Openings for Scientific Review Officers (SROs)
We accept applications for Health Science Administrators (Scientific Review Officers) via USAJobs.gov several times a year. Follow us on Twitter (@csrpeerreview) or LinkedIn for advance notice of openings.
What does a career as an SRO offer?
- There is a good work-life balance. The work can be done in 40 hours a week. You can make an impact and have time for your family and personal pursuits.
- CSR has excellent benefits in terms of retirement, health insurance, and leave. SROs enter as a GS-13 or GS-14 (2022 pay table).
- The Center is a collegial place to work and offers many opportunities for career development and advancement within the Center and the greater NIH.
- Relocation to the Washington, DC area is not required. There are other flexibilities for those who choose to work on-site, such as the ability to telework up to 8 days per pay period.
- CSR’s specialization in review and the Center’s large, diverse workforce provide a rewarding work environment ― the breadth of science covered at CSR spans all of NIH.
Recommendations for Applying to an SRO Position at CSR
There are two gates through which your application must pass for you to be considered for an interview:
1. Review by the NIH Office of Human Resources
2. Review by the hiring manager at CSR
Using the USAJobs.gov Resume Builder can help your application to move beyond the first gate, and submitting a cover letter with your application package is critical to get your application past the second gate.
- Your resume and answers to the assessment questions matter most at this stage.
- Build your official resume by using the USAJobs.gov Resume Builder. (The information you send will be placed in a standard format that facilitates assessment. You might also be able to upload your custom resume/CV, but it is recommended that you do so as supplementary material only.)
- Tailor your resume to address the “minimum qualifications.” Dates of employment must be listed with position titles and duties.
- Do not be modest in answering the assessment questions.
- The NIH Office of Human Resources will assess whether you meet the minimum requirements listed in the announcement. They further sort applicants based on their resumes and answers to the assessment questions. Only those who are deemed “best qualified” are referred to CSR for hiring consideration.
- Submit a cover letter with your USAJobs.gov application. Your cover letter is important at this stage.
- Use your cover letter to “speak” to the hiring managers at CSR. What accomplishments or experience makes you a good fit for the position?
- Chiefs review the cover letters and resumes of the candidates referred* by HR and determine which individuals to invite for an interview. Among referred candidates, CSR is looking for people with strong communication and leadership skills.
- After submitting your application, call the HR Specialist listed in the announcement to make sure that all of your documents were successfully uploaded and that you have answered the questions about your employment status correctly.
* “Referred” means your application is among the best qualified and is referred to the next step in the selection process. Learn more.
Find more details on the CSR Job Application Tips page.
We welcome inquiries about working at CSR
Please contact Dr. Kristin Kramer (kramerkm@csr.nih.gov), Director of the Office of Communications & Outreach, CSR. Current SROs, Dr. Vanessa Boyce (boycevs@mail.nih.gov) and Dr. Raul Rojas (rojasr@mail.nih.gov) are also available to answer your questions.
We held a Q & A on the position and application process on Dec 1. View the recording here.
Applications must be submitted through USAJobs.gov. We are hiring across all fields of science encompassed by the NIH. All applicants must be U.S. citizens.
