Branch Chief Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Branch Chief roles sit at the intersection of technical expertise and organizational leadership, which qualifies them as specialty occupations under H-1B visa and E-3 visa standards. Employers in government contracting, federal agencies, and large nonprofits actively file LCAs for these positions, making sponsored hiring more common than many candidates expect.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The National Library of Medicine's Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications was congressionally authorized “for the improvement of communications necessary for health education, research, and practice.”
About the position
LHNCBC advances the use of clinical data for cutting edge biomedical research and development through the effective application of data science, computational sciences, and biomedical informatics in the diagnosis, prevention, and management of diseases and to promote health.
LHNCBC is comprised of an Office of the Director and two branches: the Applied Clinical Informatics Branch (ACIB) and the Scientific Computing Branch (SCB). The SCB Chief is an expert in computational science tasked with:
- Leading, managing, and overseeing the strategic development and deployment of scientific computing resources and efforts in LHNCBC;
- Serving as the senior scientific computing advisor to the LHNCBC Director; and
- Directly performing biomedical product assessment and research related to algorithms, tools, systems, biomedical and clinical datasets, and other scientific computing methods for the use of datasets and development of analytical tools and methods (e.g., artificial intelligence or informatics).
The SCB Chief will lead the design and development of scientific computing tools and next generation enterprise computational infrastructure to enable applied clinical informatics research and development.
The SCB Chief will be appointed to a position in the Senior Biomedical Research and Biomedical Product Assessment Service (SBRBPAS) and will lead a team of approximately 15 federal and contract staff and manage a budget of approximately $5 million. The SCB Chief serves as a leader within LHNCBC and works in coordination with the LHNCBC Office of the Director and Applied Clinical Informatics Branch (ACIB) and key NLM and NIH offices and centers on biomedical product assessment, biomedical informatics, data science, computer science, artificial intelligence, and other relevant scientific disciplines to leverage the power of clinical data to enable and drive LHNCBC applied clinical informatics research and development activities to accelerate scientific discovery and health.
What you'll need to apply
Interested candidates should email a complete application package* consisting of:
- A cover letter including a description of experience and expertise
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume *Candidates must indicate their citizenship status on either their resume or cover letter.
Note: Three letters of reference and transcripts will be required if a candidate is selected.
Contact name
Nikeia Miller
Contact email
millernik@nih.gov
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have knowledge and experience in biomedical product assessment, clinical informatics, computer science, and data science. The candidate must also possess broad scientific knowledge to comprehend LHNCBC applied research and development activities. In addition to direct involvement in data science research and development, and biomedical product assessment, the SCB Chief is a member of the LHNCBC leadership team. The subject position will also have a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of clinical informatics resource and tool creation and sustainability.
Specifically, the SCB Chief’s duties are as follows:
- Advising the LHNCBC Director, Deputy Director, and leadership team broadly on delivery systems of products, services, processes, and technologies to advance the LHNCBC mission.
- Assessing LHNCBC scientific computational needs and outline and drive analytical tool development and assessment, computational analysis, and data management practices that enable the LHNCBC’s mission and activities.
- Coordinating with LHNCBC staff regarding the strategic, scientific, and technological considerations in applied clinical informatics research and development.
- Outlining priorities for technology and innovation to integrate AI and other computational tools and techniques with LHNCBC applied clinical informatics research and development activities.
- Monitoring and informing on the ever-changing scientific advances in computing.
- Directing all SCB activities, programs and staff as well as performing supervisory duties including mentoring staff, managing the budget, and conducting staff performance evaluations and training.
- Identifying and leading applied research and development activities to tackle complex scientific computing challenges to derive innovative, generalizable solutions resulting in more efficient, cost-effective and better-performing methods, algorithms or analytic approaches.
- Applying biomedical research and product assessment methodologies to support improvement in the capacity, quality and efficiency of scientific computing resources to support LHNCBC mission and activities.
- In collaboration with ACIB staff, identifying computational needs and propose the most effective and innovative approaches to enhance applied clinical informatics research and development capabilities.
INTRODUCTION
The National Library of Medicine's Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications was congressionally authorized “for the improvement of communications necessary for health education, research, and practice.”
About the position
LHNCBC advances the use of clinical data for cutting edge biomedical research and development through the effective application of data science, computational sciences, and biomedical informatics in the diagnosis, prevention, and management of diseases and to promote health.
LHNCBC is comprised of an Office of the Director and two branches: the Applied Clinical Informatics Branch (ACIB) and the Scientific Computing Branch (SCB). The SCB Chief is an expert in computational science tasked with:
- Leading, managing, and overseeing the strategic development and deployment of scientific computing resources and efforts in LHNCBC;
- Serving as the senior scientific computing advisor to the LHNCBC Director; and
- Directly performing biomedical product assessment and research related to algorithms, tools, systems, biomedical and clinical datasets, and other scientific computing methods for the use of datasets and development of analytical tools and methods (e.g., artificial intelligence or informatics).
The SCB Chief will lead the design and development of scientific computing tools and next generation enterprise computational infrastructure to enable applied clinical informatics research and development.
The SCB Chief will be appointed to a position in the Senior Biomedical Research and Biomedical Product Assessment Service (SBRBPAS) and will lead a team of approximately 15 federal and contract staff and manage a budget of approximately $5 million. The SCB Chief serves as a leader within LHNCBC and works in coordination with the LHNCBC Office of the Director and Applied Clinical Informatics Branch (ACIB) and key NLM and NIH offices and centers on biomedical product assessment, biomedical informatics, data science, computer science, artificial intelligence, and other relevant scientific disciplines to leverage the power of clinical data to enable and drive LHNCBC applied clinical informatics research and development activities to accelerate scientific discovery and health.
