Chief Medical Officer

Summary

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) reports to the Executive Director and serves as a senior advisor to the Executive Director, Chairman, and Commissioners on matters involving medical, clinical, and public health evidence related to consumer product safety. The CMO ensures that the Commission's use of medical and public health evidence reflects objective, methodologically rigorous analysis consistent with the agency's statutory focus on consumer product-related injury risk.

Duties

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The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) advises the Executive Director, Chairman, and Commissioners on clinical and injury trends, contributes to policy development and evaluation, and oversees cross-cutting clinical and scientific initiatives across the agency. The CMO's work is conducted consistent with the Commission's accountability to the President and the American people, and is intended to strengthen internally grounded, evidence-based decision-making.

The CMO:

• Serves as a senior clinical and scientific advisor to the Executive Director, Chairman, and Commissioners, providing guidance on policy development, program direction, and long-range strategy related to injury prevention and consumer product safety.
• Works with the Executive Director and advises the Chairman and Commissioners in the development of agency policy and operating strategies aligned with CPSC and Administration public health and safety goals.
• Develops and implements agency-wide standards and methodologies governing the evaluation, interpretation, and use of medical and public health evidence in regulatory, compliance, and enforcement contexts.
• Leads objective evaluation and resolution of clinical, epidemiological, and scientific evidence informing high-impact Commission decisions, including the assessment of competing or controversial scientific perspectives.
• Evaluates and contextualizes external clinical and public health recommendations, including consensus statements and advisory opinions, to determine their relevance, applicability, and evidentiary weight in Commission decision-making.
• Integrates clinical and medical evidence with exposure data, product use patterns, and injury surveillance systems to support risk-based regulatory decision-making.
• Advises on issues of injury causation and risk characterization, including the relationship between product design, foreseeable use, exposure conditions, and observed health outcomes.
• Identifies emerging areas where clinical or public health claims may outpace available evidence and establishes appropriate evidentiary thresholds for Commission action.
• Provides scientific assessments and strategic counsel to support agency decision-making and ensure that regulatory and programmatic actions reflect rigorous, evidence-based analysis consistent with CPSC's statutory mission.
• Exercises executive leadership over cross-cutting clinical and public health initiatives, directing high-priority projects across CPSC offices, including Risk Reduction, Compliance and Field Operations, Import Surveillance, and Communications, and leading interoffice initiatives and projects as directed.
• Establishes standards and accountability across CPSC offices; identifies internal and external factors affecting agency mission execution.
• Chairs or participates in CPSC advisory, planning, and steering committees; communicates key scientific and policy considerations; and helps resolve complex or controversial issues.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen.

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn.

If you are a male 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. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided to confirm employee's identity and eligibility to work. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

You are applying under Delegated Examining and if selected under this authority, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period, even if you are a transfer from another federal agency.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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 CPSC;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the CPSC 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.

Qualifications

In addition to the mandatory education requirement, all applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

GS-15: 1) Experience providing medical, clinical, public health, or scientific expertise to inform regulatory, policy, or public health decisions; 2) evaluating and applying scientific evidence, including clinical, epidemiological, toxicological, or injury-related data; 3) integrating medical and risk information to assess health hazards and injury causation; 4) developing or implementing scientific policies, standards, or methodologies; 5) leading multidisciplinary projects or initiatives; 6) advising leadership on complex scientific or public health issues; and 7) collaborating with internal and external stakeholders on regulatory, scientific, or public health matters.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Mandatory Education Requirement - All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify:

Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon appointment.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified.

Additional information

CPSC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: 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. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/[redacted]5-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking references and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

As a condition of employment, the selectee must reside in the local commuting area of the duty station listed in this announcement. Proof of residence may be required.

Must meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time, otherwise the employment offer may be withdrawn.

CPSC headquarters employees (Bethesda, MD) will be relocating to 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC. This position will transition to the new location upon completion of the move. The transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Applicants should be aware that acceptance of this position includes the requirement to report to the new location once the relocation is finalized.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

CPSC offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes: paid vacation, sick leave, 11 paid holidays per year, life and health insurance, Long Term Care insurance, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending account program, and retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan).

CPSC also offers a broad array of work-life flexibilities and services to employees such as, flexible work schedules, transit subsidies, fitness center, and employee assistance and wellness programs.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.