Science Disclosure Analyst
Job Location:
Silver Spring, MD - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
This position is being filled under a stream-lined hiring authority Title 21 of the United States Code (21 US Code 379d-3a) as amended by the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 section 3072 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 Section 3624. The candidate selected for this position will serve under a career or career-conditional appointment and be paid under the provisions of this authority. This position is being recruited based on the Title 21 Pay Table 1 Band B (GS-12 equivalent).
- Independently conducts comprehensive disclosure analysis of complex sensitive and high-volume scientific and regulatory records involving FDA-regulated products programs research inspections submissions applications scientific reviews clinical or laboratory information and related agency records.
- Integrates professional scientific knowledge with regulatory context to determine whether individual passages data elements analyses methods findings and related information are releasable subject to protection or require consultation. Evaluates how disclosure of one portion of a record may reveal protected information contained elsewhere in the record or submission.
- Applies FOIA exemptions and other disclosure restrictions to scientifically dense records including questions involving confidential commercial information trade secrets personal privacy pre-decisional or deliberative information investigatory or enforcement-sensitive information and information protected by specific statutes.
- Makes independent proposed releasability determinations within delegated parameters; prepares redacted/releasable records; ensures segregability; and develops complete documentation supporting release withholding referral and consultation decisions.
- Conducts disclosure analyses for proactive publication advisory committee materials scientific-information sharing with domestic or international counterparts and other authorized disclosure activities adapting the review to the governing disclosure mechanism.
- Applies quality assurance and quality control methods to determine risk and compliance standards for work and implements associated risk mitigation actions.
- Develops well-supported recommendations for denials or partial denials and prepares scientific and factual analyses that allow authorized denial officials and counsel to evaluate the basis for withholding.
- Analyzes changes in disclosure statutes regulations judicial decisions Department of Justice guidance or FDA policy and assesses their effect on established scientific-disclosure practices.
- Identifies inconsistencies or gaps in existing disclosure practice and recommends clarifications decision rules or procedural changes to promote uniform treatment of comparable scientific information.
- Serves as a scientific-disclosure consultant to FDA program offices coordinating with scientists physicians engineers reviewers compliance personnel product specialists records custodians and managers to resolve difficult questions concerning the scientific meaning and releasability of information. Coordinates disclosure consultations and referrals with other FDA components HHS other Federal agencies and information submitters when necessary to establish the factual basis for a disclosure decision.
- Develops or substantially revises standard operating procedures job aids decision matrices scientific-disclosure examples training materials or reference resources based on changes in law policy scientific practice or recurring case issues.
- Conducts training courses for Center staff on FOIA Privacy Act and implementing regulations providing appropriate written instructions and guidelines.
- U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
- The candidate selected for this position will serve under a career or career-conditional appointment within the competitive service.
- Direct Deposit: You will be required to have all federal salary payments electronically deposited into a bank account with a financial institution of your choice.
- FDA participates in e-Verify: All new hires must complete the I-9 form; this information will be processed through e-Verify to determine your employment eligibility. If a discrepancy arises you must take affirmative steps to resolve the matter.
- Males born after December 31 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service. Please go to for more information.
- Financial Disclosure may be required.
- Ethics Clearance may be required.
- Background Investigation Requirement: All employees must pass a security investigation. Failing to pass the background check may be grounds for removal or legal action. If hired you may be subject to additional investigations at a later time.
- Certification of Accuracy: All information concerning eligibility and qualification is subject to investigation and verification. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration non-selection or appropriate legal action.
- All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to random reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring.
- Appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative applicant drug test result.
- Probationary periods are required for new employees appointed to competitive service positions for the first time; or reinstated employees who return after a break in service of 30-days or more and who have not completed a probationary period.
In order to qualify for the Science Disclosure Analyst position which falls under the 0401 occupational Series you must meet the following requirements by 11:59 pm EST on 10/19/2026:
Basic Qualification Requirements:
A. Degree: biological sciences agriculture natural resource management chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major as shown in A above plus appropriate experience or additional education.
IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED ABOVE APPLICANTS MUST ALSO MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM YEARS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BAND B.
