Summary: 

The position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), Office of Communication Information Disclosure, Training and Education (OCITE) and being filled under FDA’s Title 21 hiring authority. This hiring authority was passed by Congress in December 2016, to improve FDA’s ability to recruit and retain scientific, technical, and professional experts in certain occupational series that “support the development, review, and regulation of medical products.” The FY23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill expanded the hiring authority to include cross-cutting positions and individuals that support the development, review, and regulation of food and cosmetics in addition to medical products. Both statutes amended the FD&C Act 21 USC. This hiring authority is a streamlined hiring authority, outlined in 21 USC 379d-3a, as amended by the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016, § 3072 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, § 3624.  

Learn More About This Agency: 

Become a part of the Department that touches the lives of every American. 

At the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) you can give back to your community, state, and country, by making a difference in the lives of Americans everywhere! HHS is the principal agency for protecting the health of citizens. Join HHS and help to make our world healthier, safer, and better for all Americans. 

The Food and Drug Administration is the regulatory, scientific, public health, and consumer protection agency responsible for ensuring that all human and animal drugs, and medical devices are safe and effective; that cosmetics, foods, food additives, drugs and medicated feeds for food producing animals, and radiation emitting devices are safe; and that all such products marketed in the U.S. are adequately, truthfully and informatively labeled and safely and properly stored, transported, manufactured packaged and regulated. 

The mission of the Center for Devices and Radiologocal Health (CDRH) is to protect and promote public health. CDRH assures that patients and providers have timely and continued access to safe, effective, and high-quality medical devices and safe radiation-emitting products. CDRH provides consumers, patients, their caregivers, and providers with understandable and accessible science-based information about the products we oversee. We facilitate medical device innovation by advancing regulatory science, providing industry with predictable, consistent, transparent, and efficient regulatory pathways, and assuring consumer confidence in devices marketed in the United States.  

Title 21 Band D 

Minimum – $139,395 

Maximum – $191,900  

This job is open to: Open to the Public 

Hiring Path Clarification Text: You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration. This is a 21st Century Cures Act authority announcement. Traditional federal rules regarding rating, ranking, and veterans' preference do not apply. 

Duties 

The Assistant Director will oversee the following teams: Center Initiatives Content Development, Consumer Content Development, Industry Content Development, and Safety Content Development. The incumbent also: 

• Provides specialized expertise to the OCITE, CDRH, and other FDA Centers and Offices in designing and monitoring policies, strategies, and programs related to external strategic communication. 
• Contributes to and fully participates in the decision-making processes, meetings, and discussions concerning program segments, functions, and activities, both in strategic planning and in the actual determination, allocation and administration of the program segments, functions, and activities of the exernal communication teams. 
• Provides authoritative advice and assessments of the impact of actual and proposed communication actions on the program segment(s), functions, and activities of the teams.   
• Coordinates incorporation of research and analytical findings into implementable communication programs and policies. 
• Serves as an advisor and technical authority on external communication policy, program, and implementation planning issues within the public health area. 
• Provides expert advice and state-of-the-art professional assistance and support on incorporating research and analytical findings into communication programs, policies, and strategies 
• Coordinates communication policy formulation and management of programs involving the most complex and highest priority public health matters affecting the CDRH. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:   

The Assistant Director: 

• Provides occupational specific technical and administrative direction to subordinate employees performing the work and functions of the organization. 
• Obtains resources and identifies strategic objectives for the organization, defines jobs, selects employees, and assigns work. 
• Defines technical work requirements and milestones. 
• Evaluates the organization and employee accomplishments by accepting or rejecting work products.  
• Presents and defends organization and employees work to senior management and other offices. 

How to Apply 

Submit resume or curriculum vitae, cover letter containing a brief summary of accomplishments, SF-50 (if applicable), and a copy of unofficial transcripts in one combined document (Adobe PDF) to CDRHRecruitment@fda.hhs.gov, with Job Reference code “2024 - OCITE – Supervisory Public Health Analyst/ Assistant Director” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, October 29, 2024.  

PHS Commissioned Corps Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps may apply to this announcement. Officers must follow the instructions for how to apply and include their most recent orders in addition to the required documents. If selected, candidates will be referred to (CC) personnel and not as candidates for a Cures appointment.