Associate Director for Communications and Public Liaison

Summary

Who we are, what we do, and why it matters. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is looking for dynamic and energetic leaders to join the Senior Executive Service (SES) - a talented team of men and women charged with leading the continuing transformation of our government.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all qualified current Federal civil service employees. Current SES employees, SES reinstatement eligibles outside the civil service, and SES CDP graduates must apply to be considered for this position.

Duties

The ADCPL serves as principal advisor to the Director and Principal Deputy Director, NIH, on issues affecting the conduct of communication and public liaison activities at NIH

The ADCPL plans, directs, and executes national health communication efforts, including national press conferences, other forms of media engagement, social media strategies

The ADCPL uses communication tools to convey health information based on NIH research or other NIH activities of significant interest to the public, policymakers, and the research community

The ADCPL establishes and maintains effective working relationships with high-level staff, including senior executives, corporate leaders, representatives of other Federal agencies, colleagues, and universities

The ADCPL establishes and maintains effective working relationships with the media (foreign and domestic), specialized interest groups, and congressional offices to facilitate information exchange about NIH programs

The ADCPL is responsible for planning and executing special events on the NIH campus, including VIP visits, dedications, etc.

The ADCPL provides oversight of all official visits by heads of state, the Executive Branch, state and local elected officials, and influential members of the private sector

The ADCPL provides oversight for all issues arising in connection with the FOIA, including a network of IC FOIA coordinators; establishing and implementing NIH policies;

The ADCPL provides oversight for establishing procedures for documenting release or denial; preparation of appeals; liaison with PHS/DHHS FOIA staff; and the provision of FOIA training for grants and contracts employees at the NIH

The ADCPL leads the agency's media relations effort by serving as the NIH spokesperson on such issues, coordinating with HHS and the White House on such activities and representing the NIH Director in such interactions

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Position is subject to a background investigation.

This position requires completion of a public financial disclosure report.

Qualifications

This vacancy requires that the selectee submit a narrative response to the Executive Core Qualifications.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

The NIH seeks candidates who have a commitment to managerial excellence and the energy, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking necessary to lead within a dynamic and diverse organization. All competitive candidates for SES positions with the Federal Government must demonstrate leadership experience indicative of senior executive-level management capability. The ADCPL serves as principal advisor to the Director and Principal Deputy Director, NIH, on issues affecting the conduct of communication and public liaison activities at NIH.

Applicants must meet the requirements for the GS-1035 series as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Standards Manual for General Schedule Positions, which is available at: OPM Qualifications Standards GS-1035 Website and demonstrate in your five (5) page resume that you possess the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) listed below. It is recommended that your resume emphasize levels of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, and program accomplishments and results.

Candidates must possess experience at the senior level (GS-14/15 level or equivalent) in the following job-specific Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs). The PTQs measure the technical expertise required by this position and must be addressed within your five-page resume. It is recommended that corresponding PTQs be annotated in parenthesis within your five (5) page resume.

PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (PTQs) (Mandatory):

1. Demonstrated experience advising Senior Leadership in the following areas and applying knowledge of management/leadership principles, practices, methods, and techniques to solve broad, complex problems, administer public programs, lead change, and develop innovative solutions for issues in a variety of management programs.

2. Experience leading a communications and public liaison program in a research organization with a scientific, health, or biomedical focus.

3. Knowledge of best practices to maximize the efficiency of operations and ensure coordinated, streamlined, and result-oriented management.

4. Senior-level experience which demonstrates a commitment to building strong working relationships that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

5. Political, Schedule C, Non-career SES Appointee*: In the last five years, based on the closing date of this announcement, have you served or are you currently serving as an Executive Branch political, Schedule C, or Non-career SES appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your Standard Form 50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed. (Please confirm whether or not you have this experience within your 5-page resume)

A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213. 3102(z)).

A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR213.3302).

A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F). EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs) (Mandatory for Selectee):

If selected, you MUST submit a narrative statement in response to each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) listed below.

