Duties

This position will be filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The Pathways Hiring Authority is designed to appoint students from a wide variety of educational institutions (undergraduate and graduate) into paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school. Students are exposed to jobs in the Federal civil service by providing meaningful developmental work at the beginning of their career, before their career paths are fully established.

The CDC utilizes these Hiring Authorities to fill vacancies in a variety of occupations. Duties and responsibilities vary and may increase according to the grade level of the position. Applications may be periodically referred to hiring managers both during the open period and after the closing date. Because of the large number of applications anticipated, applicants' status will not be updated.

This announcement will be used to fill Student Trainee (Physical Science) , GS- 1399 positions at the GS-05 through GS-11 grade levels. Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Designing and developing experimental equipment, instrumentation, and prototype systems to monitor, measure and evaluate physical hazards.
• Conducting minor design and systems analysis for the development of experimental equipment, instrumentation and prototype systems.
• Preparing proposals for accomplishing the work.
• Participating in the development of performance and testing requirements and protocols.
• Performing data analysis, compilation and reduction.
• Developing portions of technical publications.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Due to multiple positions being offered across the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), some of the requirements below may differ:

• U.S. Citizenship is required or proof of legal residency.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service ( http://www.sss.gov ).
• Must successfully complete a background investigation. Security clearance level may differ from the position announced.
• Must meet the minimum age required by federal, state, or local laws and standards governing the employment of minors - Must be at least 16 years of age.
• Special Immunizations may be required for some positions.
• CDC participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program ( E-Verify ). If selected, CDC will determine your employment eligibility using your social security number.
• Direct deposit is required.
• 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 15, 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

The Pathways Internship Program is designed to attract students in a wide variety of educational institutions (high school, home-school programs, vocational and technical, undergraduate and graduate) with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school. This program exposes students to jobs in the Federal civil service by providing meaningful developmental work at the beginning of their career, before their career paths are fully established.

To learn more, please visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/students-recent-graduates/#url=Program-Fact-Sheets

Program Requirements:

• Must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a diploma, certificate, or degree-seeking student. Students who expect to graduate this year and are enrolled or accepted in a professional education program must provide documentation of continued enrollment.
• Must be taking or is scheduled to take a course load at least half-time in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, 2year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school.
• Must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements:

For GS-05 grade level: Completion of 4 academic years/120 semester hours or more of post-high school study leading to a bachelor's or equivalent degree

For GS-07 grade level: Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate level education OR eligible under the Superior Academic Achievement
Provision (see Education Section below) and completion of a bachelor's degree

For GS-09 grade level: Completion of 2 full academic years of graduate level education, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree

For GS-11 grade level: Completion of all requirements for a PhD or equivalent degree

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

This position has an education requirement. You may submit unofficial transcript(s) - official transcript(s) will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

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 .

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-foreignqualifications/ .

Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) is based on 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 their 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 2years 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 listed below. Agencies considering eligibility based on any society not included in the following list must ensure that the honor society meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

Additional information

Telework: This position has been designated as telework eligible and:

• May include remote work or telework options, and/or flexible work scheduling. These options may be requested once you have become an employee and you will be required to sign a Workplace Flexibilities Agreement that details remote or telework working conditions and expectations in accordance with the HHS Workplace Flexibilities Policy
• May be eligible for inclusion in the Bargaining Unit. The name of the union, local, and BU Codes will be provided upon selection.
• For more information visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/job-announcement/telework/

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.

Incentives:

• Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.
• Annual Leave for non-federal service may be authorized.

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 window Learn 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).

The category assignment is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Qualified candidates will be ranked into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified or Qualified. The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category.

Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Continuous Development
• Data Collection
• Integrity/Honesty
• Oral Communication
• Translation of Science

Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. 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. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Category rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates.

Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

To apply for this position, you MUST submit a complete Application Package which includes the following. Note: All documents must be in English.

• Resume - Must reflect name, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (month/year) of employment and duties performed. Current/former Federal employee:

• Must reflect pay plan, series and grade, i.e., GS-0301-9.

Dos and Don'ts:

• www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/
• www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-leave-out/

Cover Letter is optional.

• Proof of Education - You may submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses completed indicating course titles, credit hours, and grades received. An official transcript from an accredited educational institution is required if you are selected for the position.
  • Current High School Students: Provide High School transcript(s)
  • High School Graduates: Provide High School transcript(s) and college acceptance letter
  • Current College/Technical Students: Provide College/Technical transcript(s) and completed School Enrollment Form (signed by School Registrar)
  • Note: School Enrollment Form must show current semester registration
• School Verification Form - SCHOOL VERIFICATION FORM (cdc.gov)
• Veteran:
  • DD-214 (Member 4 copy) or other Armed Forces/Department of Veterans Affairs official documentation reflecting dates of service and type of discharge, AND if applicable:
  • 10-point preference eligible :
    • Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, AND
    • Any required documentation listed on the SF-15 - Veterans Affairs/Armed Forces certification must include the total percentage of the service-connected disability(s)
  • Serving under Active Duty :
    • Certification from Armed Forces reflecting rank, dates of service, and discharge/release will be within 120 days from date of certification under honorable conditions
  • Visit FedsHireVets

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.

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 Resume 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

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

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date, 07/19/2024, 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.
• 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 phone (770) 488-1725 or email HRCS@CDC.GOV .
• Applicants internal to CDC - Contact the OHR Service Desk .

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.

To view the questionnaire, click on the following link:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12472292

Agency contact information

CDC HELPDESK

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

Address OCOO-CLIENT SERVICES OFFICE
1600 CLIFTON RD NE
ATLANTA, GA 30333
US

Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. 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).

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.

Fair and Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request

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.