Duties

Summary

This position is located with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement, Division of Healthcare Delivery and Systems Research. The duty location for this position is in Rockville, MD.

For more information about AHRQ, click the "Learn more about the Agency" Box.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

MAJOR DUTIES:

As a Staff Fellow (Social Scientist), you will serve as a technical expert working primarily with AHRQ's Patient Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) dissemination work.

Your duties will include the following:

• Providing technical expertise and direction, directly and through managing contracts and grants, on projects relating to the form and function of health care markets and systems and its impact on the update of new PCOR findings.
• Serving as a subject matter expert on multi-disciplinary teams to implement evidence-based clinical interventions in health systems and practices.
• Coordinating technical expert panels related to system-level implementation.
• Developing executive summaries and updates of research projects;
• Planning, conducting, and assisting with dissemination activities related to new developments and findings on health care systems, as it pertains to PCOR dissemination.

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.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

1. 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. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security re-investigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.

2. E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify participant.

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

4. All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 PM (EST) on 06/10/2021.

5. Financial disclosure statement is required.

6. One-year or two year trial period may be required.

7. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses may be paid: NO

8. Bargaining Unit Position: NO

9. Recruitment incentives may be authorized: NO

10. Student loan repayment incentive may be authorized: NO

11. Annual leave for non-federal service may be authorized: NO

Qualifications

THESE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE: 06/10/2021

The basic requirement for all Social Scientist 0101 series positions are:
NOTE: 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.

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: Have four years of appropriate experiencethat demonstrated that you have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: Have a combination of education and 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.

Additional Qualification Requirements:

In addition to the basic requirement, a Ph.D. or other earned doctorate is required plus four (4) years appropriate post-doctoral medical, health, research experience. (Career civil service equivalent GS-13)

Documenting Experience: In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above.

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.

To preview the occupational assessment questionnaire, please click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11105620

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

This is an Excepted Service position under Title 42. Applications will be accepted from all groups of qualified persons (i.e., U.S. Citizens and U.S. Permanent Residents). No previous federal experience is required. This appointment does not confer any entitlement to conversion to a position in the competitive service.

Reasonable Accommodation: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please see Agency Contact Information for whom to contact for more info. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. You must contact the HR contact on the vacancy announcement at least three business days before the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance.

Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450 form) is required. The Ethics Reform Act of 1989, Executive Order 12674, and 5 C.F.R. Part 2634, Subpart I, require individuals who are assigned to certain designated positions in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government, to file an annual Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450 Form). Please be advised that you will receive an OGE-450 form and it is required that you complete and return this form. A formal official job offer cannot be extended until you have submitted this form and been cleared by AHRQ's ethics officials. As an AHRQ employee, you will also be required to file an annual Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450). In addition, you may be required to: (1) divest of certain financial interests, or (2) maintain certain financial interests below the de minimis levels of: (1) $15,000 (individual stock) and (2) $50,000 (stocks or sector-specific mutual/exchange traded fund combined). 5 C.F.R. 2640.202

Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Selective Service: The Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that all male applicants born after 12/31/59 who are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, be registered or they are not eligible for appointment to this position. For further information concerning Selective Service requirements, please visit http://www.sss.gov/.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in the vacancy announcement may result in your ineligibility for this position.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

Resume.

College transcripts. Copies of transcripts are acceptable, however, originals will be required before entrance on duty.

Brief statement of research interests and accomplishments.

Three references.

Your Resume must clearly articulate how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the qualifications section of this announcement. For each position you must describe your duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities. Your resume must also include the day, month, and year that you began and ended for each position held. Full-time employment will be assumed unless otherwise stated on your resume. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. For resume writing guidance, please visit the USAJobs Resource Center or view their video tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk .

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.