Photographer (Scientific-Technical) (GS-11/12)

Summary

Do you have experience using photography to capture what others might miss? Bring your technical skill and creative problem-solving to a dynamic clinical research environment, working alongside physicians, scientists, and researchers to document the important work happening at the National Institutes of Health! Join our team and grow your expertise while helping advance biomedical research and discovery.

Duties

At the full performance GS-12 grade level, you will: Perform specialized medical and scientific photography using professional cameras, lenses, lighting, magnification, and imaging techniques to accurately document patients, specimens, procedures, research activities, and scientific findings. Plan and coordinate photographic coverage of medical and scientific projects, consulting with physicians, scientists, researchers, and other professional staff to understand project objectives and determine appropriate photographic approaches. Perform patient and clinical photography to document anatomical and pathological conditions, medical and surgical procedures, and other medically relevant subject matter in support of clinical research and patient care. Perform specialized close-up and magnified photography of biological and scientific subject matter, including specimens, tissue, microorganisms, experimental procedures, and other research subjects. Select and adapt photographic equipment and techniques based on subject matter, environmental conditions, scientific objectives, and desired results, including determining appropriate cameras, lenses, magnification, lighting, exposure, and image-capture methods. Develop solutions to challenging imaging requirements by adapting equipment and lighting techniques to improve image quality and accurately capture subtle, difficult-to-document, or scientifically significant details. Process, enhance, manage, and deliver digital images using professional imaging software and appropriate file formats and workflows. Provide technical consultation and photographic support to physicians, scientists, researchers, and other customers regarding photographic techniques, visual documentation, image design, file formats, and effective approaches for communicating medical or scientific information. If selected at the GS-11 level, you will essentially perform the same duties as those at the full performance level described above; however, duties are less complex and will be performed under closer supervision with more detailed guidance.

Qualifications

You qualify at the GS-11 level if you meet the following qualification requirement: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: 1) Using photographic equipment, lenses, lighting, exposure settings, and other photographic techniques to accurately document medical or scientific subjects, procedures, specimens, research activities, or findings; 2) Performing medical photography involving patients, anatomical or pathological conditions, medical procedures, specimens, or other medically relevant subject matter in clinical, research, field, telehealth, or other medical setting; 3) Applying knowledge of anatomy and medical terminology to understand photographic requirements and communicate effectively with physicians, scientists, researchers, or other customers; 4) Applying established photographic and imaging techniques to address technical requirements or imaging problems, such as improving contrast, controlling reflections or shadows, maintaining appropriate color or scale, or capturing subtle or difficult-to-document details; 5) Providing photographic and digital imaging support to physicians, scientists, researchers, or other professional staff for medical, scientific, research, documentation, or educational purposes. You qualify at the GS-12 level if you meet the following qualification requirement: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: 1) Determining technical approaches for specialized medical or scientific photography, including selecting photographic methods, equipment, lenses, magnification, lighting, exposure, and other technical requirements needed to accurately document subjects, procedures, specimens, research activities, or findings; 2) Performing specialized medical or clinical photography involving anatomical or pathological conditions, surgical or clinical procedures, gross specimens, or other medically relevant subject matter; 3) Performing specialized medical or scientific photography to accurately document subtle, difficult-to-capture, or scientifically significant details, using techniques such as macrophotography, photomicroscopy, specialized lighting, magnification, or other advanced photographic or imaging techniques; 4) Developing, modifying, or adapting photographic techniques to solve complex or unusual imaging problems, including selecting, modifying, or adapting specialized cameras, lenses, filters, microscopes or macroscopes, light sources, or photographic processes; 5) Providing technical consultation and advice to physicians, scientists, researchers, customers, photographers, or other professional staff regarding photographic techniques, visual presentation, and documentation of scientific or medical projects. You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay. Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer. Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13083168

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. The position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by the agency's Reemployment Priority List (RPL). RPL candidates will be rated, placed into one of the quality categories below, and referred to the hiring office, once veterans' preference is applied. Qualified Well Qualified Best Qualified Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS. To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least 80 points on the assessment(s) and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete and submit all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents sections. 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: Click Apply Online button. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. See the "Required Documents" section for any additional forms and/or supplemental materials required. Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly to any Eligibility you wish to claim. You will only be considered for those Eligibility questions (Veteran, Schedule A, etc.) you respond in the affirmative to, regardless of what documentation you submit. We cannot assume you intended to respond differently to a question based on other information in your application package. Complete the application questionnaire. Applicants are asked all questions regardless of their consideration preferences. We will only consider you for the grades, series, locations, specialties, and other considerations that you self-identify as being qualified for or interested in. Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13083168 After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about 2 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Verify all required documentation is included in your application package, review your responses to the application questionnaire for accuracy, and then submit your application. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. In addition to the required documents, we encourage you to submit a cover letter, copy of your transcripts, and any applicable certifications or licenses. Even though this information is not required at the time of application, we may request this information later. We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements. For technical difficulties, contact HR Systems Support between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday at hrss@nih.gov. For reasonable accommodations not related to USA Hire, please contact NIH HR Service Desk Branch E at ohrcsdbranchesrvdsk@od.nih.gov . Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date. Visit our site for information on NIH's EEO program, Reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.

Other information

This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage. The National Institutes of Health 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. The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus. Visit Help Applying for helpful information on the application process. NIH may repay certain outstanding Federally insured student loans to facilitate the recruitment and retention of highly qualified people. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations. A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for prior work experience or active-duty uniformed service that otherwise would not be creditable for the purpose of determining his or her annual leave accrual rate. All creditable service must be directly related to the duties of the position being filled and decisions to allow for such credit must be finalized prior to the selectee's entrance on duty. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations. If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: Reasonable Accommodation Information. Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).