Summary
Join the NIH Clinical Center Nursing Department (CCND). Talented Nurse Leaders are at the heart of our 200-bed research hospital and ambulatory care facility that is designated as Magnet with Distinction™. We are seeking a GS-15 Chief Nurse Officer to join our nursing leadership team. The NIH Clinical Center Nursing Department has an accredited Transition to Practice program and an extraordinary shared governance model.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration.
Duties
As a GS-0610-15 Chief Nurse Officer (CNO), your duties may include but are not limited to the following duties:
- Serves as a key member of the executive team overseeing strategic planning and program direction for Nursing.
- Monitors the impact of proposed personnel changes such as special pay, classification, and grading of employees, special staffing programs and upward mobility plans.
- Develops and implements budget strategies to support organizational goals and needs while judicially monitoring resources and identifying cost saving opportunities.
- Initiates non-discriminatory practices for the Nursing Department in the recruitment, hiring and promotion of staff, fair treatment of all employees, encouragement and recognition of employee achievements, career development and full utilization of employee skills.
- Coordinates the development of operational and long-range strategic plans to meet existing and potential needs and to ensure the continuous availability and growth of an engaged, highly specialized and high performing staff.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
- Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
- Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
- Position requires a Nursing License, and it is requested to upload a copy of your license with your application.
- Position requires education and it is requested to upload a copy of your transcripts with your application.
- If selected, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination, provide evidence of immunization, and be free from communicable diseases.
- This position is designated as Tier-1 Emergency Essential. See Additional Information section for specific details on this designation.
- A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection.
- A one-year supervisory trial/probationary period may be required upon selection/
placement.
- If selected, you will be required to file an Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278e and OGE-278-T) in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
- This report is required prior to employment and on a periodic basis during employment. For information, visit the NIH Ethics website:
https://ethics.od.nih.gov/fd.
Qualifications
You qualify at the GS-15 level if you meet the following qualification requirements:
EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A graduate or higher level degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing educational program is required. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Degree from Foreign Nursing School: Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools.
AND
License: Possess a current, active, full and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
AND
NCLEX-RN: You must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) or you obtained licensure before the implementation of the NCLEX-RN. Individuals who have not passed the NCLEX-RN, but meet all other qualification requirements will be subject to a comprehensive evaluation of both their education and experience prior to final appointment.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) full year of professional nursing experience at the GS-14 level in the federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: Establishing and implementing unique and complex programs for nursing services; establishing best practices in nursing and patient care; leading and collaborating with hospital leadership to improve patient safety and to coordinate patient services; leading interdisciplinary teams and external stakeholders to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals; cultivating a strong workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs.
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.
Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
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 application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13076971
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.
Additional information
- This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, nonemergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage.
- 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.
- PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should also apply online to this announcement in order to receive consideration.
- 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 Help Applying page for helpful information on the application process.
- If selected, you may be eligible to receive a salary above the minimum based on superior qualifications and/or a special need of the Government for your services. This applies to employees paid under the General Schedule (GS) and Federal Wage System (FWS) pay systems and is at the discretion of the hiring manager. A salary above the minimum must be approved before the appointment.
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.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
The position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by a direct hire authority and the agency's Reemployment Priority List (RPL). RPL candidates will be rated with a resume review, placed into one of the quality categories below, and referred to the hiring office before direct-hire candidates, once veterans' preference is applied.
- Qualified
- Well Qualified
- Best Qualified
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
A direct hire authority covers the position(s) advertised in this announcement. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants, including category rating, does not apply. Qualified candidates meeting the minimum proficiency score on the technical assessment will be referred for further consideration in accordance with the
Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire guidelines. Veterans' Preference does not apply.
To be considered well qualified for the
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.
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.
Required Documents
REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS
RESUME:
Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses. While cover letters provided with your application will be shared with hiring officials, they will not be used for initial qualification determinations. We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history. If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed. Use a legible font such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial, with 0.5-inch margins. Suggested formatting: 14-point for titles and 10-point for body text. You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume. If uploading, ensure it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position:
- Job title
- Employer name
- Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY)
- Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated)
- Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable)
- Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions)
If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must 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. 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.
APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE:
You must submit a completed application questionnaire.
Unless otherwise stated, we will only use the information above to determine your qualifications. Not providing the required information may result in a determination that you do not meet minimum requirements for the position (e.g., an ineligible rating) or a lower rating.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR CAREER TRANSITION CLAIMS
Visit our websites to claim selection priority through the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):
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.
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.
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
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 11/05/2026 to receive consideration.
- Click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding 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
hrss@nih.gov.
If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying, please contact NIH HR Service Desk Branch E at ohrcsdbranchesrvdsk@od.nih.gov. 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.
Next steps
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.