Summary
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institute of Mental Health & National Eye Institute are seeking exceptionally talented, knowledgeable, and motivated Health Communications Specialists with a commitment to excellence to provide expertise in support of the planning, strategizing, and directing of a proactive, comprehensive health communications program.
For more information on our organizations, visit NIMHD, NIMH & NEI
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
Immediate positions are available in the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), which provides communications leadership and support through a comprehensive strategic communications program to develop and disseminate information about NIMHD research and training programs, outreach efforts, resources, and research advances to a variety of audiences in support of the institute's mission.
Immediate positions are available in the Science Writing, Press and Dissemination Branch (SWPDB), Office of Science Policy, Planning and Communications (OSPPC), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to disseminate evidence-based mental health information to patients, caregivers, providers, researchers, advocates, news media, and other stakeholders, communicate research findings, funding, training, and other opportunities through various channels, manage the NIMH Information Resource Center, respond to public inquiries and requests for publications, coordinate and manage the NIMH outreach efforts.
The National Eye Institute is recruiting for a Health Communications Specialist, who will function as Director of the National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP). The NEHEP Director leads NEI's public health education effort in the areas of eye health, eye disease and prevention, and resources for people with visual impairment. The work will include audience research, development of digital products, partnership management, running live events, and convening meetings of partners and working groups, as well as evaluating NEHEP activities.
DUTIES INCLUDE:
- Developing communications plans and products to support health education and outreach efforts and public information needs, including but not limited to brochures, booklets, fact sheets, exhibits, newsletters, social media, and web content.
- Planning and responsibility for liaison activities across governmental and professional organizations in related disciplines and areas of concern to ensure that necessary contacts are established and maintained.
- Evaluating the impact and effectiveness of communication plans and products for the organization.
- Conceptualizing, developing, and disseminating health information through print, multimedia, social and digital technologies to a variety of audience groups focused on minority health and health disparities and/or mental health, including researchers, professionals and advocates working in public health, community health, health care, policy, media and the general public.
- Translating complex scientific information into plain language, and tailoring this information for various audiences and channels.
- Collecting, developing, and verifying information accuracy by researching and consulting with subject matter experts and program officials.
- Developing and disseminating information about the organization, its programs, and science to a variety of audiences using print, multimedia, social media (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.), traditional media, conferences and meetings, and digital technologies.
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.
- This announcement accepts applications during the open period of 10/01/2025 through 10/05/2025; unless the applicant cut-off (125 applications) is reached.
- This announcement will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time (ET) on 10/05/2025, or on the day the 125th application is received, whichever comes first.
Qualifications
You qualify at the GS-12 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements:
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: assisting in development of communications plans and products to provide information to various audiences; participating in evaluating the impact and effectiveness of communications plans and products; disseminating information on organizational programs through various media and communications channels; participating in developing content for communications products; developing responses to public inquiries on various topics; and coordinating with other staff and organizations to accomplish communications activities.
You qualify at the GS-13 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements:
You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: conceptualizing and developing communications plans and products to provide information to the public; evaluating the impact and effectiveness of communications programs and products in disseminating information to targeted audiences; communicating information on organizational programs through a broad range of communications media and platforms; developing content for communications products; coordinating with subject matter experts to ensure the accuracy and suitability of communications products; responding to public inquiries regarding organizational programs and issues; and collaborating with other staff and organizations in planning and carrying out communications programs.
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, 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.
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/12548453
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
- 1. Ability to develop and implement communications plans and programs for a biomedical research organization.
- 2. Skill in communicating health information to various audiences through multiple media.
- 3. Skill in researching and developing content for communications materials.
- 4. Ability to respond to public inquiries regarding research programs and organizational issues.
If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application and responses to the online questionnaire will be evaluated under Category Rating and selection procedures for placement in one of the following categories:
- Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria
- Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria
- Qualified - for those who only meet the minimum qualification requirements
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Applicants determined to be Best Qualified will be referred for further consideration. Preference eligibles in the Best Qualified category are referred before all other applicants.
To be considered well qualified for the purposes of 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 by scoring at least an 85 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.
Required Documents
REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS
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)
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 Jobs website, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Writing Video Tutorial.
ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE:
You must submit a completed assessment 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 PREFERENCE OR ELIGIBILITY CLAIMS
To claim veterans' preference, career transition selection priority, Schedule A or military spouse eligibility, you must provide the documentation listed below AND respond accordingly to the associated question on the online questionnaire.
- Veterans' preference (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.): Reference Standard Form 15 (SF-15) for required documentation for 10 point claims. Submission of SF-15 is not required, unless you are claiming 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 claims, 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.
- Visit our sites on Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) for more information and required documentation.
- Visit our site on the Appointment of Certain Military Spouses for more information and required documentation to verify eligibility.
- Schedule A Eligibility (Applicants with Disabilities) Applicants who are eligible to be considered under Schedule A must submit appropriate documentation to verify eligibility. Documentation must 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. Veterans' preference takes precedence in these appointments.
The Schedule A and military spouse hiring authorities do not guarantee employment or give an individual preference in the hiring process.
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.
Do not submit 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.
How to Apply
This announcement accepts applications during the open period of 09/30/2024 through 10/04/2024; unless the applicant cut-off (125 applications) is reached. This announcement will close at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 10/04/2024, or on the day the 125th application is received, whichever comes first. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on the closing day of the announcement to receive consideration. Early submission of your application is highly encouraged.
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 10/04/2024 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 those Eligibility questions (Status Applicant, Reinstatement, Schedule A, etc.) you respond in the affirmative to, 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/12548453
- 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 hrss@nih.gov.
If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying, please contact Sabina Green at greenso@mail.nih.gov. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date.
NIH's EEO and Diversity and Inclusion Policy Statement
Visit the NIH's Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion site for information on NIH's EEO program, Reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.
Next steps
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.
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.
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