Social Science Analyst PD 22E022 - Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

Duties

This position is 100% remote. The location is negotiable after selection. Selected individuals may work anywhere in the United States. Work sites outside of the continental U.S. are prohibited.

Your salary will be based upon the locality pay of your work site after selection.

Examples of Locality Pay Rate based on the selectee's location:

• NEW YORK-NEWARK, NY-NJ-CT-PA (GS-13 Salary Range is $109,690 - $142,595)
• ATLANTA--ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY--SANDY SPRINGS, GA-AL (GS-13 Salary Range is $99,595 - $129,472)
• DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX-OK (GS-13 Salary Range is $102,072 - $132,692)
• KANSAS CITY-OVERLAND PARK-KANSAS CITY, MO-KS (GS-13 Salary Range is $95,567 - $124,235)
• SAN JOSE-SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND, CA (GS-13 Salary Range is $115,928 - $150,703)

To view the salary range including locality pay for U.S. locations, refer to the 2022 OPM Salary Tables .

As a Social Science Analyst, you will serve as a technical expert in survey science, psychometric analysis, performance measurement, evaluation, data driven quality improvement, and other related topics. You will also conduct and contribute to program research and policy analyses related to both the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Program (CAHPS) and the Surveys on Patient Safety Culture Program (SOPS).

Your major duties and responsibilities may include:

• Overseeing contractors on tasks such as survey, quality measurement, tool development, research, as well as other project management tasks, which may include managing budgets, meeting agenda development, and schedules among other duties.
• Monitoring contractors to ensure successful completion of project tasks.
• Conducting healthcare services research and analyses.
• Writing, editing and publishing study findings.
• Promoting and disseminating the projects findings to ensure the evidence is understood and applied in healthcare settings.

NOTE: Do not cut and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U. S. Citizenship is required.
• Males ages 18 through 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of the pre-appointment process (i.e., background investigation, verification of qualifications and job requirements, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, etc.)
• PHS Commissioned Corps applicants must submit current personnel orders.
• This position has an education requirement - transcripts are required if you wish to be considered based on education.
• A one year probationary period may be required.
• Position is not in the Bargaining Unit.
• Drug Screening is not required.
• Recruitment incentives are not authorized.
• Student loan repayment incentive is not authorized.

Qualifications

THESE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE: 08/09/2022

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

OPM INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCE SERIES, 0101
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION: To qualify for this position, you must have a degree in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR
EXPERIENCE: You must have four (4) years of appropriate experience that demonstrates that you have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social science sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: You must have a combination of education and experience that demonstrates that you have the knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

You must provide a copy of your unofficial transcripts that verify that you meet this education requirement by the closing date of this announcement. A copy of a diploma is not acceptable as verification.

In addition to meeting the OPM requirements above, to qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year of the minimum qualifying experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-12 level in the federal service.

MINIMUM QUALIFYING SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, an applicant's one full year of specialized experience must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for successful job performance.

Examples of the minimum qualifying experience equal to the GS-12 level include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis:

• Utilizing a wide range of social science study design approaches (e.g., questionnaire development, validation of social science surveys) to conduct research analyses or develop quality improvement tools; AND
• Identifying and addressing process issues related to project management or research practices to ensure that corrective or recommended process updates are effectively implemented.

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; community; student; social). If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

Applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate the required minimum qualifying specialized experience will be evaluated based on the occupational assessment competencies listed below. A COMPETENCY is defined as a measurable pattern of knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, and other characteristics that an individual needs to perform work roles or occupational functions.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

PROJECT MANAGEMENT - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools of developing scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance. REASEARCH AND EVALUATION - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and reporting results. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS - Uses descriptive or inferential statistical methods to collect explore and present large amounts of data to discover underlying patters and trends. TECHNICAL WRITING - Prepares written documentation to transfer technical information about concepts, situations, products, services, or results to audiences with varying levels of technical knowledge.

To preview the occupational assessment questionnaire, please click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11565850

Education

If you qualify on the basis of education in lieu of experience, you must submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades) to document that you have met the education. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required prior to your starting work.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov .

Additional information

Vaccine Update:

• Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

HHS is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences.

Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees . Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.

E-Verify: AHRQ participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their social security numbers.

Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Creditable Service: A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for annual leave for prior work experience directly related to the duties of the position being filled. The use of this service credit is at the discretion of the selecting official and must be finalized prior to selectee's entrance on duty. For more information, please click here .

Financial Disclosure: This position requires you to file a public or confidential financial disclosure report prior to receiving a final offer letter as well as within 30 days of your appointment. This will require you to report information such as recent sources of income, financial interests you hold, and outside activities you participate in, as well as similar information from a spouse or any dependent children. If you have questions, please contact AskHR@hrsa.gov .