Health Scientist Administrator (Program Officer)

Summary

The Health Scientist Administrator (Program Officer), in the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Division of Behavioral and Social Research (DBSR), NIH provides scientific leadership and programmatic oversight for behavioral and social science research, data infrastructure, and human subjects research activities related to aging and population health, including advising leadership on research priorities, regulatory compliance, and data resource development.

Duties

• Serve as a Health Scientist Administrator with responsibility in providing policy direction and coordination for the planning and execution of initial scientific and technical review conducted within the Institute. Utilize scientific knowledge and expertise to perform a variety of management functions associated with the scientific peer review of IC research and research training support activities and other contract activities. Manage the initial scientific and administrative review of grant, program project grant, and training grant applications as well as research project applications submitted in response to requests for applications. Appoint and manage review panels, including the identification of qualified reviewers to evaluate all applications and proposals and upon own knowledge as a scientist and any recommendations from IC and NIH program officials, to assemble a balanced group of experts and consultants. Establish the criteria and standards for the review panel to follow based upon expert knowledge of the relevant scientific fields, NIH, and IC review policies and procedures. Provides information to the consultants on each committee assembled as a basis for reviewing and evaluating grant applications, contract proposals; collects and provides essential information for committee members. Prepares summary statements of review committee findings and recommendations for use by the IC advisory committee; attends committee meeting and responds to impromptu questions related to the review of the assigned application. Act as the sole Federal official and agency representative by guiding the activities of a review committee by orienting new review members and ensuring continuity in their approach toward evaluating applications, proposals, and adherence to peer review policies and procedures

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: In order to qualify for a Health Specialist, GS-0601, position you must have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelor's degree or graduate/higher level degree with 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 U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained). SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to the education requirements, to qualify at the GS-14 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector as described below. Published as a primary or corresponding (i.e., communicates with editors) author in research publications, book chapters, or other scientific products (e.g., reports summarizing analyses and findings, patents); Served as the lead presenter at scientific events (e.g., conferences, conventions) to advise on progress and emerging scientific direction; Oversaw research projects by coordinating resources and managing timelines; Conceptualized, initiated, and implemented scientific initiatives to enhance research efforts (e.g., multidisciplinary/cross-departmental collaboration); Evaluated research applications, proposals, or other material (e.g., reports) for compliance, relevance, and scientific/technical merit. 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. 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. 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 assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13051139

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Evaluations

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork

How to apply

To apply for this position, please read and follow all instructions in this announcement, complete the online application, and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 09/28/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. See the "Required Documents" section for any additional forms and/or supplemental materials required. Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly to any Eligibility you wish to claim. You will only be considered for Schedule A hiring unless you respond in the affirmative, regardless of what documentation you submit. We cannot assume you intended to respond differently to a question based on other information in your application package. Complete the assessment questionnaire. Applicants are asked all questions regardless of their consideration preferences. We will only consider you for the grades, series, locations, specialties, and other considerations that you self-identify as being qualified for or interested in. Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13051139 Verify all required documentation is included in your application package, review your responses to the assessment questionnaire for accuracy, and then submit your application. In addition to the required documents, we encourage you to submit a cover letter, copy of your transcripts, and any applicable certifications or licenses. Even though this information is not required at the time of application, we may request this information later. We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements. For technical difficulties, contact HR Systems Support between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday at [email protected]. If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying, please contact Eleanor Robinson at [email protected]. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date. Visit our site for information on NIH's EEO program, reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.

What to expect next

Once you submit your application package, you will receive an acknowledgement email. You will be notified of the status of your applications via email. In addition, you can track the progress of your application package through your USAJOBS account. At the discretion of the agency, you may be contacted via phone or email for an interview or to provide additional information up to several months from the closing date of the announcement. Please ensure you have provided accurate contact information. To remain in consideration, you must respond in a timely manner to our correspondence and requests for documentation or information throughout the hiring process.

Required documents

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 USAJOBS online Resume Builder. 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) Performance ratings and any monetary or non-monetary awards (optional). If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you need to 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: NIH Help Applying, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Guidance. ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit a completed assessment questionnaire. ELIGIBILITY/PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: You must submit the following documentation, if applicable to you AND respond accordingly to the associated question on the online questionnaire. 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. Veteran Documentation: (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.). Reference Standard Form 15 (SF-15) for required documentation if you are a 10-point preference eligible. Submission of SF-15 is not required unless you have derived preference (XP) as described in questions 7, 8, or 9 on the SF-15. In those cases, you must submit a completed SF-15 and the required documentation. For 5-point preference eligibles, you must submit your DD-214 (if separated) or any written documentation from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package. Schedule A (Disability Appointment): Documentation of eligibility for employment under Schedule A can be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. The letter must be printed on a medical professional's letterhead and signed. Please note the Schedule A hiring authority neither guarantees employment, nor gives an individual preference in the hiring process. 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.

Other information

This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position, and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave. Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period. NIH considers veterans' preference a positive factor in Schedule A hiring. 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. Visit our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process. Visit our Total Compensation page and this sample for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement, and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.