Summary We are hiring a Director for the Applied Epidemiology Staff to lead national food safety programs. In this senior role, you will report to OPHS leadership and oversee critical investigations into zoonotic and food hazards to actively prevent foodborne illnesses. You will guide farm-to-table risk assessments and antimicrobial resistance monitoring to ensure the safety of our nation's meat, poultry, Siluriformes, and processed egg products. Responsibilities Translate complex surveillance data into actionable prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness. Review and validate findings from NARMS, consumer complaints, outbreak investigations and sporadic illness surveillance to identify the source of foodborne hazards. Manage a diverse team of GS-level veterinary medical officers, epidemiologists, and scientists, ensuring work meets international standards. Negotiate and collaborate with external partners (e.g., CDC, FDA, WHO, or state health departments) to link food production factors to human health outcomes. Develop and implement agency-level epidemiological policies that align with federal food safety regulations (e.g., meat, poultry, and egg products). Provide expert recommendations to senior executives on the direction of public health programs regarding zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and use of a one health approach. Review high-level technical reports and scientific papers for accuracy and impact before they are released to the public or international stakeholders. Evaluate the effectiveness of current epidemiological programs (including foodborne hazards or antimicrobial resistance) and initiate "course corrections" or improvements where necessary. Advise industry leaders and academia on the control of zoonotic agents in the food supply chain. Transition workflows to incorporate advanced tools like metagenomics (Whole Genome Sequencing) and artificial intelligence for predictive risk modeling, information management, and communication (i.e., CoPilot). Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position, you must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-14 or its equivalent in the federal service. Applicants are required to meet 4 out of 5 requirements listed below by the closing date of this announcement. (Note: This experience must be detailed in your resume by the announcement's closing date.) Demonstrated experience managing or developing a diverse team of subject matter experts (SMEs), including medical officers, epidemiologists, and/or senior scientists. May involve establishing accountability for high-quality results, delegating work, and providing formal and informal mentorship to build organizational capacity. Experience negotiating or collaborating with external partners (e.g., CDC, FDA, WHO, or state health departments) to link food production factors to human health outcomes. May include influencing industry leaders and academia on the control of zoonotic agents in the global food supply chain. Experience leading the transition of organizational workflows to incorporate advanced technologies, such as Whole Genome Sequencing (metagenomics) and Artificial Intelligence, for predictive risk modeling. May include translating complex surveillance data into actionable national prevention strategies to reduce foodborne illness. Experience contributing to the development and implementation of agency-wide epidemiological policy frameworks. May include aligning organizational goals with federal food safety regulations (such as those governing meat, poultry, and egg products) and providing executive-level advisory on zoonotic diseases and "One Health" approaches. Experience reviewing or validating scientific findings from national surveillance systems (e.g., NARMS) and outbreak investigations. May include ensuring the scientific quality and accuracy of technical reports released to international stakeholders. 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 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 Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
