Ethics Specialist

National Institutes of Health • Montgomery County, MD

2d

About The Position

The Ethics Specialist supports the effective administration of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ethics program. The role researches and analyzes ethics issues, provides guidance on conflicts of interest and financial disclosure requirements, interprets applicable statutes and policies, and helps ensure NIH employees and programs comply with Federal ethics requirements.

The specialist advises managers, employees, and NIH programs on ethics matters, including outside relationships, prior employment, financial holdings, standards of conduct, procurement integrity, political activity restrictions, and post-employment requirements. The role also manages public and confidential financial disclosure activities, coordinates ethics training, communicates regulatory and policy updates, and conducts reviews and analyses to support program effectiveness and compliance.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or proof of U.S. National status by the closing date.
• Successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, onboarding forms, required document submission, and other job-related requirements.
• Meet the applicable qualifications within 30 calendar days of the announcement closing date, including time-in-grade requirements.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Ability to perform the essential duties, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• At the GS-09 level, either one year of qualifying experience equivalent to GS-07 involving financial disclosure requests, ethics and compliance documents or databases, technical or conflict reviews, and ethics reports; a related master's or equivalent graduate degree, two years of qualifying graduate education, or an LL.B. or J.D.; or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
• At the GS-11 level, either one year of qualifying experience equivalent to GS-09 involving advice on ethics statutes, regulations, and policies; monitoring financial disclosures, including filer determinations, notifications, and reviews; and presenting ethics reports; a related Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three years of qualifying graduate education, or an LL.M.; or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
• At the GS-12 level, one year of qualifying experience equivalent to GS-11 involving advice to employees and managers on ethics laws and policies related to financial disclosure, recusals, and gift exceptions; review of confidential and public financial disclosure or prohibited holdings reports; guidance on potential conflicts and corrective actions; and development of ethics training courses and materials.
• Selected candidate must file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) upon appointment and annually thereafter.

Nice To Haves

• A related graduate or professional degree may qualify in lieu of specialized experience at the applicable grade level.
• The NIH may repay certain outstanding Federally insured student loans on a case-by-case basis, subject to organizational need, justification, and budget limitations.
• At the supervisor's discretion, work schedule flexibilities may be available.

Responsibilities

• Research conflict-of-interest situations and advise managers and NIH programs on ethics matters involving outside relationships, prior employment, and financial holdings.
• Manage public and confidential financial disclosure activities, including filer determinations, employee notifications, reviews, and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Advise NIH programs on Federal ethics laws and regulations, including standards of conduct, procurement integrity, political activity restrictions, and post-employment requirements.
• Coordinate the planning, development, and implementation of ethics training activities, including curricula and guidance addressing complex ethics issues.
• Disseminate ethics information and ensure timely communication of new or revised regulations, policies, guidance, and interpretations.
• Conduct ethics program reviews and analyses, prepare reports, and recommend policy or procedural changes to improve program effectiveness and compliance.

Benefits

• The NIH may repay certain outstanding Federally insured student loans, subject to case-by-case approval and budget limitations.
• A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for qualifying prior work or active-duty uniformed service when calculating annual leave accrual, if finalized before entry on duty.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed