Introduction

 

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: 

§         National Institutes of Health

§         Food and Drug Administration

§         Centers for Disease Control

§         Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

§         Indian Health Service

§         Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

§         Health Resources and Services Administration

§         Agency for Health Care Research and Quality

§         Administration on Aging

§         Administration for Children and Families and

§         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.

 

General Information

 

The Program

 

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 Washington, DC.

 

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.

 

Scientific Path

 

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.

 

Public Health Path

 

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.

 

Social Sciences Path

 

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.

 

Information Technology Path

 

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.

 

Administrative Path

 

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.

 

Eligibility

 

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:

·         Demonstrate a capacity for leadership

·         Demonstrate the potential for professional growth and development

·         Demonstrate a keen interest in the analysis and management of health and human services policies and programs

 

Applicants

 

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 –

§         Academic accomplishment

§         Leadership potential and teamwork skills

§         Good citizenship and commitment to a career in public service

§         Interest in health and human services issues

§         Solid written and communication skills

§         U.S. citizenship

 

Up to 45 candidates may be invited to interviews in Washington, DC, in early May 2002.

 

 

Appointment

 

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.

. 

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

 

·         Full name

·         Contact information; mailing address, with Zip Code, day and evening phone number, fax number, and email address

·         Permanent contact address and phone number

·         Country or citizenship (non-United States citizens should refer to section on “Citizenship”)

 

Education

 

·         Names and complete addresses of all colleges/universities attended

·         Type, major, and year of all degrees received or anticipated

 

Work experience

 

·         Position Title

·         Employer’s name and address

·         Starting and Ending dates (month/year)

·         Duties and accomplishments

 

 

 

Other Qualifications

 

·         Job-related certificates and current licenses

·         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 Opportunity

 

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.