Associate Executive Director for Epidemiology

Summary

Join the team! This position is located in the Headquarters Office of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of Risk Reduction, Directorate for Epidemiology. The Directorate provides for the collection and analysis of data on injuries and deaths associated with consumer products. The Directorate has a multi-disciplinary staff of statisticians, analysts, and information specialists in two divisions: Data Systems and Hazard Analysis.

Duties

As the Associate Executive Director (AED) for the Directorate of Epidemiology, the incumbent serves as the principal statistician for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, providing consultative and advisory services to the Chairman, Commissioners, the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Directors, and scientists throughout CPSC. Specific activities associated with this position include: Provides leadership in applying scientific methods to develop systems for surveillance, investigation, and evaluation of injury data related to product hazards. Recommends and/or establishes management policies and makes decisions concerning long- and short-range planning, priorities, program emphasis, budgeting, staffing, and overall organizational structure. Maintains the Directorate of Epidemiology's Risk register and works to continuously strengthen its operating internal controls. Delineates functional responsibilities; plans, recommends, and implements organizational structure for the Directorate; delegates authority as needed. Responsible for the timely and successful completion of all Commission annual operating plan projects and performance goals assigned to the Directorate for Epidemiology. Manages the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data on consumer product-related hazards and potential hazards, determining the frequency, severity, and distribution of injuries. Oversees epidemiological studies and research, including fatality surveillance and sentinel system data used to identify emerging hazards. Responsible for risk assessments based on injury data for physical, thermal, and electrical hazards in consumer products. Directs the full range of organizational activities, including: developing consumer product indices of injuries and related retrieval systems; collecting data through NEISS and NEISS-R; managing fatality surveillance systems and sentinel activities; analyzing data using surveillance and investigation information; initiating and coordinating in depth investigations of injuries associated with consumer products; overseeing contracts for injury and fatality and other data contracts; and producing reports based on NEISS and NEISS-R, fatality surveillance, sentinel systems, investigations, and other programs. Makes operational decisions within broad CPSC policy and presents recommendations to the Assistant Executive Director for Risk Reduction in cases affecting policy or requiring new policy determinations. Establishes and monitors controls to review epidemiological program performance, with emphasis on identifying scientific and technological issues. Manages and directs the development, design, and modernization of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS and NEISS R), fatality surveillance activities, and sentinel data systems.

Requirements

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn. One-year probationary period required for initial SES appointment. The selectee will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service. The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Qualifications and evaluation

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Applicants will be rated and ranked by the CPSC Executive Resources Board (ERB) or designated panel using only the information submitted for consideration. The ERB (or designated panel) will rate and rank each applicant based on the qualification requirements and refer the top candidates to the selecting official. The selecting official will consider the best qualified applicants referred based on the information provided, and possibly a personal interview. The ERB will approve the final selection and forward to the Chairman. Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

Education

Mandatory Education Requirement. All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify: A. A bachelor's or higher degree which included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology, etc. OR B. A combination of education (courses as described above) and experience in the full range of professional statistical work. A master's degree in statistics is highly desirable. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon appointment. A copy of an SF-50 only is not adequate proof of meeting the education requirements. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. All education claimed by applicants will be verified.

Benefits

CPSC offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes: paid vacation, sick leave, 11 paid holidays per year, life and health insurance, Long Term Care insurance, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending account program, and retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan). CPSC also offers a broad array of work-life flexibilities and services to employees such as, flexible work schedules, transit subsidies, fitness center, and employee assistance and wellness programs.

How to apply

A complete application package includes the following: your resume; your answers to the vacancy specific questions; AND the required supporting documentation. Your package must be complete and submitted in the manner specified in this section. Packages that are submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the agency point of contact will not be considered. You MUST apply on-line through USAJOBS. Your application must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. Uploaded resumes must include the following: applicant contact information and educational and professional background information including dates of employment and education, salary (and Federal grade level, if appropriate), and work schedule (i.e., FT/PT). Incomplete applications will not be considered and you will not be contacted to provide any missing information. To begin the application process, select the "Apply On-line" button to the right on this screen. Then follow the prompts to login/register, submit all required supplemental documents, and complete the application process. If you are having trouble with USAJOBS (searching for jobs, account password/profile issues, or Resume Builder): please visit the USAJOBS Help Center. If experiencing any difficulties with the online application process (anything after you have clicked the 'Continue to Agency Site' button): please email recruitapps@cpsc.gov between normal business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET; except federal holidays). If receiving any kind of error message, please provide a screenshot or at a minimum, the error message text number.

Required documents

Your package must be complete and submitted in the manner specified in this section. Packages that are submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the agency point of contact will not be considered. A complete application includes: 1. Resume; 2. Vacancy question responses; and 3. Submission of any required documents. Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses. We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history. If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs. You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume. If uploading, ensure it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position: Job title Employer name Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY) Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated) Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable) Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions, if applicable) Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications. If you are a current or former federal employee you must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that shows: (1) permanent or career-conditional tenure (codes 1 or 2, in block 24), and (2) position occupied in the competitive service (code 1, in block 34). Indicate on your application the highest permanent grade you have held; if this grade is different from your current grade, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing this grade. Veterans' preference is not applicable to positions in the Senior Executive Service. Proof of non-competitive eligibility (if applicable). Proof consists of an SF-50 showing career status in the SES and/or proof of certification of your Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) from the OPM administered Qualifications Review Board (QRB). Non-Competitive Consideration: You are considered a non-competitive applicant if you are a current career Senior Executive, Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certified graduate of a Senior Executive (SES) Candidate Development Program (CDP) or an individual with SES reinstatement eligibility. You may be considered non-competitively for appointment to this position if you meet the mandatory technical qualifications requirements. Non-competitive applicants do not need to address the ECQs but you must clearly state your status in your resume and submit a written narrative response to the Technical Qualifications. Proof of non-competitive eligibility is required. The agency has the option of considering you non-competitively or including you in the competitive process. All supplemental documents must be submitted electronically before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. You have two choices for submitting your supplemental documents: 1. Download from your USAJOBS account; or 2. Upload your file(s). Failure to submit required documents, based upon how you apply, may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Additional information

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. If you are a male born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information. Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized. Must meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time, otherwise the employment offer may be withdrawn. CPSC headquarters employees (Bethesda, MD) will be relocating to 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC. This position will transition to the new location upon completion of the move. The transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Applicants should be aware that acceptance of this position includes the requirement to report to the new location once the relocation is finalized.