteran, and have never held the full performance level of the position being advertised.
To verify your eligibility:
If you are applying under this eligibility as a current or former Federal employee you must submit a copy of your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect: career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1).  
If you are applying using preference eligible Veteran status, you may want to additionally include your DD-214, if your submitted SF-50 is blank in Field 23 (Veteran Preference Status) or shows a 1.
(limit characters)
13. Do you wish to be considered for eligibility as a Non-Competitive Merit Promotion, Reassignment, Reinstatement, or Transfer?
You may quality for this eligibility type if any of the following statements apply to you:
  • You are a current Federal employee, in the Competitive Service, at the same (or higher) grade level, with the same (or higher) promotion potential, as this announcement.
  • You are a current Federal employee, and hold (or have previously held) a career or career-conditional position, at the same (or higher) grade level with the same (or higher) promotion potential, as this announcement.
  • You were formerly employed as a Federal civilian employee on a permanent competitive appointment and have held the same (or higher) grade, with the same (or higher) promotion potential, as this announcement.
  • You previously obtained career-conditional status, and your separation date is within the last 3 years, and you held a position with the same (or higher) promotion potential, as this announcement.
  • You previously obtained career-conditional status, and you are a preference eligible candidate, and you held a position with the same (or higher) promotion potential, as this announcement.
To verify your eligibility:
You must submit a copy of your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action (or an equivalent personnel action form) reflecting your permanent, competitive status.
Your SF-50 (or other document) must reflect the following.  For help with obtaining or understanding your SF-50, please review this USAJOBS help article.
(limit characters)
14. Are you a qualifying military spouse eligible for non-competitive appointment?
This includes applicants who are eligible for special or noncompetitive appointment authorities such as 30% or more compensable disabled veterans, Schedule A persons with disabilities, Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA), military spouse, and PHS Commissioned Corps Officers. This also includes applicants who meet the qualifications for this position and who have previously held, or currently hold, a Federal position at the grade of this position.
Visit the Family Member Preference (FedsHireVets) or Military Spouses (USAJOBS) pages for more information...

(1) Spouse of Active Duty Service Member with Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Orders
You may quality if you are the spouse of a service member with PCS orders, if all of the following conditions are true:
  • You have been married to the military member, on or prior to, the date of your spouse's PCS orders.
  • You have not previously been appointed using this authority, under these orders.
(2) Spouse of a Disabled Service Member
As a military spouse, you may be eligible to be considered if either of the following statements applies:
  • The military member was retired under Chapter 61, of Title 10, United States Code, with a disability rating of 100 percent from the military.
  • The military member was released from active duty and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs or the military department.
NOTE: For you (as the spouse) to qualify, the disabled military member must be unemployed or unemployable.

(3) Spouse of Service Member Fallen in Duty
You may be eligible as the spouse of a military member who was killed while on active duty, and you have not re-married since the death. The service member's death while on active duty does not need to be combat related for the spouse to qualify.

To verify your eligibility for group 1 identified above:
You must submit a copy of the PCS orders of your spouse.

To verify your eligibility for groups 2 and 3 identified above:
You must submit the SF-15: Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and all supporting documentation identified on that document e.g., DD-214: Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member #4 Copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service; death certificate, and documentation identifying marital status at the time of death; disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service, etc.

For more information about military spouse eligibility, please see the FedsHireVets Spouse site.
(limit characters)
15. Are you eligible under a Special Authority? If so, you may be eligible to be considered for a non-competitive appointment.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be a former employee of the Canal Zone Merit System or Panama Canal Employment System; or
2. Be a former employee who served in the Office of the President or Vice-President or on the White House Staff; or
3. Be a former incumbent of a position brought into the competitive service; or
4. Be a disabled veteran who has completed a training course under Chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code; or
5. Be a former ACTION volunteer; or
6. Be a current or former Foreign Service officer or employee; or
7. Be an employee of the Panama Canal Commission located in the United States; and
8. Submit the required supporting documentation. There are specific eligibility requirements for each of these special hiring authorities. See the USAJOBS - Special Authorities site for more information.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for a non-competitive appointment under one of the special hiring authorities?

 
(limit characters)
16.
Are you eligible for veterans' preference or have you separated from the armed forces after three or more years of continuous active service? If so, you may be eligible as a status applicant through the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA).
To be eligible, you must:
1.  Meet any of the following conditions:
  • Be a preference eligible (includes those family members entitled to derived preference), OR
  • Be a veteran separated from the armed forces after three or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. Veterans released shortly before completing a three-year tour are eligible.
AND
2. Submit the following documentation:
  • Copy of your DD-214: Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member #4 copy indicating character of service), OR
  • Other proof of your service which includes character of service; AND
  • If claiming 10-point preference, you will need to submit the appropriate documentation listed in the Standard Form 15 (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If claiming derived preference (XP), you must also submit the SF-15. 
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for appointment under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)?
(limit characters)
17. Are you a 30% or more disabled veteran?  If so, you may be eligible to be considered for a noncompetitive, temporary appointment.  Under this eligibility, you may be converted to a permanent position, but conversion is not guaranteed.
To be eligible, you must:
1.  Meet any of the following conditions:
  • Be retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more; OR
  • Be rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) since 1991 or later to include disability determinations from a branch of the Armed Forces at any time, as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more.
AND
2. Submit the following documentation:
  • Copy of your DD-214: Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member #4 copy indicating character of service), OR
  • Other proof of your service which includes character of service; AND
  • As a 10-point preference, you will need to submit the appropriate documentation listed in the Standard Form 15 (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference."
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for a non-competitive, temporary appointment as a 30% or more disabled veteran?
(limit characters)
Preferences
1.

===== 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.
(limit 750 characters)
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).
(limit characters)
3. 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.
(limit characters)
4. 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.)
(limit characters)
5. 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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6. 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
We will evaluate your resume and responses to this Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position.  Your responses are subject to verification and must be supported by your resume and supporting documents. (limit characters)
1. From the description below, select the one which best describes your experience and meets the Minimum Qualification Requirements for the Policy Analyst, GS-0301-13, position. (limit characters)
2. Where in your resume can the specialized experience be found? Please include the title and dates that reference the experience. (limit characters)
For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
3. Maintain awareness of departmental activities and developments in tobacco control that might impact policies and operations. (limit characters)
4. Resolve issues concerning the application of pertinent regulations, and/or general legislation affecting the operation of tobacco control programs. (limit characters)
5. Analyze laws, regulations, and policies for their impact on programs and recommend courses of action to leadership. (limit characters)
6. Participate in the implementation of Program policies and plans to provide input concerning options that are feasible to budgetary and economic realities. (limit characters)
7. Make recommendations for the enhancement and improvement of the mission and functions of the Department. (limit characters)
8. Work with members of other organizations, to collaborate in working groups and develop new policies, procedures, or guidelines regarding tobacco products and/or other regulated products. (limit characters)
9. Advise staff on policy formulation, to ensure prospective changes are in-line with current regulations. (limit characters)
10. Brief internal and external customers on matters, involving controversial programs or policy issues that may adversely affect or delay project goals. (limit characters)
11. Work closely with the program personnel to develop and review reports on materials related to tobacco regulations. (limit characters)
12. Draft policy documents and correspondence within the Program for tobacco products that are critical to the implementation of an Office initiatives. (limit characters)
13. Draft proposals for new policy statements involving tobacco products, marketing, and sales. (limit characters)
14. Prepare reports and other information that is clear, well-designed, and well-written ensuring standard operating procedures are followed. (limit characters)
15. Respond to correspondences from various audiences on issues that have a broad health implication on public health. (limit characters)