This job is open to:

Recent graduates - Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.

Veterans

Clarification from the agency - This position is open to U.S. Citizens/Nationals who have completed a bachelor's or advanced degree from a qualifying education institution within the previous 2 years. Veterans unable to apply within 2 years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have a full 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. The eligibility period for veterans must be within 6 years

Duties

The CDC Public Health Associates Program (PHAP) for Recent Graduates is a CDC workforce development program that provides opportunities for promising, future public health professionals to gain broad experience in day-to-day operation of public health programs. The goal of PHAP is to attract exceptional candidates, with a minimum of bachelor's degree into careers in public health.

Following the completion of a two-year training program, Associates may be considered for non-competitive conversion to a career/career-conditional or term appointment as CDC Public Health Advisors. Associates may also be eligible to apply for positions in public health operations at the local and state levels. These positions are located with the National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, Division of Workforce Development, Field Services Workforce Branch.

Program completion requirements include but are not limited to:

• Complete two full-time continuous years of work experience acquired through the PHAP Program
• Complete 40 hours of formal interactive training
• Meet any agency-specific requirements specified in the Participant's Agreement
• Demonstrate successful job performance that results in a rating of record of at least Fully Successful and a recommendation for conversion by the first level supervisor.
• If selected for conversion, meet the qualification standards for the position selected.

Promotion and Conversion eligibility:

• Promotion to the next grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on meeting qualifications and time-in-grade requirements, demonstrated ability to perform the higher-level duties, the continuing need for the higher-level duties, and administrative approval.
• Conversion to an entry-level career is not guaranteed and no promise of conversion is implied. The promotion potential for applicants is GS-12. Participants who complete the program and are selected for non-competitive conversion may convert to a position with promotion potential to the GS-09, GS-11, GS-12 or none at all depending upon the agency needs.

The exact location of each position will be determined by PHAP upon selection. PHAP will request your geographical preferences; however, matches are based on program needs and applicants must be willing to relocate to anywhere within the USA and its Territories. Applicants will be made only one offer for host site location. Multiple candidates may be selected within the same geographic location.

As a Public Health Advisor - Pathways Public Health Associates Program (PHAP), you will:

• Serve as a trainee receiving formal and on the job training designed to familiarize you with the functions and operations of basic public health concepts, principles, and techniques.
• Work with selected public health projects or portions of a larger public health project that is typically of limited complexity.
• Provide basic technical assistance on routine, non-controversial projects or activities that are covered by precedent, established policy, or accepted practice.
• Advise public health personnel in development of basic activities to administer an established program.
• Collect data, conduct initial analysis, prepare reports and other substantive program documentation for use in assessing and evaluating program operations.
• Provide consultation and assistance on grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and other awards.

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:

• Must have completed a bachelors level or higher degree from an accredited institution.
• 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.
• CDC participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
• Direct deposit is required.
• A two-year probationary/trial period may be required upon selection/placement.
• This position may be subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• This position may be subject to the OGE Financial Disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). CDC inspires public confidence in its trust responsibilities and mission by maintaining high ethical principles. If selected, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency. If identified, this will be an annual requirement.
• In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. This position may require a Drug Test and be subject to Random Drug Testing. The position may require the submission of a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. If required to submit to urinalysis, the appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative test result.

Qualifications

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

Degree Requirements: This appointment will be made under the Pathways Recent Graduate hiring authority. To be eligible an applicant must have received a bachelor's or advanced degree within 2 years of applying for employment under this authority.

Applicants applying to this vacancy must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.95 or better. Grade point average must be identified on college transcripts or list of courses.

Note: For applicants who have completed a degree and served at least 4 years in the uniformed services , the 2-year eligibility period begins on the date of the applicant's discharge or release from the uniformed service.

AND

Minimum Qualification Requirements for GS-07 :

• Have completed 1 full year of graduate level education from an accredited college or university by July 1st of this year.

OR

• Have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-05 grade level, which must include the following experience: obtaining, analyzing and developing data to assist public health officials.

OR

• Have Superior Academic Achievement in one or more of the following :
• Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
• Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
  • 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
  • 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
  • Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.
• Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

OR

• A combination of education & experience.

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

A 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.

A 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

Positions may be available in multiple locations across the United States, or eligible for telework and remote work opportunities, based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Workplace Flexibilities Policy. Additional selections may be made within the same geographical location CDC-wide.

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.

Incentives:

• Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.
  • Limited Recruitment Incentives may be authorized for hard-to-fill and/or certain remote locations.
• Annual Leave for non-federal service may be authorized.
  • A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for prior work experience or active-duty uninformed service that otherwise would not be creditable for the purpose of determining his or her annual leave accrual rate. All creditable service must be directly related to the duties of the position being filled and decisions to allow for such credit must be finalized prior to the selectee's entrance on duty. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.

CDC is the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the public’s health. For more than 70 years, we’ve put science into action to help children stay healthy so they can grow and learn; to help families, businesses, and communities fight disease and stay strong; and to protect the public’s health.

Mission: CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same.

CDC increases the health security of our nation. As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish our mission, CDC conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats and responds when these arise.