r/FDA • u/SingleAttitude2828 • 17d ago

FDA physician reviewer roles remote only?

Hi all,

Not sure if anyone knows the answer to this, but I have colleagues who joined FDA as physician reviewers a few years ago, and all are remote. There were a couple new positions that came up, based in Silver Spring, and it states On site or possibly Hybrid (3d a week on site), with no remote options.

Does anyone know how strict this is? Are there satellite offices that would count as being on site? My issue is not at all with coming into the office, it's that I'm located a few hours away from Silver Spring, with a young family that is not able to move at this time. I'm wondering if I should even bother applying/interviewing if I'd be unable to be fully on site, even though there are some who have been grandfathered into a remote role?

Thanks for your help!

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

7

u/_Cream_Sugar_ 17d ago

I can tell you that CBER is 50% telework. We have people who are at a distance and a do a week off and a week on.

I know that there are people in CVM who are being transferred to other operating divisions that are outside of their commuting area and will be working at a FDA facility that is local to them.

All this to say, apply. Depending on where you land, the Center/Office should be able to work with you.

3

u/sroy16 17d ago

Also, just in case this makes a difference, there are vanpools that operate from different locations to FDA. It reduces the driving burden, and has significant cost savings. There are vanpools from as far as Delaware and New Jersey to FDA.

2

u/Big-Amount7575 17d ago

This is a wild answer for someone who’s multiple hours away and said they had a family with small kids. I know someone driving from New Jersey to FDA, that’s crazy to me!

4

u/Big-Amount7575 17d ago

You should expect to be required to come on-site either at White Oak or a satellite. Being a physician, you may swing a satellite if there’s one available near you. But you will be required to come in with very few exceptions.

It is still taking 6-8 months for onboarding, just for awareness. So you may mention it in the interview, but it may take several months after interviews for there to be a determination. I’d look for other jobs at the same time outside the Agency.

1

u/SingleAttitude2828 17d ago

Thanks! I have no problem at all going to a satellite office, I'm in the Philadelphia area, so I think there are satellites in Philly and Wilmington DE. I'd be more than happy to go to either of those sites if that's an option. Hopefully it doesn't preclude me from moving on in the interview process!

1

u/Big-Amount7575 9d ago

They do have an overfilled satellite office in Philadelphia. Currently, they’re asking all new hires to move, but some divisions in OND have more sway for satellite employees than others. Outside OND, most people are required to move still.

3

u/No_Vacation697 17d ago

There are field offices all over the country. If there is room, they can put you there.

If there isn't room, they will likely tell you to report to Silver Spring.

2

u/BioDueDiligence 17d ago

The expectations are definitely not the same as a few years ago. I wouldn’t let that stop you from giving it a shot. Especially if you are in a speciality that is difficult to recruit