This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/479226400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
If selected for this position, you will serve as an agency technical advisor covering a wide range of statistical methodology and software applications and as such is responsible for technical leadership for research and development work related to statistical methodology including research on sampling, estimation, statistical models, remote sensing, crop conditioning modeling, yield forecasting, automated area frame stratification, geospatial statistics, and geographic information systems (GIS) analytics.
Relocation Expenses will be authorized.
The incumbent in this position may be reassigned to another Headquarters Unit in Washington, D.C., a NASS Regional Field Office, NASS State Field Office or the National Operations Division, contingent on the needs of the Agency.
09/13/2017 to 09/27/2017
$112,021 - $145,629 per year
GS 14
1 vacancy in the following location:
Occasional travel - May travel 10%
Yes—Expenses subject to Federal Travel Regulations and NASS policies.
Permanent
Full-Time
14
Yes
NASS-M17N-0038
479226400
MAJOR DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Participates fully with the Division Director in planning, formulating, developing, and implementing research programs within the specific areas of responsibility. Plans, initiates, conducts and directs non-sampling error research to evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's operational census and survey programs and to develop new methods. Utilizes cognitive interviewing techniques to develop efficient data collection instruments.
Recommends methods and techniques of data display and dissemination to improve interpretation and use of NASS statistics and data. Maintains close liaison and coordination of the development of study projects of the Section with other Divisions of NASS and Field Offices as well as appropriate industry groups and professional associations. Acts as Agency representative at technical interagency meetings within the Department and other government agencies. Maintains contacts with professional associations, other statisticians, survey methodologists and others concerned with the use of advanced statistical methodology and keeps abreast of new developments in survey methodology and related disciplines.
Provides technical and administrative supervision. Is responsible for making and approving selections for non-supervisory positions and recommending selections for subordinate supervisory jobs, assigning duties, and reviewing work. Evaluates the performance of subordinates, including Quarterly, Mid-Year, and Final Evaluations and Rating. The employee is responsible for leadership in and compliance with all Equal Opportunity policies and procedures as they relate to the Federal Government.
A one year probationary period may be required.
Time in grade:
Applicants must meet one year at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade. (e.g. one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level.)
In order to be found minimally qualified, you must meet both the following education requirement AND the specialized experience requirement.
Basic Education Requirement
A degree that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology, etc.
OR
A combination of education and experience that included the courses shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.
AND
Specialized Experience:
Qualifying experience for the GS-14 level includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-13 grade level which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience independently planning and conducting statistical studies or investigations in establishment survey settings and interpreting and analyzing experimental data.
For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-admin.asp
If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit http://www.naces.org/members.htm. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need to meet minimum qualifications to be referred.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.
Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply Online" button to the right.
The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
• Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor’s phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
• Current and former Federal employees:
o Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
o Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
• Current permanent FSA County employees must submit your most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action, (SF-50 or equivalent) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
• Veteran Hiring Authorities: VEOA, VRA and 30% Disabled Veterans: DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran’s preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran’s preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
• If claiming 10-point veteran’s preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on veterans’ preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/
• Copies of Notification of Personnel Action(s) (SF-50) showing the employee served in eligible appointment(s) for a period(s) of more than 24 mo. w/o a break between appointments of two+ years. Include initial hire actions, extensions, conversions and separation SF-50s for each period. Submit performance rating(s) showing acceptable performance for each period counted towards eligibility signed by supervisor(s). If documentation does not exist for one or more periods, submit a statement from supervisor(s) indicating acceptable performance. Applicants who do not have performance documentation for any period shall provide a reason why the documentation is not available and statement that performance for all periods was at an acceptable level.
• Schedule A, Persons with Disabilities Appointment: Letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u). http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text- idx?
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
• Other Special Hiring Authority: If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority not listed above, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/hiring-authorities
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.
Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.
To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.
NOTE: You must verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the Agency's staffing system. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g., all SF-50s) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.
Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account at https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login to check your application status. We expect to make a final job offer approximately 40 days after the deadline for applications.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/479226400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is the data collection and dissemination arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NASS gathers and publishes a vast array of information on every facet of U.S. agriculture, including production, economics, demographics, and the environment.