The
Department of Health and Human Services is a cabinet-level department of the
Federal executive branch most concerned with people and most involved with the
nations human concerns. We are, literally, a department of people serving
people, from birth to old age and we must be able to properly execute programs
such as Medicare, Medicaid, drug and safety, health research, and social
services.
Our
programs are administered through the following Operating Divisions:
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National Institutes of Health
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Food and Drug Administration
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Centers for Disease Control
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Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid
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Indian Health Service
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Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services
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Health Resources and
Services Administration
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Agency for Health Care
Research and Quality
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Administration on Aging
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Administration for Children
and Families and
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Office of the Secretary
HHS
needs new talent, new energy and new creativity to do the work of government in
the 21st century. It needs the best and the brightest go-getters
with fresh ideas who are eager to make a contribution to the Federal
government.
The
program will provide a unique opportunity for selected individuals to become an
integral part of the future of the Department of Health and Human Services.
This is a 2-year program, in the excepted service, which may lead to permanent
employment for outstanding individuals interested in a career in the analysis
and management of HHS policies and programs. The program can be a passport to a
unique and rewarding career experience with assignments as biologists, consumer
safety officers, chemists, public health analysts, microbiologists, health
insurance analysts, social science analysts, human resources analysts,
procurement analysts, etc.
Applicants’
will self-select a career path from among those identified for participation in
the program. The career path designations are (1) Scientific, (2) Public Health, (3) Social Sciences, (4) Information Technology and (5) Administrative. Through a series of rotational
assignments within the chosen career path and exposure to the department’s
operating divisions, developmental activities, individual assessments, and
mentoring relationships, the program should yield a group of well-rounded
professionals prepared to become future leaders of the department. This
position will be located in
This developmental position will provide training in the programs of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Employees will receive formal classroom training and practical work experience in the principles, concepts, work processes, and reference materials relevant to those programs. In addition, they will gain a practical understanding of the organization, programs, and policies of the Department and one or more of its operating divisions.
The
Department carries out important health and social programs, including health
care delivery, medical research, the evaluation of new drugs and medical
equipment, public health services, Medicare and Medicaid, and programs to
benefit the underprivileged, elderly, and children.
Incumbents
will receive training designed to lead toward management positions, including
training in and rotation through at least two of the career paths shown
below. Upon completion of the two-year
program they may be placed in
permanent positions in one of the paths. Department through a series of
short-term rotational assignments.
As soon as possible during the second year of the program, interns will
be placed in a target position for training and development in the competencies
identified for the position.
This
path includes biologists, microbiologists, chemists, physicists,
physiologists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, statisticians, mathematical
statisticians, and biostatisticians.
These scientists may perform medical research, review clinical trial
studies of new and experimental drugs, and interact with other public and
private sector agencies to enhance the state of medical science.
This
path includes public health specialists who analyze issues relating to
public health needs or assist states, local governments and private
organizations that provide public health services. This path will also include consumer
safety officers who inspect food processing plants and drug manufacturing
facilities to ensure that they comply with all regulations.
This
path includes psychologists, economists, sociologists, and social workers
who provide services to underprivileged families, children and the elderly
population. It also includes social
insurance specialists who analyze and evaluate the Medicare and Medicaid
programs.
This
path includes information technology specialists, computer programmers, computer
engineers, and computer scientists working in a variety of specialty
fields, such as system maintenance and design, web site design, information
security, database management, software engineering, and network
administration.
This
path includes a variety of administrative support fields, such as budget
analysts, accountants, financial management, human resources, management and
program analysis, facilities management, grants management, contract
specialists and procurement.
The
program is open to candidates who meet Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
qualification standards based on experience and/or education, for the
position/career path they wish consideration. Current or previous Federal service is not required. Appointments
may be made at the GS-7, or GS-9 level. Applicants must also:
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Demonstrate a capacity for leadership
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Demonstrate the potential for professional growth and development
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Demonstrate a keen interest in the analysis and management of health and
human services policies and programs
Interested
person should submit an application and resume, which addresses the minimum
required qualifications for the intern positions. Applicants should address any
required knowledge, skills and abilities, within their resumes. The applicant
will need to apply on-line through either www.usajobs.opm.gov and then
clicking on hot jobs followed by clicking on Emerging Leaders Program. They
will also be able to go straight to www.hhs.gov
and apply through the HHS web site by clicking Emerging Leaders Program.
Program Selection Process
Program
applicants will be assessed on many factors, including –
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Academic accomplishment
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Leadership potential and teamwork skills
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Good citizenship and commitment to a career in public service
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Interest in health and human services issues
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Solid written and communication skills
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Up
to 45 candidates may be invited to interviews in
Finalists
in the Emerging Leaders Program may be appointed following: (1) official
announcement of their selection as Finalists, and (2) after completion of
security clearance process (if required).
Interns
receive an initial two-year excepted service
appointment. They will be appointed at the Gs-7 or Gs-9 level and are eligible
for various employment benefits.
Upon
completion of the two-year internship, interns are eligible for a
non-competitive conversion to career or career–conditioned status.
Federal Benefits and Salary
Emerging
Leaders will enjoy a comprehensive federal compensation package that includes a
competitive salary with a full range of employee benefits, including: immediate
health and life insurance, sick and annual leave, a retirement program, and the
Thrift Savings Plan (Federal 401K Plan).
