Social Scientist PD16R015 - Bureau of Health Workforce

Duties

This position is 100% remote and the US location is negotiable after selection. The selected individual may work anywhere in the United States. Work sites outside of the U.S. are prohibited. Your salary will be based upon the locality pay of your work site after selection.

Major Duties

As a Social Scientist,you provide expertise in developing and conducting program and policy analyses to identify and understand the needs and preferences of HRSA programs and populations served.

Your major duties and responsibilities include:

• Utilizing appropriate market research and statistical techniques to identify ways to improve services to HRSA programs.
• Conducting analyses of survey data, including analyses of case mix adjustment of survey estimates.
• Designing, analyzing, implementing, and interpreting studies of research related to disease and therapy, which are scientifically defined.
• Interpreting data tabulations and graphs, identifying critical factors such as data limitations, revising or developing new methods as necessary to ensure optimum scientific research results with respect to data collection and analysis functions.
• Leading the development of clearly written and concise issue papers and talking points for senior staff.
• Representing HRSA at briefings and meetings regarding the justification and approval of specific public health projects.

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.
• PHS Commissioned Corps applicants must submit current personnel orders.
• This position has an education requirement - transcripts are required.
• A one year probationary period may be required.
• Position is in the Bargaining Unit.
• Recruitment incentives are not authorized.
• Student loan repayment incentive is not authorized.
• 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.)

Qualifications

THESE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE: 08/12/2022

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.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

OPM basic requirement for all Social Scientist 0101 series positions as stated below:

A. Education: A Bachelor's degree or higher in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR

C. Four (4) years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that, you have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. If qualifying based on experience, your resume must clearly demonstrate this level of expertise.

NOTE: A copy of your unofficial transcript (or foreign education equivalency) that verifies you meet the education requirement must be included in your application package by the closing date of the announcement. If meeting the basic requirement based in whole or in part on experience equivalent to a major as stated below, your resume must clearly demonstrate the periods of time (month/year). Copies of diplomas are not acceptable in lieu of transcripts as verification of the education requirement.

In addition to the education requirement above, in order to qualify for this position at the GS-13 level,your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year of minimum qualifying specialized 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:

• Using statistical software (i.e., SPSS, SAS, STATA, R, etc.) to handle large data set manipulations and analyses of scientific data.

AND

• Using a wide range of social science study design approaches to assess and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public health programs in meeting goals and objectives.

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.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS - Uses descriptive or inferential statistical methods to collect, explore and present large amounts of data to discover underlying patterns and trends.

SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE - Provides knowledge or conducts studies of a body of information based on empirical or theoretical processes and principles in relation to scientific laws, arranged and communicated by qualitative and quantitative descriptions, and based on observation and experimentation.

DATA GATHERING AND ANALYSIS - Seeks or collects and synthesizes information from a variety of stakeholders and sources in an objective, unbiased manner to reach a conclusion, goal, or judgement and to enable strategic decision-making.

SCIENTIFIC WRITING - Prepares written documentation to transfer scientific information about concepts, situations, products, services, or results to audiences with varying levels of scientific knowledge.

TO PREVIEW THE OCCUPATIONAL ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE, please click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11563797

Education

This position has an education requirement. 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 requirement. 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 .

Applications can be accepted from students who expect to complete qualifying education within 9 months from the date of application. However, agencies must verify that the education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed.

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.

Expanded/Maximum telework Posture :

• Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in a maximum telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to telework upon your appointment. As employees are permitted to return to the office, you may be required to report to the duty station listed on this announcement, even if your home/temporary telework site is located outside the local commuting area. Your position may be eligible for workplace flexibilities which may include remote work or telework options, and/or flexible work scheduling. These flexibilities may be requested in accordance with the HHS Workplace Flexibilities policy.

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: HRSA 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 .