Summary
As a global leader in public health & health promotion, CDC is the agency Americans trust with their lives. In addition to our everyday work, each CDC employee has a role in supporting public health emergency management, whether through temporary assignments to emergency responses or sustaining other CDC programs and activities while colleagues respond. Join our team to use your talent, training, & passion to help CDC continue as the world's premier public health organization. Visit www.cdc.gov
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
Duties
As a Biologist, you will:
- Conduct biological research and laboratory work.
- Plan and manage scientific studies and experiments.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret scientific data.
- Ensure proper handling, processing, and chain-of-custody for biological specimens.
- Maintain laboratory instruments and equipment to conduct tests and analyses.
- Prepare scientific reports, charts, and publications to document experimental findings.
- Prepare and deliver written and oral reports in formal and informal settings.
- Provide training in the use of laboratory equipment and procedures.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
Due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) process enhancement to use Shared Certificates throughout the Agency, some of the requirements below may differ:
- US Citizenship is required.
- Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (http://www.sss.gov).
- May be subject to a Background/Security Investigation. Security clearance level may differ from the position announced when certificates are shared.
- CDC participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). If selected, CDC will determine your employment eligibility using your social security number.
- Direct deposit is required.
- One-year probationary period may be required.
- This position may be subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- This position may be subject to the OGE Financial Disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). CDC inspires public confidence in its trust responsibilities and mission by maintaining high ethical principles. If selected, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency. If identified, this will be an annual requirement.
- In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 15, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. This position may require a Drug Test and be subject to Random Drug Testing. The position may require the submission of a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. If required to submit to urinalysis, the appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative test result.
Qualifications
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Basic Qualifications:
Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
AND
Minimum Qualifications:
To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, which must include the following experience: coordinating biological projects within regulated laboratory environments, providing technical guidance to stakeholders on scientific study findings, and analyzing and interpreting biological data to support public health surveillance and research.
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; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
A copy of your transcripts or equivalent documentation is required for positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.
A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For more information, visit https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
This position is being filled through Direct Hire Authority for this occupation and is open to all US Citizens.
Vacancies will be filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority. For more information on OPM's authorization of Direct Hire Authority, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/
The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the Federal workplace if declared a drug-testing position. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public.
Incentives:
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.
Review our 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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.
The utilization of shared certificates for additional selections within the same geographical area can be made from multiple Centers of the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet all of the requirements outlined in the qualification section of this announcement in order to be considered "well qualified."
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.
To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires two additional assessments:
SME Resume Review - Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume will be completed Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the required specialized experience referenced in this announcement. If, after reviewing your resume, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position and may not move forward to the next phase of the hiring process.
Structured Interview - Upon determination the required specialized experience has been met, you may be invited to participate in a structured interview led by panel members to measure critical general competencies required to perform the job.
The Structured Interview includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in the below critical competencies:
- Biological Science
- Data Collection, Analysis, and Management
- Public Health Knowledge
- Technical Training and Advising
You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the interview.
If you are found to be among the top-qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you MUST submit a complete Application Package which includes the following. Note: All documents must be in English. Resumes must not exceed 2 pages in length.
1. Resume - Must reflect name, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (month/year) of employment and duties performed.
Current/former Federal employee:
- Must reflect pay plan, series and grade, i.e., GS-0301-9.
Dos and Don'ts:
Cover Letter is optional.
2. Transcripts (if applicable) - You may submit an unofficial transcript. An official transcript from an accredited educational institution is required if you are selected.
3. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/ Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):
- Supporting documentation i.e., Reduction in Force (RIF) notice or Certificate of Expected Separation (CES), AND most recent:
- Current annual performance appraisal
- SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action)
4. Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from the Office of Personnel Management (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. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50.
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
For Résumé and Application Tips visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Tips.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
NOTE: Resumes must not exceed 2 pages in length. For information on resume length, visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements
During the application process, you will be presented with four narrative questions that provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not mandatory and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.
If you elect not to answer the questions, you will not be disqualified or screened out from consideration for this vacancy.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date, 04/20/2026, of this announcement to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Please ensure that a personal email address is linked to your USAJOBS/login.gov account.
- Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (
https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit:
https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online:
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online. Applying online, through your USAJOBS account, will expedite the application process and allow you to check your application. If you utilize the Alternate Application method, your USAJOBS account will not display this application or status updates related to this application.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy:
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you have questions or need special accommodations during any part of the application process, contact HHS's Equal Employment Opportunity Service Center (EEOSC) Accessibility and Disability Services Branch by phone 202-619-1564 or email
EEOSC.Accommodations@hhs.gov. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
To view the questionnaire, click on the following link:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12922258Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Once the announcement period has closed, a SME Resume Review will be conducted. Based on your application and responses to the application questionnaire, you may be contacted for a Structured Interview. The Structured Interview will consist of a series of questions presented by an interview panel. To be considered for the position, you must meet or exceed the cut score for the interview. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will receive notice via email once this process is completed (generally 4-6 weeks).
If selected, you will be contacted with a job offer. Please ensure that your USAJOBS profile is setup with a personal email address prior to acceptance.
HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, researches emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.