Quality of Work Life Programs such as career and personal development,
flexible work hours, alternative work schedules, and student loan repayments
are also available.
Positions
will be filled at the GS-7 and GS-9 levels.
The starting salary is $31,397 for GS-7s and $38,406 for GS-9s.
Following
one year of successful performance Emerging Leaders may be promoted to the
next-higher-grade level. The GS-7
salary will rise to $38,406, plus cost
of living increase and the GS-9 salary will rise to $46,469, plus
a cost of living increase.
Career Development
The
Emerging Leaders Program places a strong emphasis on career development. During
the two-year internship, interns experience a myriad of challenging career
opportunities. The Department of Health and Human Services facilitates and
provides structured orientation and graduation training for programs. Federal
agencies within the Department will arrange for on-
the-job training and other developmental opportunities such
as seminars, briefings, and conferences. The interns will go through a minimum
of 5 rotational assignments within their first year. These rotational
assignments are designed to provide the intern with a broader perspective of
the Department, the Agency and the Federal Government.
Training Program
The training will be
a fundamental aspect of the Intern Program with a focus on competency and skill
development to ensure that we can compete with the corporate world for the best
and the brightest workers. The training program will provide interns with the
knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary to successfully perform
at each grade level of their career ladder positions, up to and including the
journey level.
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A structured training program that has been
developed will include the following elements:
Training Delivery
Methodology. Interns will participate in a blended
learning environment that includes classroom instructions, on the job training,
developmental and self-learning activities and technology based training, e.g.,
DL/net.
Assessment Tools. Assessment tools will be administered to identify
training needs/specific deficiencies and appropriate training interventions
will be applied.
Career Development Plan. Each intern will have an approved Plan that
identifies developmental activities that he/she will participate in to include
classroom instructions, (where necessary) technology based training, rotations,
and self-learning activities.
Corporate Competencies. To ensure that each intern has a basic level
of operating knowledge to become a successful professional, a core curriculum
will be developed around competencies important to the Department. These competencies may contain topics
related to project management, creativity/innovation, customer service, problem
solving, influencing/negotiating, self-management, etc.
Rotations. Rotations are an important ingredient of the program
providing short-term developmental assignments permitting interns to gain a
broad perspective of a specific organizational segment of the Department. Rotations also provide an opportunity to
explore different occupational fields, network and acquire a variety of
professional skills and exposures.
Each Emerging Leaders Program participant
will engage in rotational assignments throughout the First Year of the Program.
Expectations The First Year:
(a) Each intern will complete 4
or 5
rotational assignments during the first
year.
(b) Rotations will typically
last 2 months each, depending on the chosen career path.
(c) Assignments will involve a
specific/tangible project or deliverable
(d) Interns will choose
rotations in different offices and related disciplines within the chosen career
path. Examples:
An intern in the Administrative Career Path will take
rotational assignments through as many disciplines and as many Operating
Divisions as possible within that path, e.g.,
human resources, budget, finance, acquisitions, etc.
An intern in the Social Sciences Career Path will take
assignments in areas such as ACF, AOA, CMS, HRSA, and SAMSHA.
The intern’s focus during
rotations will be on completing the assignment, understanding the importance of
the organizational segment in relationship to the mission of the Department and
assessing the office environment.
Adequate professional support will be provided
during each rotation
The rotation supervisor and intern will evaluate the
assignment at its end.
Second Year
The second year of the program will be devoted
exclusively to the intern’s training and development in the required
competencies of the target position.
Each career path will have a developed training plan
for interns. These training plans will identify core competencies for each
participating position, the method of training and feedback mechanisms.
Resumes
In
addition to the application, applicants must submit a typed resume, on white
paper with black ink, which must not exceed two pages. If applying on-line they
must paste their resume in the appropriate area.
When
completing and submitting your resume for the Emerging Leaders Program, please develop your resume in the
following order and format beginning on the next page. It is important to
follow this format to ensure accuracy and completion of all necessary
information.
Also
tips for resume writing can be found on www.opm.gov under UsaJobs
Personal Information
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Full name
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Contact information; mailing address, with Zip Code, day and evening
phone number, fax number, and email address
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Permanent contact address and phone number
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Country or citizenship (non-United States citizens should refer to
section on “Citizenship”)
Education
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Names and complete addresses of all colleges/universities attended
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Type, major, and year of all degrees received or anticipated
Work experience
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Position Title
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Employer’s name and address
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Starting and Ending dates (month/year)
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Duties and accomplishments
Other Qualifications
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Job-related certificates and current licenses
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Honors, awards, and special accomplishments, (e.g., publications,
memberships in professional or honor societies, and performance awards.)
Provide dates, but do not send documentation
Equal Employment
The
Federal Government is an equal opportunity employer. Hiring and advancement in
the Government are based on qualifications and performance, regardless of your
race, color, marital status, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability,
sexual orientation, or political affiliation.
This is a 2-year program, which is designed to
fine-tune an individual’s skills and abilities. Two years participation in this
formal training program will provide the skills needed for careers in one of
the five career paths within the Federal government.