Recent Graduate (Contract Specialist)

Duties
Summary

NIH Recent Graduates perform duties in one of the Institutes or Centers in the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH Recent Graduates receive on-the-job training for one year and complete at least 40 hours of formal interactive training while in the program. Assignments are aimed at developing the employee’s skills and knowledge to progressively perform more difficult duties.

Responsibilities

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

None

Qualifications
Basic Requirements: Must have completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with a major in any field; OR have at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management; OR occupied a GS-1102 position on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. Guidance on Business Related Coursework for the GS-1102 Contracting Series

In addition, you must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal service; OR have completed a Master’s or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or an LL.B. or J.D. in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management); OR have a combination of post baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. Examples of qualifying experience includes: reviewing requisitions for supplies or services to determine that proper specifications or purchase descriptions are included in solicitation documents; evaluating bids or proposals for supplies or services to ensure compliance with specifications or purchase descriptions; or evaluating the prior contract performance of potential suppliers to determine their financial responsibility.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10857037
Education

This position has an education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to receiving an official offer. Please note that unofficial transcripts attached to the application must reflect that the degree or certificate has been awarded or conferred and must include cumulative GPA. The date that the degree was awarded or conferred must meet the program criteria at the time of application. Applicants who have completed their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization and must provide a copy of the evaluation at the time of application. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

All documents must be received at the time of application.

You must have received a degree or certificate from an institution that is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. To verify that your degree or certificate is from an accredited institution, please visit here.

Applicants must have graduated with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. We do not round the GPA.

Additional information

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

To be eligible for appointment, you must be a recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying, accredited educational institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. A valid certificate program is post-secondary education in a qualifying educational institution that is equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study, as defined by your university. The certificate program must also be a part of an accredited college-level, technical, vocational, trade, or business school curriculum.

Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation may have as much as six years after degree completion to apply. Veterans are granted exclusion for their time served. Therefore, if a Veteran graduates and then serves on active duty for four years, his/her service time is subtracted for the purposes of the two-year calculation.

Recent Graduates and their supervisors must sign a Pathways Participant Agreement which outlines expectations for the internship prior to entrance on duty.

While conversion is not guaranteed, Recent Graduates, with U.S. citizenship, may be converted to a career-conditional appointment (a term position lasting 1-4 years or a permanent position) upon successful completion of all program requirements specified by the Pathways Participant Agreement.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement across the NIH.

This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

A one-year trial period may be required upon selection/placement.

If selected, you will 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. This information is required annually. For information, visit the NIH Ethics website: https://ethics.od.nih.gov/topics/fd.htm.

We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement.

The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.

The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Applications will be evaluated against the basic qualifications.

Veterans’ Preference does apply. If you are claiming Veterans’ Preference, you MUST submit supporting documents with your application package to verify your preference claim and receive preference. These documents may include, but are not limited to: DD-214 member 4 copy (which indicates character of service), SF-15, VA Letter and/or Activation/Deactivation orders. If you are a veteran, click here for additional information and about required documents.

Selections will be made in preference order. All individuals in the highest preference group must be selected before making selections from the next lower preference eligible group. All preference eligibles must be selected before making selections from the non-preference eligible group.

Background checks and security clearance
Security clearance

Other

Drug test required

No

Position sensitivity and risk

Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

Do not submit any other supplementary documentation that is not requested of you. We will not use this documentation.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

To ensure your information is secure, please redact social security numbers and birth dates. Original copies may be requested if you are hired.

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 stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.

Failure to provide all of the required information stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, 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.

For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: NIH Jobs website, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Writing Video Tutorial.

ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE:
You must submit a completed assessment questionnaire.

Unless otherwise stated, we will only use the information above to determine your qualifications. Not providing the required information may result in a determination that you do not meet minimum requirements for the position (e.g., an ineligible rating) or a lower rating.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR PREFERENCE OR ELIGIBILITY CLAIMS

To claim veterans’ preference, you must provide the documentation listed below AND respond accordingly to the associated question on the online questionnaire.

If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible, or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility.

Do not submit documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.

Help
This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Must be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Legal Resident.