Program Officer - Biomedical and Health Sciences Program

Job Description Summary:

Job Description:

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management and Implementation

• Lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of assigned projects under Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, including rapid expert consultations, expert meetings, and other scientific and technical activities.
• Develop and manage project work plans, timelines, budgets, deliverables, and internal review processes, ensuring activities are completed in accordance with National Academies policies and procedures.
• Coordinate multiple concurrent projects, working closely with project leadership, committee members, authors, consultants, and National Academies staff.
• Develop project prospectuses, scopes of work, meeting agendas, background materials, and other documents necessary to initiate and execute activities.
• Identify project risks, anticipate operational needs, and help resolve issues affecting schedules, resources, or deliverables.
• Provide day-to-day direction and coordination for project staff, including delegation of research, administrative, and logistical responsibilities.

Scientific Research, Evidence Synthesis, and Written Products

• Conduct and oversee targeted research, literature reviews, and evidence synthesis on topics related to emerging infectious diseases, public health emergencies, crisis standards of care, health care delivery, and preparedness.
• Identify relevant scientific literature, technical guidance, federal policies, and prior National Academies publications to inform project activities.
• Support the development of rapid expert consultations and other written products, including preparing background materials, coordinating author contributions, reviewing drafts, and managing internal and external review processes.
• Analyze complex scientific, technical, and policy issues and identify relevant evidence, operational considerations, knowledge gaps, and areas requiring additional expert input.
• Work with multidisciplinary experts to ensure that project activities draw on appropriate scientific, clinical, public health, operational, and policy perspectives.
• Support the dissemination of project findings through briefings, presentations, webinars, and other engagement activities.

Standing Committee and Expert Engagement

• Support the management and ongoing activities of the standing committee, including planning committee meetings, developing agendas, preparing briefing materials, and coordinating follow-up activities.
• Identify and engage experts from academia, government, health care systems, public health agencies, professional organizations, and other relevant sectors.
• Coordinate the identification and engagement of authors, speakers, consultants, and other experts for rapid expert consultations and related activities.
• Facilitate expert discussions and information-gathering activities that bring together diverse scientific and operational perspectives.
• Maintain productive working relationships with standing committee members, project leadership, and external collaborators.

Sponsor and Stakeholder Coordination

• Support regular communication and coordination with federal sponsors, particularly the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR).
• Assist in identifying emerging sponsor priorities and translating requests into appropriately scoped National Academies activities.
• Prepare materials for sponsor meetings, project updates, briefings, and discussions of potential future work.
• Coordinate with other National Academies boards, programs, and divisions to identify relevant expertise, avoid duplication, and strengthen connections across related activities.
• Represent assigned projects in meetings and discussions with external partners, as appropriate.

Broader Preparedness and Rapid-Response Portfolio

In addition to primary responsibilities supporting the standing committee, the Program Officer will contribute to related activities across the Biomedical and Health Sciences preparedness and rapid-response portfolio. These may include:

• Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies: Supporting meetings, workshops, and other activities addressing public health emergency preparedness, health care system resilience, disaster response, and cross-sector coordination.
• Action Collaborative on Medical Operations Coordination Centers (AC-MOCCs): Contributing to activities examining patient movement and medical operations coordination, including operational functions, data needs, governance, and sustainability.
• Rapid Response to Emerging Science, Engineering, and Medicine Challenges Initiative: Supporting the development and implementation of rapid-response projects, tools, and processes that strengthen the National Academies' ability to provide timely scientific and technical input on emerging issues.
• Other Emerging Priorities: Contributing to new projects, expert convenings, and cross-divisional activities as opportunities and institutional priorities evolve.

REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Master's degree in public health, health policy, health sciences, public administration, or a related scientific or technical field, or equivalent knowledge.
• Experience managing scientific, technical, health policy, or public health projects, including coordinating multidisciplinary teams and complex deliverables.
• Experience conducting research, synthesizing scientific and technical literature, and preparing high-quality written materials.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and time-sensitive assignments.
• Experience engaging experts and stakeholders from different disciplines and organizations.
• Strong organizational, analytical, written communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, anticipate project needs, and work effectively with limited supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a related field.
• Experience in public health emergency preparedness and response, emerging infectious diseases, health care systems, or related policy areas.
• Familiarity with crisis standards of care, health care system capacity and coordination, or high-consequence infectious disease preparedness.
• Experience supporting expert committees, scientific advisory activities, workshops, or consensus and non-consensus scientific products.
• Experience working with federal agencies, particularly HHS, ASPR, CDC, or other organizations involved in preparedness and response.
• Experience managing complex projects involving multiple authors, reviewers, subject-matter experts, and stakeholders.
• Familiarity with National Academies procedures, publications, and project management practices.

Key Competencies

• Project Leadership: Ability to independently organize and advance complex projects while maintaining accountability for timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Scientific and Policy Analysis: Ability to evaluate and synthesize evidence across scientific, clinical, operational, and policy domains.
• Communication: Strong writing, editing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with diverse experts, sponsors, colleagues, and external partners.
• Adaptability: Ability to respond to evolving priorities and manage activities on accelerated timelines.
• Professional Judgment: Ability to navigate sensitive scientific and policy issues while maintaining the National Academies' standards for independence, objectivity, and quality.
  

Minimum Education/Training Requirements:  Master’s degree in a related field or equivalent knowledge.  Ph.D. in related field preferred. 

MInimum Required Experience:  Three years of related professional experience. 

Physical Capabilities: Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time. Ability to travel.

Required Licenses, Certification or Registration: None.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Controls: Typically reports to a Senior Program Officer or Director. General direction is provided. May supervise project/program staff with oversight by a Director/Senior Program Officer.

Work Environment: Hybrid Office/Telecommute environment, expected onsite percentage 60%, with occasional travel between National Academies’ facilities and to off-site meeting/sponsor locations.

Compensation & Benefits: An estimated compensation range for this position is $92,040 - $115,040. Compensation offered to the selected candidate will be based on the candidate’s relevant knowledge, skills, and work experience, commensurate with compensation of current employees in comparable positions with similar knowledge, skills, and work experience, and subject to budget parameters. Note it is not typical for a candidate to be hired at the higher end of the range.   This is a benefits-eligible position.  Our Benefits Plan offers competitive and comprehensive benefit options, including medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement and savings benefits, leave benefits such as paid holidays and paid personal leave, transportation subsidies, and education assistance.  For more information, please click here.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

It is the policy of the National Academies to recruit, hire, transfer, compensate, and promote people in all job categories and to administer all other personnel actions, terms and conditions of employment in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. It is also the institution's policy to recruit, hire, promote, and provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and covered veterans who are otherwise qualified.

Any qualification to be considered equivalent, in lieu of stated minimum, requires the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Some functions in this description may be specific to a particular unit of the National Academies and not applicable to other units.

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