Public Health Advisor
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Temporary (up to 2 years)
Public Health Advisor (GS-0685-09/13)
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is hiring!
WHO IS CSAT?
SAMHSA’s mission is to improve the quality and availability of treatment and prevention services for people with substance use disorders and mental illness. SAMHSA provides federal funding to states, local communities, and private entities by administering block grants and other formula and discretionary grants. Through such grants, SAMHSA supports activities that include education and training, prevention programs, early intervention activities, treatment services, and technical assistance. To advance SAMHSA’s mission, CSAT administers programs designed to:
- Close the gap between available treatment capacity and demand;
- Support the identification and adoption of evidence-based and best practices by community-based treatment programs and services;
- Oversee implementation of federal regulations on the use of substance use disorder medications such as methadone and buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder; and
- Improve and strengthen substance abuse treatment organizations and systems.
ABOUT THE JOB:
Overdose deaths have accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Provisional data[1] estimates more than 94,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States in the 12 months ending in January 2021, the highest number ever recorded in a 12-month period. As a result of the overdose crisis, the need for prevention, intervention, and substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services is more important than ever.
To meet this growing demand, CSAT is hiring Public Health Advisors at different levels of experience to perform functions such as:
- Program administration
- Policy and data analysis
- Budget and Legislative analysis
MAJOR DUTIES OF THESE POSITIONS MAY INCLUDE:
Program Administration
- Plan and administer a comprehensive public health program, such as:
- Establishing program goals, objectives, and requirements;
- Performing program oversight functions such as ensuring service delivery, program surveillance, quality assurance, and maintaining partnerships; and
- Providing technical assistance such as outreach, training, and reporting.
- Collaborate with local, State, other Federal governments such tribal and territories, and other stakeholder groups.
- Manage administration of the grant cycle from application to closing, including ensuring that grant requirements are met, and payments are appropriate.
- Understand and assure program compliance with applicable federal regulations related to medications for opioid use disorders.
- Develop and monitor implementation of program compliance requirements.
- Conduct assessments and compliance reviews, negotiate, and approve corrective actions, as needed.
Policy and Data Analysis
- Collect and analyze data to address complex policy and program needs including leveraging data visualization techniques and statistical programming packages (SAS, STATA, R).
- Develop and monitor program metrics.
- Develop and/or recommend policies, policy changes, program intervention, prevention, and/or control strategies based on data analysis.
- Establish and maintain an integrated system of information gathering and reporting tools.
- Prepare reports evaluating policy outcomes and program operations and compliance.
Budget and Legislative Analysis
- Support CSAT’s budgetary activities; including funding plan development and execution of CSAT grants and contracts.
- Write, review, and support the publication of CSAT content in the SAMHSA budget, congressional reports, and other publications.
- Review, distribute, and track proposed legislation and congressional inquiries.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SKILLS:
- Knowledge of public health, substance use disorder treatment particularly opioid use disorders, health policy, social work, and/or health care administration
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills
- Data analysis, statistical analysis, and/or data visualization
- Ability to conceptualize, organize, and prioritize work
REQUIREMENTS:
These positions are being filled through Direct Hire Authority for this occupation and is open to all US Citizens. As such, all applicants who meet the OPM Public Health Advisor requirements and the minimum specialized experience qualifications stated in this announcement will be referred to hiring managers for further consideration.
These are temporary excepted service positions at grade level (GS) GS-9 thru 13. This appointment is for up to 2 years.
GRADE LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS:
GS-09: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service as defined in the next paragraph. Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the position which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to include experience assisting with providing advice and evaluating the effectiveness of public health programs, policies and activities OR Have a master’s in Public Health or other field of study with course work directly related to the work of the position to be filled or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Have a combination of specialized experience and graduate education that together meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
GS-11: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service as defined in the next paragraph. Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the position which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to include experience planning, coordinating, developing and/or evaluating and implementing public health programs, policies, and activities. OR Have a Ph.D. in Public Health or other field of study with course work directly related to the work of the position to be filled or equivalent doctoral degree or completed 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related to the position. OR Have a combination of specialized experience and graduate education that together meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
GS-12: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service as defined in the next paragraph. Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the position which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to include experience providing technical advice and assistance in the implementation and evaluation of state or local public health programs.
GS-13: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service as defined in the next paragraph. Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the position which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to include experience providing technical advice and assistance in the implementation and evaluation of state or local public health programs.
Experience: 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.
LOCATION: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Telework/remote work is available/required depending on the status of the COVID 19 pandemic and the specific role being filled.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit your resume via email to CSAT.Hire@samhsa.hhs.gov using subject line “Public Health Advisor, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment” by Noon EST September 20, 2021.
In describing your work history, please clearly state all the relevant experience in your resume that should be taken into consideration. Make sure your federal resume includes:
- Dates, hours per week, level of experience and examples for each position held or work experience
- Volunteer work and roles in community organizations
- Numbers to highlight your accomplishments
For more information on how to develop a federal resume see: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/.
We look forward to reviewing all resumes!
Thanks
Talisha Searcy
Chief of Performance Measurement
Center for Substance Abuse and Treatment, SAMHSA
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm