Physician (Medical Officer)

Summary

This position is being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's delegated Direct Hire Authority, open to all U.S. citizens. Selections made under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service. Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and the "Rule of Many" do not apply.

Duties

This announcement serves as public notice. Applications submitted will be placed into a pool and will remain on file for selection as positions become available.

Vacancies may be filled for up to 6 months after the closing date of this announcement.

Serves as the principal medical authority and agency expert, providing strategic direction, expert analysis completing medical consultation cases, and authoritative consultation.

Advises SSA executive leadership and collaborates with Medical Office and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) professionals, wellness partners, and other agency teams to assess organizational needs and deliver integrated health solutions.

Researches medical topics and prepares fact sheets regarding various medical topics.

Represents SSA in high-level meetings, briefings, and interagency workgroups, communicating the agency’s position on medical, wellness, and health and safety matters to internal and external stakeholders.

Plays a vital role in developing and implementing internal emergency medical management protocols relating to traumatic events, natural disasters, or public health emergencies.

Evaluates medical documentation, prepares medical opinions, and provides expert advice to managers on employee matters.

Plans and develops short- and long-range health services programs and provides ongoing leadership over programs to ensure efficient and effective implementation and accomplishment of program objectives.

Completes all medical consultation cases, including reasonable accommodations, leave, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), infectious diseases, and disability retirement.

Qualifications

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information. READ ALL SECTIONS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY. THIS INFORMATION IS CRUCIAL TO SUBMITTING A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION. To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Degree: Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or equivalent from a school in the United States or Canada. This degree must have been accredited by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association(external link); Association of American Medical Colleges(external link); Liaison Committee on Medical Education(external link); Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association(external link), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained. Degree from Foreign Medical School: A Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree from a foreign medical school must provide education and medical knowledge equivalent to accredited schools in the United States. Evidence of equivalency to accredited schools in the United States is demonstrated by permanent certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates(external link), a fifth pathway certificate for Americans who completed premedical education in the United States and graduate education in a foreign country, or successful completion of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination. Licensure: Applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. National Board Certification (e.g., Occupational Medicine, Internal Medicine, Preventative Medicine, etc.) Graduate Training: At least 1 year of supervised experience providing direct service in a clinical setting (i.e., a 1-year internship or the first year of a residency program in a hospital or an institution accredited for such training) For GS-15: 5 years of graduate training in the specialty of the position to be filled or equivalent experience and training. Specialized Experience Applicants must have specialized experience directly related to the work of the position that has equipped them with the knowledge, skill, and abilities/competencies required to successfully perform the duties of the role. This generally includes knowledge of emergency medical management procedures, diagnostics for emerging trends, and preventative medicine design for employee health and workforce wellness programs. Knowledge, skill, and ability/competency in these areas is normally attained through the equivalent of one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of the position being filled. To qualify at the GS-15 level, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, or equivalent. Applicants who are at least minimally experienced will demonstrate proficiency in at least 3 of the 5 following areas, while well-qualified applicants will demonstrate proficiency in all 5 areas: Experience applying clinical and occupational medicine knowledge to evaluate employee health concerns, workplace exposures, and functional limitations in an organizational setting. Experience interpreting and applying federal laws and medical regulations when advising leadership on medical determination, wellness initiatives, and risk mitigation strategies. Experience using health outcomes data, utilization trends, or program evaluation methods to assess effectiveness, justify investment, and refine organizational wellness program. Experience integrating interdisciplinary wellness models to develop organizational health assessments and individual support plans. Experience maintaining knowledge on emerging diagnostic methods, treatment protocols, rehabilitation standards, referral practices, and workforce wellness trends to support evidence-based decision-making.

Evaluations

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the online assessment questions completed during the application process. Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. Information not specifically stated in your resume cannot be assumed. Information that is copied or restated language from the vacancy announcement or rating criteria will not be considered. If this occurs, you may be found ineligible.

How to apply Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Careers at SSA at Careers@ssa.gov. Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.

Other information Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement. This Direct Hire announcement may be used to fill the same or similar position in another office. This is a non-bargaining unit position. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.