It is STRONGLY recommended that you visit the following Office of Personnel Management (OPM) webpage for more information regarding the Fundamental Competencies and how to write your ECQs.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

NIH is located in Bethesda, MD; our campus is adjacent to downtown Bethesda, MD, at the Medical Center Metro station, and close to shops, walking trails, and restaurants.

Travel and Transportation expenses may be authorized in accordance with applicable Federal Travel Regulations governing the relocation of current Federal employees and new appointees.

A one-year probationary period must be served by the individual selected if not currently or previously in the career Senior Executive Service.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the DHHS 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 DHHS. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply directly to the vacancy of interest and not rely on this possibility as a means of securing employment.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure: The National Institutes of Health inspires public confidence in our science by maintaining high ethical principles. NIH employees are subject to Federal government-wide regulations and statutes as well as agency-specific regulations described at the . We encourage you to review this information.

This position requires the incumbent to complete a public financial disclosure report prior to the effective date of the appointment.

Financial Suitability: It is the policy of the government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination.

Equal Opportunity Employment: Equality is held as one of the most important values here at NIH. Selection for this, and any other position, will be based solely on merit. NIH does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, politics, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age or membership or non-membership in an employee organization.

If you are a hearing impaired individual seeking assistance with the application process, you may contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this announcement by phoning a relay operator at 711. For additional information see .

Selective Service: As a condition of employment, all male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service. If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.

Veteran's Preference: Does not apply to the SES.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We use a multi-step process to evaluate and refer applicants:

Minimum requirements: Your application must show that you meet all requirements, including the education and/or experience required for this position. You may be found 'not qualified' if you do not possess the minimum competencies required for the position. If your application is incomplete, we may rate you as ineligible.

Rating: A panel of Senior Executives will review your application and evaluate your qualification for this position based on the information in your application. Your application will be rated, based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of this position. Interviews will be at the discretion of the panel and/or selection official.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to a selection official for consideration and possible interview.

Required Documents

Applicants must submit application materials ELECTRONICALLY by the Closing Date (11:59 PM E.T.) of the announcement to the following email address:

Please read through the below and submit the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS with your application package:

RESUME: Five (5) page resume that contains your full name and contact information. Your resume should not exceed the five (5) page limit. Your application must describe your job-related qualifications pertinent to this position along with the dates (month/year) you performed these duties and job titles (include series and grade if Federal job). The announcement number must be entered on the first page of your application.

Separate PTQ narratives will not be accepted or considered. It is recommended that the corresponding PTQs be annotated in parenthesis within your five (5) page resume.

In addition to your five (5) page resume, you must include a one (1) page narrative statement indicating how you have promoted equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and describe your mentoring and outreach activities, especially those involving women, persons with disabilities, and persons from racial/ethnic or other underrepresented groups.

Document Formatting: It is advised that the documents you submit use a 12-point font with 1-inch margins, single-spaced. All documents (including the SF-50) should be submitted as PDF.

Current civil service employees must submit a copy of their most recent (current calendar year) Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing their position, title, series, grade, current salary, and eligibility.

Current SES employees must submit a copy of your appointment SF-50 and your most recent (current calendar year) SF-50 showing your position, title, series, grade, current salary, and eligibility.

Former SES employees with reinstatement eligibility must submit a copy of your last Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50), which clearly shows your position, title, series, grade, and eligibility.

SES Candidate Development Program Graduates whose ECQs have been approved by OPM, submit your certificate/documentation indicating OPM approval within your application package.

NOTES: Do not include your date of birth or Social Security Number on your application materials. Please do not submit unsolicited material such as publications, personal endorsements, performance appraisals, award certificates, proof of Veterans' Preference, etc., as these items will not be included in the rating process and will be discarded. (Veterans' Preference does not apply to positions in the Senior Executive Service). All application materials are subject to the provisions of the DHHS Privacy Act and become the property of the Department of Health and Human Services. Any additional information needed will be requested prior to your appointment.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly: . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

FAXED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

NOTE: Failure to comply with the required application procedures may result in a non-consideration of your application.