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Lead Health Scientist


Job Location:

Atlanta, GA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 133007 - 133007
Posted: 6 October 2026 (20 days ago)
Application Deadline: 23 January 2027
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Injury Prevention and Control headquartered in Atlanta Georgia.


This announcement will close at 11:59 PM on the day that 100 applications have been received or on the closing date whichever is first.


Duties

WHAT YOULL BE DOING DAY TO DAY

As a Lead Health Scientist you will:

  • Ensure that the organizations strategic plan mission vision and values are communicated to the team and integrated into the teams strategies goals objectives work plans and work products and services.
  • Serve as a recognized expert in health sciences for the agency in the areas of mental health and substance use with
    responsibility for developing policy and objectives appraising programs and initiating requirements for health science studies.
  • Provide expert advice and assistance for public health projects or studies.
  • Serve as technical consultant on contracts for scientific services; perform duties such as: writing statement of work serving on technical review panels for contract proposals and monitoring contracts for quality assurance and quality control.

Requirements
Conditions of employment
  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • Males born after December 31 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service -
  • Suitable for federal employment
  • Meet time in grade restrictions by the closing date of the announcement
  • Appointment will be subject to the applicants successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. All information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.
  • Documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS E-Verify System.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date.
  • Financial disclosure statement may be required.
  • Probationary (or trial) period may be required.
  • Using government domestic and/or foreign modes of air land and/or sea transportation the incumbent may be required to perform domestic and international temporary duty travel on an annual basis.
  • If required to perform international travel the incumbent will be required to submit to numerous vaccinations as well as Department of State medical and security clearances.
Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Basic Qualifications: Bachelors 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 U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.

AND

Minimum Qualifications: You must have one year of specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service performing ALL of the following:

  • Conducting scientific research and providing strategic health science expertise and leadership to a team.
  • Promoting evidence-based efforts to improve mental health and well-being and prevent suicide overdose and related outcomes.
  • Planning designing implementing and analyzing projects.
  • Monitoring communicating consulting synthesizing and interpreting relevant data and providing analytical reviews.
Documenting experience: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of addition to describing duties performed applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.

Do not copy and paste the duties specialized experience or occupational application questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employees position is creditable however when documented by satisfactory evidence such as a signed memorandum from the employees supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or if part time the percentage of times the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employees official personnel order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above.

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; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies knowledge and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

OPM Qualification General Policies Website
Additional information

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols such as protocols related to masking physical distancing testing travel and quarantine.

Incentives may be authorized; however this is contingent upon multiple factors including funds availability. If authorized certain incentives may require you to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a period of up to 3 years. Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid. Incentives may include the following: moving expenses recruitment or relocation incentive; student loan repayment superior qualifications appointment creditable service for annual leave for prior non-federal work experience or prior uniformed military service etc.

Bargaining Unit Position: No

Research position: No

Drug Screening Required: No

Applicants selected for this position will be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring.

Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans - Hiring Authorities for Military Spouses - With Disabilities (Schedule A) - Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an CTAP/ICTAP eligible see To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position.

Reemployment Priority List (RPL): To receive selection priority for this position individuals on the RPL must meet the qualification requirements complete all required assessments and be rated as qualified. RPL candidates are ranked using Category Rating procedures.

Beginning January 1 2010 agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5 United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years a political Schedule A Schedule C or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

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Application Tips visit: additional information about USAJOBS visit the Help Center: should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.


Required Experience:

IC