Duties

Summary

This position is located in the National Center for Education Research (NCER) of the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Institute of Education Sciences (IES).

The Research Centers, including the NCER and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER), support research focused on practices and policies that improve education outcomes and access to education opportunities for all learners from early childhood through adulthood.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As an Education Research Analyst, GS-1730-12/13, you will:
• Develop and manage research grant programs on topics related to education, including providing technical assistance to applicants and grantees on appropriate research methodologies.
• Contribute to and provide support for activities and projects of the National Center for Education Research (NCER), such as presenting information on NCER grants and funding opportunities, as well as preparing reports which summarize findings and results from NCER research and evaluation activities.
• Collaborate in the conceptualization, organization, and management of meetings of researchers and practitioners within specific areas of education or research methods. Prepare high-quality written products for planning and summarizing these professional meetings.

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 50 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 50th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Minimum of once a year.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13 - If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you may be non-competitively promoted if you perform successfully and if recommended by management.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Relocation Expenses will not be paid.
• You may be required to complete a One-year Probationary Period.
• Must complete a Background Investigation and fingerprint check.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements (All Grades):This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience. In order to be found minimally qualified, you MUST meet the following requirements:


A. Degree: that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least one course was in research methods and at least two courses were in statistics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, including at least one course in research methods and two courses in statistics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience must have demonstrated (1) a thorough knowledge of the principles underlying the work of this series, and (2) understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the methods and techniques applied in performing work in this series.

AND

Minimum Qualification Requirements (GS-12):
You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-12 if you possess:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position (see description below).

Specialized Experience for the GS-12:
One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 performing all three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

Experience using research methodologies, including design and analysis of cluster randomized trails, small-scale experimental research, and non-experimental research.

Experience developing and managing projects in topics related to education research (e.g., research reports, proposal reviews) that resulted in high quality products.

Experience with education research methods and critical issues in the education sciences.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

Professional knowledge of research and critical issues in education.

Professional knowledge of advanced research methodologies, including designing and implementing cluster randomized trials and conducting advanced statistical analyses (e.g., structural equation modeling, multi-level modeling, growth curve analyses).

Skills in developing and managing projects to produce high quality work and meet project deadlines, writing summaries of research projects, and reviewing education research reports and research proposals.

Demonstrated communication skills, both in oral and written formats.

Minimum Qualification Requirements (GS-13):
You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-13 if you possess:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position (see description below).

Specialized Experience for the GS-13:
One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 performing all three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

Experience using research methodologies, including design and analysis of cluster randomized trails, small-scale experimental research, and non-experimental research.

Experience leading, developing and managing projects in topics related to education research (e.g., research reports, proposal reviews) that resulted in high quality products.

Experience with education research methods and critical issues in the education sciences.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

Comprehensive knowledge of research and critical issues in education.

Professional knowledge of advanced research methodologies, including designing and implementing experimental studies, using between-subject designs, within-subjects designs, and cluster randomized trials, and conducting advanced statistical analyses (e.g., structural equation modeling, multi-level modeling, growth curve analyses).

Skills in leading the development and management of projects to produce high quality work and meet project deadlines, writing summaries of research projects, and reviewing education research reports and research proposals.

Demonstrated communication skills, both in oral and written formats.

Education

Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.

Additional information

Veterans' Career Counseling: If you are a veteran interested in receiving tips on preparing a Federal resume and/or how to prepare for an interview, you may email Iwork@ed.gov to schedule a session with a career counselor ("Veterans Counseling Session" should be placed in the subject line of the email).

Student Loan Default: If selected for this position, we will verify that you have not defaulted on any loan funded or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are found to be in default, we will contact you to make arrangements for repayment prior to making an official offer of employment.

Suitability and Investigation: If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check.

Financial Disclosure: This position does not require a financial disclosure.

Telework: This position is telework eligible.

Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized. We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days from the date the selection certificates are issued, should vacancies occur. We may also share selection certificates amongst program offices across the agency.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants:

1. Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications
Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your submitted resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors. You will be rated as ineligible if you do not meet U.S. Citizenship requirements or your application is missing any required documents. You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements.

2. Rating and Ranking
If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. (The occupational questionnaire is the list of questions in the automated system that you will have an opportunity to answer once you apply for the position).

Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you will be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.

If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference eligibles will be ranked ahead of qualified non-preference eligibles within each category for which they are qualified. Qualified veterans' preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more (CPS and CP) will be placed at the top of the Best Qualified category, except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

3. Referral and Selection
If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

You must submit (REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS):
• A resume demonstrating your education, experience, training, and accomplishments as it relates to the qualifications for this position and substantiating your responses to the occupational questionnaire.
• Transcripts showing course titles, number of credits, and dates of completion. You may submit unofficial transcripts as part of your application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to appointment.

If you are claiming Veterans' Preference, you must submit:
• A copy of your DD-214 that shows active service and character of discharge, member copy 4 (Separated Members only); OR
• A certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days from the date of application (Current Active Duty Members only); AND/OR
• The Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (SF-15) AND all documents indicated on the form as proof of type of preference; AND/OR
• Proof of Sole Survivorship Preference (e.g., certificate of death or 100% disability as a result of serving in the armed forces).

If you are claiming selection priority under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), please visit:
CTAP: http://www.ed.gov/about/jobs/open/edhires/ctap.html
ICTAP: http://www.ed.gov/about/jobs/open/edhires/ictap.html

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.