Senior Health Science Administrator Job in Fort Detrick, MD

Vacancy No. HQKF250832954024 Department Defense Health Agency
Salary $167,603.00 to $195,200.00 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/19/2025 Close Date 9/23/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Fort Detrick, MD


Summary

About the Position: MRDC is now part of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Research & Development (R&D). We are the medical materiel developer, with responsibility for medical research, development and acquisition. Our expertise in these critical areas helps establish and maintain the capabilities the military needs to remain ready and lethal on the battlefield. Please visit our website https://mrdc.health.mil/

Duties

  • Director, DHA R/D Office of Human and Animal Research Oversight, including its Component Office of Human Research Protections, Cadaver Oversight, Office of Human Research Oversight, Animal Care and Use Review Office, Office of Regulated Activities.
  • Manages a program of active compliance oversight of conducted and/or supported RDT and E, education, or training activities that use human cadavers and recommends approval of sensitive uses of cadavers to the Commanding General.
  • Ensures OHRO’s Office of Human Research Oversight's (OHRO) efficient and effective human research protection official administrative reviews, approvals, and oversight.
  • Maintains familiarity with animal welfare regulations to ensure ACURO’s Animal Care and Use Review Office's (ACURO) efficient and effective review, approval, and oversight of DoD-funded and conducted research use of animals.
  • Directs the DHA’s Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) Component Management Plan and coordination of Component-level human subjects protection regulatory compliance oversight of all DHA elements and subordinate institutions.
  • Oversees all inspections and site assessment visits for DHA HRPPs and Institutional Review Boards, whether for-cause or for processes leading to approvals of Assurances. Oversees the establishment and maintenance of HRPPs in all DHA-wide activities.
  • Provides leadership, planning, and direction to ensure an active and dynamic education, ethics, and compliance program for DHA human subjects protection systems, ensuring compliance with Federal- and DoD-specific regulations.
  • Knowledgeable in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations to effectively oversee ORA’s management of its portfolio of FDA-regulated products and Sponsor’s Representative activities supporting investigational new drugs and devices.
  • Functions as the DHA Component Office of Human Research Protections (COHRP) Lead, the DHA’s most senior-level authority and advisor in the field of DoD-conducted and DoD-supported human subjects research protections and regulatory compliance.
  • Provides direct supervision of employees who lead the OHARO’s subordinate offices: DHA COHRP, Cadaver Use Oversight, OHRO, ACURO, and ORA Office of Regulated Activities.
  • Leads DHA COHRP initiatives for DHA-wide implementation of instructions, guidance, program development, ongoing quality improvement, and education regarding human research ethics, and human research protections required for DoD Assurances and HRPPs.
  • Represents OHARO and DHA at high-level conferences and meetings. Participates in various DoD-level committees including the Executive Secretariat for the Coordinating Committee for Human Research Protection Programs.
  • Directs integration activities with peers in other agencies.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance or access for the duration of employment.
  • This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of up to 10% of the time.
  • This position is supervisory as defined by the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) General Schedule Supervisory Guide (GSSG). A one-year probation to assess your ability to perform supervisory duties is required unless previously completed.
  • Appointment to this position is subject to a three-year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 315.
  • This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected.
  • Current Civilian Employees of the Defense Health Agency (DHA)
  • Current Permanent Department of Defense (DoD) Civilian Employee
  • Current Term Defense Health Agency HQs Research and Development Employee
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible


DHA Research & Development (R&D) is participating in an alternative personnel system known as the Personnel Demonstration Project (PDP). The DB-04 payband is equivalent to the GS-15 step 1 to GS-15 step 10 level. In keeping with the Demonstration pay fixing policies, employees earning a salary that falls within this payband equivalent may not receive an immediate pay increase (promotion) if appointed to this position. Future pay increases within the payband will be accomplished through the pay for performance management system.

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Senior Health Science Administrator:

Degree: Bachelor's or graduate (or higher level) degree with 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 accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

You MUST submit copies of your transcripts supporting your education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes:

1. Experience applying and implementing human subjects research protections statutes, regulations, policies, and guidance to all types of human subjects research conducted in intramural and extramural research settings.
2. Experience conducting audits, site inspections, assessments, and/or investigations to ensure compliance with human research protection regulations and guidelines.
3. Experience providing oversight for research, development, testing, evaluation, education, and/or training activities that use human cadavers.
4. Experience interacting with varied groups and types of internal and external stakeholders to provide regulatory support across Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated research and product development efforts.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (DB-03 / GS-14).


You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
  • Decision Making
  • Leadership
  • Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Research
  • Writing

Education

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications.

Additional information

  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • Extended Probationary Period: The length of the probationary period for the Engineers and Scientists Occupational Family will be three years.
    Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
  • This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • Recruitment or relocation incentives MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.

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.

Benefits

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.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

You may claim Military Spouse preference.

You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference.

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc). Please review the following links to see which documents you need to provide to prove your eligibility to apply: Applicant Checklist for Internal/MP Announcements (DoD)

As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Your resume:

  • Your resume may be submitted in any format and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
  • If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
  • For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., HRS per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete and you may not receive consideration for this position.
  • For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Other supporting documents:
  • Cover Letter, optional
  • Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
  • Proof of Eligibility to Apply: Your application must include the documents which prove you are eligible to apply for the vacancy. The Proof of Eligibility document describes authorities commonly used in merit promotion recruitment and what document(s) are required to prove you meet the requirements of the authority. You must meet the requirements of at least one of the authorities listed in the Who May Apply section above to receive further consideration.
  • This position has an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience. If you meet this requirement based on education you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

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, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/23/2025to 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 (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12804024).
  • 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. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
  • It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
  • Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
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/.

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Address
KF-DD60RA DHA HQs - R/D ACT-MRDC
DO NOT MAIL
Fort Detrick, MD 21702
US

Next steps

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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