What you'll need to apply
Interested candidates should email a complete application package* consisting of:
- A cover letter including a description of experience and expertise
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume *Candidates must indicate their citizenship status on either their resume or cover letter.
Note: Three letters of reference and transcripts will be required if a candidate is selected.
Contact name
Nikeia Miller
Contact email
millernik@nih.gov
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have knowledge and experience in biomedical product assessment, clinical informatics, computer science, and data science. The candidate must also possess broad scientific knowledge to comprehend LHNCBC applied research and development activities. In addition to direct involvement in data science research and development, and biomedical product assessment, the SCB Chief is a member of the LHNCBC leadership team. The subject position will also have a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of clinical informatics resource and tool creation and sustainability.
Specifically, the SCB Chief’s duties are as follows:
- Advising the LHNCBC Director, Deputy Director, and leadership team broadly on delivery systems of products, services, processes, and technologies to advance the LHNCBC mission.
- Assessing LHNCBC scientific computational needs and outline and drive analytical tool development and assessment, computational analysis, and data management practices that enable the LHNCBC’s mission and activities.
- Coordinating with LHNCBC staff regarding the strategic, scientific, and technological considerations in applied clinical informatics research and development.
- Outlining priorities for technology and innovation to integrate AI and other computational tools and techniques with LHNCBC applied clinical informatics research and development activities.
- Monitoring and informing on the ever-changing scientific advances in computing.
- Directing all SCB activities, programs and staff as well as performing supervisory duties including mentoring staff, managing the budget, and conducting staff performance evaluations and training.
- Identifying and leading applied research and development activities to tackle complex scientific computing challenges to derive innovative, generalizable solutions resulting in more efficient, cost-effective and better-performing methods, algorithms or analytic approaches.
- Applying biomedical research and product assessment methodologies to support improvement in the capacity, quality and efficiency of scientific computing resources to support LHNCBC mission and activities.
- In collaboration with ACIB staff, identifying computational needs and propose the most effective and innovative approaches to enhance applied clinical informatics research and development capabilities.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Branch Chief Jobs
Frame your credentials around specialty occupation
Branch Chief roles must meet USCIS's specialty occupation standard, so your resume and degree transcripts need to show a direct connection between your field of study and the management or technical domain you'll oversee. A generic leadership narrative won't satisfy an RFE.
Target federal contractors and agency subcontractors
Federal contractors and civilian agency subcontractors file LCAs for Branch Chief positions far more consistently than private-sector employers. Search Migrate Mate to surface employers with verified H-1B or E-3 LCA filing history specifically for senior program and operations roles.
Verify the prevailing wage tier before negotiating
Branch Chief roles typically land at DOL wage Level III or IV. Run your location and specialty area through OFLC Wage Search before entering salary discussions so you know the certified floor your employer must meet on the LCA.
Check whether your employer is cap-exempt
Universities, government research labs, and nonprofit affiliates of higher-education institutions are cap-exempt H-1B employers. If you're targeting a Branch Chief role at one of these organizations, you can be sponsored outside the annual lottery cycle with no registration deadline constraint.
Anticipate a PERM labor certification for EB-2 or EB-3 sponsorship
If your employer is willing to pursue a green card, Branch Chief roles generally qualify under EB-2 for candidates with advanced degrees. PERM labor certification requires the employer to run a recruitment audit through DOL, so raise this timeline with HR before accepting an offer.
Align your O*NET profile to the job description
USCIS adjudicators cross-reference petitions against O*NET to validate specialty occupation claims. Pull the O*NET profile for your target Branch Chief classification and confirm that the posted job duties, required degree, and your background all align before your employer drafts the I-129.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Branch Chief role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS evaluates whether the position normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. Branch Chief roles that require a degree in public administration, engineering, information systems, or a similarly defined discipline consistently meet the specialty occupation standard. Roles framed purely as general management with no specific degree requirement are more vulnerable to an RFE.
Which visa types are realistic for a sponsored Branch Chief position?
H-1B is the most common path for employer-sponsored Branch Chief roles, covering a three-year initial period extendable to six. Australian nationals can use the E-3, which carries a 10,500 annual cap that has never been exhausted and renews in two-year increments. TN visa status is available to Canadian and Mexican nationals if the role maps to a qualifying USMCA profession such as engineer or scientist, but Branch Chief positions framed as general management typically don't qualify under TN.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor Branch Chiefs?
Search Migrate Mate, which lists employers with verified LCA filing history for senior leadership and program management roles. This shows you which organizations have already navigated the sponsorship process for comparable positions, saving you from cold-applying to employers who've never filed for a role at this level.
Will my employer need to file a Labor Condition Application before I can start?
Yes, for H-1B, E-3, and H-1B1 visa sponsorship the employer must file a certified LCA with DOL before submitting the I-129 petition to USCIS. The LCA certifies the offered wage meets the prevailing wage for Branch Chief roles in your work location and that hiring you won't adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers. DOL typically certifies LCAs within seven working days of submission.
Does a three-year Australian bachelor's degree satisfy the degree requirement for a Branch Chief H-1B or E-3?
Generally yes. USCIS accepts three-year Australian bachelor's degrees as equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor's degree for specialty occupation purposes, particularly when combined with relevant post-degree experience. A credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization can formalize the equivalency and reduce the risk of USCIS questioning the degree's adequacy during adjudication.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Branch Chief jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.