Health Communications Specialist Jobs

This position is being filled under a stream-lined hiring authority, Title 21, Section 3072 of the 21st Century Cures Act. The candidate selected for this position will serve under a career or career-conditional appointment and be paid under the provisions of this authority.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the regulatory, scientific, public health and consumer protection agency responsible for ensuring all human and animal drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, foods, food additives, drugs and medicated feeds for food producing animals, tobacco and radiation emitting devices safe, and effective.

The mission of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) is to perform an essential public health task by making sure that safe and effective drugs are available to improve the health of people in the United States. CDER regulates over-the-counter and prescription drugs, including biological therapeutics and generic drugs. The Office of Communications (OCOMM) is a multi-faceted organization with responsibility for the overall communication efforts within the as a variety of responsibilities including advising Center leadership on Communications strategies and providing leadership and direction for all Center internal/external communications. Duties/Responsibilities As Health Communication Specialist, the incumbent develops and leads integrated public education and risk communications programs with multiple audiences which includes the following key elements: appropriate formative and evaluation research, strategic planning, message development, consumer marketing and branding, partnership development, materials development and distribution, and social marketing, among others. Specific duties include the following: • Develops, executes, or administers public health education, external communications and programs related to CDER’s work. • Analyzes and provides authoritative evaluations and recommendations concerning planned, existing, or past CDER programs, campaigns, and activities to execute CDER’s vision for public health education and external relations. • Identifies and takes appropriate action on trends that might lead to new education programs. • Identifies priorities for the assigned area of expertise and opportunities for collaboration which will include the responsibility for all programs, projects and acquisition required to meet these goals. • Provides strategic guidance, advice, and other health education and communication services to OCOMM’s divisions and office; and keeps the internal stakeholders (i.e., CDER staff) apprised of relevant developments in health communication science. • Plans, develops, tests, and implements all health education programs and activities within the assigned area of expertise. • Establishes and nurtures relationships with external health communication and researchers investigating the impact of advertising materials on consumer perceptions and behaviors. In addition, the incumbent provides updates on relevant developments in the assigned area of expertise to internal and external groups (e.g., CDER staff, state partners, international regulatory and stakeholder partners) to facilitate national or international efforts. • Performs specific duties directly associated with CDER’s Controlled Substances Program (CSP). Performs public education and external relations activities necessary to educate the American public about CDER’s Controlled Substances Program and related activities to promote the public health by minimizing risks associated with problematic use of controlled substances while enabling appropriate access for medical use. Generates broad national and international visibility for CDER’s CSP and related matters for CDER and FDA.

Qualifications To be placed into a Cures position, candidates must meet the following criteria: 1. Scientific, Technical, and Professional Fields 2. Qualified and Outstanding Candidates a. Qualified applies to all candidates for Cures appointments. The FDA OTS will use the basic requirements defined in the OPM Qualification Standards as a baseline for comparing experience levels and other candidate attributes for relevant positions. b. Outstanding candidates can be defined by existing outstanding work experience, outstanding performance rating, or both. To qualify for this Title 21 Cures position, the candidate(s) must meet the following required qualifications. Please note: Additional education and experience listed that is not indicated as required is preferable and desired. Candidates who do not meet the “desired” criteria will not be excluded from consideration for this position. Education Requirement: Health Communication Specialist, AD-1001 Series

There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series. For more information, please see: OPM Occupational Series Qualification Requirements. Desired Education: Our ideal candidate will possess: • Degree in Journalism, communications, or other fields related to the position. • Ability to apply knowledge of public health terminology and of how public health programs(s) and strategies work at local, state, federal, and internal levels. • Demonstrated written/verbal communications, including presentation skills. • Demonstrated critical thinking skills. Professional Experience: N/A Desired Professional Experience: Our ideal candidate will possess: • Expertise applying communication and principles, methods, theories, practices, and techniques as a technical authority. • Experience evaluating health communication programs, projects, and strategies. • Demonstrated advanced knowledge of the effective use of the effective use of researchbased message development to prompt behavioral change. • Demonstrated proficiency in risk-communication strategies to targeted audiences and the public. • Demonstrated ability to develop, oversee, and execute successful consumer and media campaigns. • Demonstrated advanced knowledge of traditional news and social media communication approaches. • Demonstrated well-developed skills in building and maintaining relationships with disparate stakeholders. • Experience leading large-scale, science, and audience-based health communication programs. Demonstrated ability leading program evaluations designed to assess public education and communications strategies.

How to Apply How to Apply: Submit resume or curriculum vitae with cover letter by May 9, 2023, to: [email protected]. Announcement Contact For questions regarding this Cures position, please contact [email protected].