Chief, Department of Bioethics

Department of Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health | Clinical Center

Chief, Department of Bioethics

Shape the ethical future of biomedical research and clinical care

The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, invites applications for Chief of the Department of Bioethics - an opportunity to provide expert clinical leadership in bioethics and lead the Department's research, consultation, education, management, staff supervision,  and fellowship missions.

The NIH Clinical Center is not a traditional hospital. It is a unique clinical research environment where patients, families, clinicians, investigators, and scientists work together to understand disease and develop new approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The Department of Bioethics advances this mission through rigorous interdisciplinary research, responsive ethics consultation, fellowship training, and education across the NIH intramural research community.

This is a leadership role for an accomplished physician-bioethicist who will set the Department's strategic direction, oversee sensitive and effective ethics consultation, strengthen fellowship training, and conduct original bioethics research relevant to bioethics and health policy.

Why this role is distinctive

• Ethics at the center of discovery: The Department works within the NIH Clinical Center, where complex ethical questions arise in first-in-human studies, rare-disease research, innovative therapies, and the care of patient-participants.
• Consultation with direct clinical and research impact: The Bioethics Consultation Service analyzes and facilitates discussion of ethical issues raised by patients, families, investigators, clinicians, nurses, administrators, social workers, and other members of the NIH community.
• Interdisciplinary scholarship with national relevance: Faculty and fellows use conceptual and empirical methods to address ethical issues in biomedical research, clinical practice, genetics, biotechnology, public health, health policy, and health disparities.
• Education and mentorship as a core mission: The Department supports fully funded fellowship programs, seminars, case conferences, ethics consultations, IRB deliberations, courses, and lectures that prepare the next generation of leaders in bioethics.

What the Chief will lead

As Chief, the incumbent will be responsible for the leadership, management, and staff supervision of the Department of Bioethics and will provide expert clinical leadership in the field of bioethics.

• Set the strategic direction of the Department and determine the goals, objectives, and initiatives needed to achieve that direction.
• Assess, develop, implement, and manage Department programs and services consistent with organizational goals, priorities, and practices.
• Evaluate staff and organizational effectiveness, address issues that arise, and ensure accomplishment of assigned goals and tasks.
• Oversee consultative services to the NIH Intramural Research Program and ensure sensitive and effective consultation for patients, families, and clinical and research teams.
• Work with the fellowship director to oversee a robust bioethics fellowship program and ensure comprehensive training in bioethics.
• Conduct original bioethics research on topics relevant to bioethics and health policy.
• Lead and supervise an interdisciplinary faculty and staff and support a rigorous, collaborative professional environment.
• Represent the Department across the NIH Clinical Center and NIH intramural community and in the broader bioethics field.

The ideal candidate

The successful candidate will bring strong leadership credentials, sound judgment, and demonstrated ability to lead a complex interdisciplinary department. Applicants must meet the federal physician qualification requirements described in the USAJOBS announcement, including:

• A Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or qualifying equivalent medical degree.
• An active, current, full, and unrestricted physician license or registration from a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
• At least one year of supervised clinical experience after the medical degree, such as an internship or the first year of an approved residency program.
• For appointment at the GP-15 level, at least five years of graduate training in the specialty of the position, or five years of equivalent experience and training.
• Demonstrated experience in departmental leadership, staff supervision, program management, bioethics consultation, fellowship training, and original bioethics research.
• U.S. citizenship, U.S. nationality, or allegiance to the United States is required; foreign nationals and lawful permanent residents are not eligible for consideration.

Benefits, location, and application

Salary is $169,279 to $350,000 per year, with pay determined under applicable Title 38 authorities based on the physician's experience and field of expertise. This is a permanent, full-time position at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. It is telework eligible as determined by agency policy, but it is not remote; relocation expenses and travel are not authorized. The position is designated emergency essential, is subject to on-call and/or callback, requires a background investigation and credentialing, and may require a pre-employment medical examination and a one- or two-year trial or probationary period. An Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report is required.

Applications must be submitted through USAJOBS. Applications will be accepted from December 1, 2026, through December 10, 2026, and the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. A completed application questionnaire is required. Your resume must be two pages or less and must clearly show how your skills and experience meet the qualifications; if it exceeds two pages, only the first two pages will be reviewed. The resume should include job title, employer, employment dates, hours worked per week, detailed duties and accomplishments, supervisory responsibilities, and series and grade or equivalent for federal positions. A cover letter, transcripts, and applicable certifications or licenses are encouraged. For application assistance, contact NIH HR Service Desk Branch E at [email protected].

The Department of Health and Human Services and the NIH are equal opportunity employers. Applicants should not include a photograph, video, or sensitive personal information in the resume or cover letter.

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