Duties

Summary

This position is located within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Division of State and Community Systems Development (DSCSD), State Grants Eastern Branch (SGEB) in Rockville, MD.

For more information about SAMHSA, click the "Learn more about the Agency" Box.

**Applicants please note: Additional selections may be made across the Department of Health and Human Services through this vacancy announcement.**
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This position is a mission critical occupation for SAMHSA. The position is responsible for analyzing public health programs, policies and procedures to ensure that Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration meets its mission, goals and objectives.

As a Public Health Advisor, you will serve as a subject-matter-expert (SME) for the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) formula grant program, a legal based advocacy program for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) and children with a serious emotional disturbance (SED).

Specifically, you will:

• Provide guidance and direction in the planning, development and execution of the PAIMI program and provide oversight for Federal technical assistance and knowledge dissemination to ensure highly effective, innovative performance among PAIMI-funded activities and service.
• Oversee development and sharing of innovative services and programming for PAIMI grantees and contribute to partnerships with national organizations representing persons with SMI and SED including mental health stakeholders and non-traditional partner organizations.
• Provide guidance and consultation on statutes, regulations and substantive health administration issues relevant to assigned program operations in the area of protection and advocacy services.
• Evaluate outcomes and performance of PAIMI-funded activities and work with State Protection and Advocacy agencies regarding PAIMI outcomes and performance measures.
• Oversee development of guidance to Protection and Advocacy agencies that explains the rationale and provides advice on how to maximize PAIMI outcomes and performance.
• Coordinate the data collection efforts of other Federal agencies with the PAIMI data collection effort (e.g. PPR) and oversee preparation of Biennial report to Congress regarding the PAIMI program.
• Prepare and present draft policy responses and related guidance resulting from inquiries from Congressional offices, private sector representatives, grantees, contractors, and other concerned individuals.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U. S. Citizenship is required.
• All qualification requirements and time-in-grade must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Federal applicants must submit an SF-50 to show status and time-in-grade.
• Males ages 18 through 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Background investigation required.
• PHS Commissioned Corps applicants must submit current personnel orders.
• Financial disclosure statement is not required.
• A one year probationary period may be required.
• Position is not in the Bargaining Unit.
• Drug Screening is not required.
• Recruitment incentives are not authorized.
• Student loan repayment incentive is not authorized.
• Travel, transportation and relocation expenses will not be paid.

Qualifications

THESE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE: 10/17/2019

Do not cut and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Basic Requirements for all Public Health Program Specialist Series 0685 positions require that you demonstrate specialized experience in each of the following five competencies:

• Knowledge of organizational, operational, and programmatic concepts and practices applied by public, private, or nonprofit agencies and organizations engaged in public health or other health-related activities.
• Knowledge of the methods, processes, and techniques used to develop and deliver public health or health-related programs in State and local settings.
• Knowledge of a specialized public health program.
• Knowledge of, and skill in, the application of administrative or analytical methods and techniques necessary for working within the framework of a public health or related organization and carrying out specific program functions.
• Skill in oral and written communications, gathering and conveying information, making oral presentations, and preparing reports, correspondence, and other written materials.

To qualify for this Public Health Advisor position at the GS-14 level, in addition to the requirements above, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-13 level in the federal service. Examples of qualifying experience include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis: Managing public health programs (e.g., treatment of persons with mental health and/or co-occurring disorders) who may be in need of protection and advocacy services at the community, state or federal level; Interpreting and applying policies, statutes, procedures, regulations and guidelines necessary for administering protection and advocacy programs.

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; community; student; social). If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

PROTECTION and ADVOCACY for INDIVIDUALS with MENTAL ILLNESS (PAIMI) - Knowledge of the concepts and principles relating to PAIMI Act of 1986; providing technical program support, addressing PAIMI legislation impacting care and treatment services of mental disorders and collaboratively working with public health stakeholders and local community-based organizations.
• PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS AND POLICY ANALYSIS - Analyzes, interprets and explains the impacts of health policies, proposals, and legislation on public health programs.
PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures to conduct ongoing systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health-related data essential to planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND DATA COMMUNICATION - Knowledge of the production and presentation of information to individuals and/or groups via written, oral, and visual media.

TO PREVIEW THE OCCUPATIONAL ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE, please click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10624485

Current status candidates must meet Time-in-Grade (TIG) by the closing date of this announcement. To allow us to verify that you meet TIG requirements, provide any of the following SF-50s:

• Competitive or Career-ladder promotion to your highest grade (this does not include 120 day temporary promotions)
• With-In-Grade (WGI) increase at your highest grade (this does not include quality step increases (QSIs)
• Competitive career/career-conditional appointment to your highest grade.
• SF-50 at your highest grade held, that is at least one year older than the announcement closing date of 10/17/2019.

Current year pay adjustments are not acceptable for verifying TIG (ex. 2019 general increases cannot be used to verify TIG).

Not sure which SF-50 to submit? Check out our video... Go here to watch the video on the SF50s to submit in your application package .

Education

This position does not have an education requirement. Please do not send transcripts.

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.

HHS is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences.

Click here for information on " Federal hiring for individuals with disabilities ".

Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees . Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.

E-Verify: SAMHSA 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.

Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Creditable Service: A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for annual leave for prior work experience directly related to the duties of the position being filled. The use of this service credit is at the discretion of the selecting official and must be finalized prior to selectee's entrance on duty. For more information, please click here .

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 Copy), or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. Click here for more information on veterans' preference .

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): Click here

SAMHSA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. Telework eligibility may be discussed during the interview process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, a review of resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact either HRSA's Office of Human Resources at (301) 443-3780 or by email: askhr@hrsa.gov or HRSA's Reasonable Accommodation programs at (301) 443-2538 or by email: RA-Request@hrsa.gov . You must contact the Reasonable Accommodations Program prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 7:30AM to 4:00PM EST (except Federal holidays).

Submission of a resume alone is not a complete application. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete online Application Package that includes:

A current Resume - For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Resources Center or view their video tutorial. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that include beginning and ending dates (month/year) for paid and non-paid work experience, including the average number of hours worked per week for each job title listed. You must also ensure that the duties performed are clearly matched to each period of employment. If we cannot determine that you have performed qualifying duties for at least one year, then you may be rated ineligible.

A complete Assessment Questionnaire

Other supporting documents to be submitted with application:

• Veterans' Preference Documentation, if applicable, a DD-214 Member 4 copy, which shows type of discharge. If still active, provide an official Statement of Service. Any other documentation such as VA letter documenting disability, SF-15, and any other required supporting documentation based your veterans' preference claim.
• SF-50: Federal applicants must submit an SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that shows status and time-in-grade, and its full performance level. If you are an HHS employee you may obtain a copy of your SF-50 from eOPF. If you have separated from Federal Government employment, you may obtain a copy of your SF-50 via: National Personnel Records Center, Annex, 1411 Boulder Boulevard, Valmeyer, IL, 62295; FAX (618) 935-3014 ; Email CPR ; or visit the National Archives Website .
• Personnel Orders: PHS Commissioned Corps Officers must submit a copy of latest personnel orders in lieu of SF-50.
• Peace Corps volunteers must submit a copy of your "Description of Service (DOS)" in lieu of the SF-50. If you do not have one you should email the Peace Corps Office of Volunteer and PSC Financial Services at certify@peacecorps.gov .
• If you are currently serving in a pay banded position, please include a copy of your pay band chart with your application.
• College transcripts (if the position has a positive education requirement, or you are qualifying on the basis of education).

For Résumé and Application Tips visit the USAJOBS Resource Center .

The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/17/2019.