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SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL RESEARCH PSYCHOLOGIST

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Office of Human Resources Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Enterprise Services, Office of Human Resources Management, Planning, Program Analysis, and Evaluation Directorate, Personnel Research and Assessment Division, located in Washington, DC.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
05/07/2019 to 05/17/2019
Salary
$117,191 to - $152,352 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
HRM-SMP-10493306-JPH
Control number
532745300

This job is open to

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Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Individuals with disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Family of overseas employees

Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.

Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.

Special authorities

Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed in another hiring path.

Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees with competitive status; Current and former Federal employees who meet the established criteria in an Office of Personnel Management Interchange Agreement; Current and former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; Individuals who are eligible under Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA); Individuals who are eligible under a noncompetitive special hiring authority

Duties

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Joining Customs & Border Protection (CBP) will allow you to use your expertise in competency-based assessment, evaluation, and organizational development to support building and sustaining a mission-ready workforce within CBP. This position starts at a salary of $117,191.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $152,352.00 (GS-14, Step 10) with promotion potential to $152,352 (GS-14 Step 10). Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen Homeland Security by conducting research, job analysis, and developing new innovative approaches, methods, techniques, and hypothesis to resolve critical human capital issues.

In this Supervisory Personnel Research Specialist position you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals involved in directing a team of professional, highly technical employees, with advanced degrees in industrial/organizational psychology and human capital business administration, responsible for conducting job analysis and applying knowledge base and scientific methods of psychology to critical human capital issues such as talent acquisition, succession planning, retention, employee motivation, and occupational skill gaps. Typical work assignments include:

  • Serving as the first-line supervisor of a team responsible for major research, development, and implementation projects within the Personnel Research and Assessment Division;
  • Developing and validating a variety of selection tests and assessments and responsible for reviewing, training, and guiding project team members concerning the proper use of tests and other examining devices for personnel selection;
  • Formulating and guiding the research approach to be used to resolve critical management problems and developing new approaches, methods, techniques, and hypothesis related to assigned projects;
  • Proving formal and informal scientific consultation and advice to supervisors, researchers, program officials, and others in the professional community; and
  • Overseeing the development of evaluative tools and surveys to support organizational effectiveness within CBP and establishing deadlines and performance expectations, setting priorities, providing clear direction, and monitoring activities of the team to ensure timely completion of assignments.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
  • Primary U.S. residency for the last three years (additional details below)
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph
  • Upon appointment, you may be required to undergo random drug testing

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study (or equivalent) in psychology.

You qualify for this position if you meet the basic requirement listed above and possess one year of specialized experience as described below.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Leading a team in conducting job analysis and test development in accordance with regulatory and statutory guidelines governing the field of employee selection testing to include the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures;
  • Leading others in applying research techniques and measurement theories, principles, and practices to develop tools such as surveys or other assessments to meet organizational needs;
  • Utilizing a major statistical analysis package such as Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) or Statistical Analysis System (SAS) to conduct statistical analyses; and
  • Conducting research and development requiring a high degree of insight and originality which contributes to the field of industrial/organizational psychology or equivalent applied research field.
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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must:
  • Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
  • Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 05/17/2019.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. . For more information visit this link.

Residency: If you are not currently a CBP employee, you must meet one or more of the following primary residency criteria for at least three years prior to applying to this announcement:
  1. Resided in the United States or its protectorate or territories (excluding short trips abroad, such as vacations);
  2. Worked for the United States government as an employee overseas in a federal or military capacity; or
  3. Been a dependent of a United States federal or military employee serving overseas.
Exceptions may be granted if you provide complete state-side coverage information regarding participation in "Study Abroad" programs, overseas church missions, or state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with you overseas. You must provide information and related documentation at the time of application.

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal Government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. Information about ICTAP or CTAP eligibility can be found here. You must submit the supporting documents listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. In addition, to be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities and/or competencies clearly exceeding the minimum requirements of the position. This will be measured by a score of 85 or higher.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Telework: Telework may be available on a regular recurring or situational basis.

Special Appointing Authority: Veterans, military spouses, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and people with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility and to understand what documentation would be required with your application, please click on the appropriate link below. You must provide documentation supporting your eligibility prior to the closing date of this announcement. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact the CBP Hiring Center via the contact information listed at the end of this job opportunity announcement.


CBP uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.

Every individual receives a fair opportunity throughout the federal recruitment and hiring process. Learn more here.

Follow U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Twitter @CustomsBorder

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim (and provide supporting documentation) based on the responses provided in the job questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10493306

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an online self-assessment questionnaire based on the competencies and/or knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below. You will receive a score ranging from 70-100 based on your responses. Your entire application package will then be reviewed. The final determination will be based on all the information provided in your application package.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the job questionnaire, see https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10493306

If you are among the best-qualified applicants referred for selection consideration, you may be required to complete an assessment of your writing skills.

  • If you have taken the Writing Skills Assessment(s) within the past twelve months, you are not eligible to retake the assessment - existing scores will be used.
  • If you took the assessment(s) more than twelve months ago, you may retake the assessment(s). When you opt to re-take the assessment(s), your MOST RECENT score will be used.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics (KSAOs): Candidates who meet the minimum qualification requirements are required to possess certain Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, or Other Characteristics (KSAOs) to successfully perform the functions of this position. Candidates will be asked to demonstrate their attainment of these KSAOs in their resume. The KSAOs are:
  • Ability to plan surveys to assess job skills, knowledge, abilities, and other characteristics of incumbents in various occupations;
  • Knowledge of all phases of the research process, including problem definition, planning, execution, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results; and
  • Skill in both written and oral communication.

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