Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)

About the role

Serves as the Director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), providing executive leadership, strategic vision, and scientific direction for a complex portfolio of national and global public health programs. Leads efforts to detect, prevent, control, and respond to emerging infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases, healthcare-associated infections, foodborne and waterborne illnesses, and other infectious disease threats. Directs research, surveillance, preparedness, laboratory, and response activities; establishes program priorities; advances scientific innovation; and ensures that programs and policies are grounded in the highest standards of scientific integrity, quality, and public health impact.

Responsibilities

• Provides executive oversight for organizational planning, resource management, workforce development, and performance accountability to achieve CDC and HHS priorities.
• Serves as a senior advisor to CDC leadership and as the principal spokesperson on issues within the Center's mission area.
• Collaborates with federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and international partners; academic institutions; professional organizations; and other stakeholders to strengthen public health systems, guide policy development, advance research initiatives, and improve the nation's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.

Requirements

This appointment does not confer any entitlement to a position in the competitive service and may provide entitlement to Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeal rights. This vacancy announcement is open to U.S. Citizens only.

Qualifications

• Current federal employees must be at or equivalent to the GS-14 grade level or above to be considered for this position.
• Current active-duty PHS officers must have served or be serving in an O6 billet/position to be considered for this position.
• Basic Qualifications for RF-0601:
• Applicants must possess a degree with a major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (external link) at the time the degree was obtained. In addition to the basic qualifications requirement, a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position is required.

Technical Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in leading and advancing complex infectious disease, epidemiologic, laboratory, or public health research programs that inform national and global disease prevention, preparedness, surveillance, and response efforts.
• Demonstrated ability to provide executive leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight of large, multidisciplinary public health organizations, including responsibility for workforce management, resource allocation, program evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and organizational performance.
• Experience to deal effectively with high-level government officials, foreign ministries of health, scientific and academic communities, national and international medical and health-related organizations, diverse community and non-governmental groups, U.S. and global media, and the international public at large.
• Demonstrated ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this qualification is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilities cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
• Demonstrated ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this qualification is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
• Demonstrated ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
• 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.