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

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to employees of CDC/ATSDR.

Duties

As a Health Scientist you will:

Design, oversee, implement, and conduct major scientific surveys/studies or projects to identify and solve public health problems.
Identify and analyze public health issues and their impact on operations that are critical to the public health community at large.
Develop and or use innovative methodologies and techniques and provides support on policies, methods, and procedures relating to the conduct of epidemiologic and/or surveillance programs related to birth defects and developmental disabilities.
Provide technical advice and assistance to national, state and local health agencies and universities in the development and implementation of birth defects and developmental disabilities surveillance systems including the use of surveillance data for prevention and early intervention programs.
Provide scientific oversight of studies, providing support and advice on the design and conduct of complex epidemiologic studies of public health issues related to birth defects and developmental disabilities, including investigating the long-term outcomes of these conditions.
Analyze public health issues health driven and their impact to the community at large.

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 (see 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.
One-year probationary period may be required.
This position may be subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Time in grade (TIG) must be met within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor's 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.

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:providing scientific and technical advice to projects that focus on the science of birth defects and developmental disabilities research, developing and implementing of birth defects and developmental disabilities surveillance systems, and translating research findings and surveillance data analyses into strategies for prevention and intervention programs.

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

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.

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

May be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays.

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.

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.

Incentives:

Relocation incentive may be authorized.
Student loan repayment incentive may be authorized.
Travel, transportation, and moving expenses may be paid.
PCS Expenses may be authorized, subject to the terms of the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR).

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): For information on how to apply as a CTAP eligible see http://opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictapTo 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.

Your application will be rated and ranked among others, based on your responses to the online questions regarding your experience, education, training, performance appraisals and awards relevant to the duties of this position. You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards within the last 3 years in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process.

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:

Data Analysis
Public Health
Research
Translation of Science

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. 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)

Supporting documentation i.e., Reduction in Force (RIF) notice or Certificate of Expected Separation (CES), AND most recent:
- Annual performance appraisal
- SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action)

4. Standard Form 50 (SF-50):

Official SF-50(s) (Notification of Personnel Action) or DA Form3434 which reflect the following:
- Current grade and service status (SF-50 block 34 "position occupied" reflects "1" and block 24 "tenure" reflects "1" or "2".)
- Highest grade held on a permanent basis
- If you currently hold or previously held a General Schedule (GS) or equivalent position within the last 12 months and are applying for a position advertised at a higher grade level, you MUST submit an official SF-50 or DA Form3434 that shows you have held the next lower GS grade level or equivalent for at least one year:
  - SF-50s that have an effective date within the past year may not clearly show you meet the one-year time-in-grade requirement
  - Within-Grade/Rate-Increase (WGI/WRI) SF-50s OR SF-50s that have an effective date outside the past year demonstrate you meet the time-in-grade requirements
- Note: You may need to submit multiple SF-50s to support your eligibility unless all the above requirements are met on one SF-50. If your SF-50(s) does not provide the information needed, you may be found ineligible for the position.

5. Performance Appraisal (Current Federal Employees): Most recent performance appraisal (dated within last 3 years) showing the official rating of record signed by a supervisor or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. You may also list any incentive awards received within the last 3 years on the resume or separate document.

6. USPHS Commissioned Corps:

Active-Duty PHS officer:
- Latest duty station/assignment Personnel Order (PHS-7063). Please remove your SSN where listed.
Call-To-Active Duty (CAD) Candidate:
- Professional & Medical Boarding notifications stating recommended for appointment and physically/medical qualified.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

For additional requirements review https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12909042

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 Remain An Active Duty USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer

Join highly qualified public health professionals as part of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps. Overseen by the U.S. Surgeon General, the USPHS Commissioned Corps is one of eight uniformed services -and the only one dedicated solely to protecting, promoting, and advancing America's public health. You will be part of an elite and diverse team of professionals essential to public health leadership and exemplary public service.
PHS Officers interested in performing the duties of this position with the Commissioned Corps, you are welcome to apply and receive a courtesy referral. Note that a courtesy referral is not a competitive civil service process and does not provide civil service status for the selected employee. Click Here for the comparison chart of Commissioned Corps ranks to civil service, which advises you on potential billet rankings.

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

Complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date, 03/17/2026, 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 resume 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 external to CDC - Contact the CDC Helpdesk by email at HRCS@CDC.GOV.
Applicants internal to CDC - Contact the Human Resources - Employee Center (cdc.gov).

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/12909042

Agency contact information

CDC HELPDESK

Phone: (770) 488-1725
Email: HRCS@CDC.GOV

Address: NCBDDD-DBDID-BIRTH DEFECTS MONITORING AND RESEARCH BRANCH
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
US

Next 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.

Health Scientist Job in Atlanta, GA