1. Have a bachelors degree and also have three (3) years of comparable experience providing advice to stakeholders regarding scientific policies and procedures to address emerging issues related to scientific work; using scientific knowledge to implement and ensure compliance of statutory or other requirements for highly technical scientific information; and using scientific information relevant to drugs and/or biological products. OR
2. Have a masters degree and also have two (2) years of comparable experience providing advice to stakeholders regarding scientific policies and procedures to address emerging issues related to scientific work; using scientific knowledge to implement and ensure compliance of statutory or other requirements for highly technical scientific information; and using scientific information relevant to drugs and/or biological products. OR
3. Have a doctorate degree and also have one (1) year of comparable experience providing advice to stakeholders regarding scientific policies and procedures to address emerging issues related to scientific work; using scientific knowledge to implement and ensure compliance of statutory or other requirements for highly technical scientific information; and using scientific information relevant to drugs and/or biological products. OR
4. Have a MD/DO/DDS/DPM/DVM degree.
NOTE: Applicants must submit all relevant transcripts that demonstrate you possess the required education to meet the Basic Qualifications.
Pay careful attention to the Qualifications and Education sections to identify vacancies where a transcript is required. Even if you hold a similar position or are a current employee you are not exempt from transcript requirements.
TRANSCRIPTS: Positions which are scientific or technical in nature often have very specific educational requirements. You must submit an official transcript unofficial transcript or a list including courses grades earned completion dates and quarter and semester hours earned.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities see the Foreign Education section below for additional requirements.
Electronic Transcript Caution: If you have obtained your transcripts electronically the file might contain security measures that could prevent our application system from reading the file. Therefore you should consider asking the institution to provide the file in a non-secured electronic format. Alternatively you could scan or take a photo of the printed copy of the transcript. If your uploaded transcript cannot be read by our system you may receive consideration and credit for the information we can access.
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information visit the U.S. Department of Education website for Foreign Education Evaluation.
To be acceptable the foreign credential evaluation must include/describe at a minimum the following information: (1) The type of education received by the applicant; (2) The level of education in relation to the U.S. education system and state that its comparability recommendations follow the general guidelines of the International Evaluation Standards Council; (3) The content of the applicants educational program earned abroad and the standard obtained; (4) The status of the awarding foreign schools recognition and legitimacy in its home countrys education system; and (5) Any other information of interest such as what the evaluation service did to obtain this information the qualifications of the evaluator and any indications as to other problems such as forgery.
Note: Some positions require the completion of specific courses or a specified number of credit hours. Therefore the foreign credential evaluation should provide information similar to that of an official transcript to include a list of the courses taken quarter and/or semester hours awarded the cumulative grade point average (GPA) honors received if any date degree awarded.
Applicants can request an evaluation from a member organization of one of the two national associations of credential evaluation services listed below:
Credential evaluations are not free and applicants are responsible for the cost of the selected service.
For more information about this requirement please visit the U.S. Department of Education website for Foreign Education Evaluation.
The application limit if applicable for this advertisement is: 150 applications
This position has promotion potential to the Band C level (GS-13 equivalent).
Additional Conditions of Employment:
- Pre-employment physical required: No
- Drug testing required: No
- License required: No
- Mobility agreement required: No
- Immunization required: No
- Bargaining Unit: No
- Telework eligible position: Telework is at the discretion of the supervisor.
- Additional selections may be made for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement.
- Incentives may be authorized; however this is contingent upon funds availability. If authorized certain incentives will 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 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.
- If you are serving or have served in the last 5 years (from
10/19/2026) as an Executive Branch political Schedule C or Non-career SES appointee HHS/FDA may be required to obtain approval by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) prior to beginning employment. 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. If you have served or are currently serving you must provide a copy of your SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action documenting this addition you will be required to respond to the question in the assessment and certify your responses to the questionnaire. See Political Appointee FAQ - OPM for more.
Active-duty U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Officers are encouraged to apply. If selected officers may either (1) remain on active duty assigned to the designated billet for PHS assignment or (2) separate or retire from the Commissioned Corps before entering a Title 21 civilian appointment.
All requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement (10/19/2026); only education and experience gained by this date will be considered. You must continue to meet all requirements throughout the entire hiring process.
Candidates 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.
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
