Supervisory Social Scientist

Food and Drug Administration•Silver Spring, MD

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), Office of Health Communication and Education. It is not fully remote; the selectee must regularly report in person to a designated FDA facility in accordance with agency telework policy. The incumbent serves as a recognized expert in social science as it relates to health sciences, developing policy and objectives, appraising programs, and initiating requirements for social science studies. The role leads research related to communication about tobacco products and provides technical and administrative direction to subordinate employees. The incumbent evaluates research protocols and conducts social science surveys, studies, and projects supporting public health education initiatives to reduce disease, disability, and death caused by tobacco use. The role also reviews literature on measuring and evaluating public education initiatives across platforms, including digital and social media advertising, and presents findings to scientific staff, government health program managers, health officials, and health-related organizations.

Requirements

Meet the basic qualification requirements for the Social Science Series, 0101: a degree in behavioral or social science or a related discipline appropriate to the position; an equivalent combination of education and experience; or four years of appropriate experience demonstrating equivalent knowledge.
For GS-14, have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13 in the federal service. Specialized experience must include providing advisory services to formulate social or behavioral scientific research projects; assessing program or organizational effectiveness; analyzing scientific data supporting regulatory product review activities related to public health; and leading a team or workgroup on projects or tasks.
Meet time-in-grade requirements by 11:59 p.m. EST on 11/04/2026.
Be a U.S. citizen unless an exception is explicitly stated.
Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements.
Pass a security investigation.
Provide required eligibility and qualification documentation; internal applicants must submit an SF-50, and applicants relying on education must submit transcripts.
Meet all requirements by the announcement closing date, 11/04/2026, and continue to meet them throughout the hiring process.

Responsibilities

Serve as a recognized social science expert in health sciences and develop policy and objectives, appraise programs, and initiate requirements for social science studies.
Lead research on issues related to communication about tobacco products.
Provide technical and administrative direction to subordinate employees performing team work and functions.
Evaluate and assess social science research protocols.
Conduct social science surveys, studies, and projects to support development of public health education initiatives addressing tobacco-related disease, disability, and death.
Review literature to stay current on measuring and evaluating public education initiatives delivered through various platforms, including digital and social media advertising.
Present to scientific staff, federal, state, and local health program managers, other health officials, and health-related organizations.