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Mathematical Statistician

Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Mathematical Statistician vacancies are located within multiple Offices in DOL, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS is the principal federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Mathematical Statisticians are primarily responsible for assuring the statistical integrity of BLS surveys.

These positions are inside the bargaining unit.
This announcement may be used to fill like additional positions.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
06/28/2019 to 07/12/2019
Salary
$69,581 to - $108,422 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
Washington, DC
2 vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and the supervisor’s recommendation to the next grade.
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
DH-19-BLS-OE-059
Control number
538045300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

These positions are being filled through Direct Hire Authority. Veteran’s preference does not apply. Positions will not be filled until the Department's Placement Assistance Programs have been fully utilized.

Duties

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The position is in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics (OEUS). OEUS produces timely, relevant, and accurate labor market information. OEUS programs measure, analyze, and disseminate national, State, and local information on the labor force, industry and occupational wages and employment, time use, job openings, and labor turnover.

At the full performance level (i.e. GS-12), the incumbent may perform the following duties as well as other duties as assigned:
 
-Contribute to major components of activities related to the development, implementation, and monitoring of statistical methodology for program surveys including survey design planning and evaluation, creation of sampling frames, sampling design and sample selection, estimation of indexes and their sample variances, statistical validation of survey results, and quality measurement and control.

-Responsibility for research and development tasks involving applied statistical methodology.

-Develop software to conduct statistical analyses and studies including the development of prototypes to facilitate development of statistical processing systems.  

-Conduct research and evaluation studies to address issues in survey design, estimation, variance estimation, and other statistical issues.

-Develop and implement a broad spectrum of sample and survey designs. Conduct research tasks necessary to measure and evaluate trade-offs between various sampling methods and sample allocation schemes.

-Conduct research and evaluation studies to develop methodology to estimate index measures to determine the accuracy and variance of output indexes.

-Prepare drafts of technical statements of statistical findings, evaluations, and recommendations regarding survey design and estimation processes.

-Develop, analyze, and evaluate procedures for quality improvement projects to provide for continuous improvement. 

-Develop requirements and specifications and perform acceptance testing for computer subsystems.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen and at least 16 years of age.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
  • A writing sample may be required at time of interview.

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements.  Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Candidates must meet one of the Mathematical Statistics Basic Requirements AND at least one of the Grade-level Requirements (i.e. GS-11 and/or GS-12). See the Required Documents section for submitting necessary proof.

I. Mathematical Statistics Basic Requirements:

One of the following (A or B):

A. Degree: that included 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, of which at least 12 semester hours were in mathematics and 6 semester hours were in statistics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- at least 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, including at least 12 hours in mathematics and 6 hours in statistics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

NOTE: Courses acceptable toward meeting the mathematics course requirement of A and B above must have included at least four of the following: differential calculus, integral calculus, advanced calculus, theory of equations, vector analysis, advanced algebra, linear algebra, mathematical logic, differential equations, or any other advanced course in mathematics for which one of these was a prerequisite. Courses in mathematical statistics or probability theory with a prerequisite of elementary calculus or more advanced courses will be accepted toward meeting the mathematics requirements, with the provision that the same course cannot be counted toward both the mathematics and the statistics requirement.

AND

II. Grade-level Requirements

Applicants must also meet at least one of the following three requirements for directly-related education, specialized experience, or a combination of directly-related education and specialized experience.

1) Education

GS-11

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree

GS-12

Education may not be substituted for experience at this grade level; see Specialized Experience for GS-12 listed below in #2.

OR

2) Specialized Experience: Each of the specialized experience described below must be in or related to the field of mathematics and statistics, and have included the application and/or research of mathematical and statistical concepts, theories, methods, and techniques. Specialized experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience may have been in an unpaid or paid status.

GS-11

Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in scope and responsibility to the next lower grade level (i.e. GS-09) in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as ANY of the following:

Processing and Estimation: Preparing data to include providing technical support (i.e. monitor and maintain specific aspects of) with statistical processes for weighting data and/or addressing sampling error or non-sampling error (i.e. non-response error or response error).

Sampling: Providing technical support in the process of deciding which persons or businesses to obtain or collect data from, and/or which statistical method(s) to use. Examples of experience indicators at this level include contributing to the modification of methods or techniques for either of the following two activities: (1) identification of the sampling unit and gathering and preparing sampling frames OR (2) selection of a sampling method to draw samples from a sample frame, such as, probability sampling e.g. probability sampling may include utilizing cluster, simple random, proportional to size, stratified, systematic, or a combination of sampling methods (i.e. multi-stage sampling).

Analysis: Preparing portions of technical papers that explain statistical requirements or statistical methods.

Evaluation: Contributing (dependently) to research on statistical topics. An example of an experience indicator at this level includes consulting with senior mathematical statisticians and/or project leaders to complete tasks of an investigation into statistical issues. Statistical topics may have included, but are not limited to the following: evaluating new sampling techniques, analyzing frame data, evaluating alternative estimators, evaluating alternative variance computation techniques, testing better approaches for obtaining survey data, evaluating non-response bias, evaluating seasonal adjustment procedures, evaluating imputation procedures, researching regression trees and estimators, OR statistical requirements/specifications for systems development and/or testing.

GS-12

Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in scope and responsibility to the next lower grade level (i.e. GS-11) in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as ANY of the following:

Processing and Estimation: Preparing data to include providing guidance (i.e. quality assurance for parts of the process) on statistical processes for weighting data and/or addressing sampling error or non-sampling error (i.e. non-response error or response error).

Sampling: Participating in the planning process for deciding which persons or businesses to obtain or collect data from, and/or which statistical method(s) to use. Examples of experience indicators at this level include contributing to the development of aspects of new methods or techniques for either of the following two activities: (1) identification of the sampling unit and gathering and preparing sampling frames OR (2) selection of a sampling method to draw samples from a sample frame, such as, probability sampling e.g. probability sampling may include utilizing cluster, simple random, proportional to size, stratified, systematic, or a combination of sampling methods (i.e. multi-stage sampling).

Analysis: Preparing methodological and/or technical papers that explain statistical findings or statistical evaluations.

Evaluation: Contributing (independently, through others, or strategically) to research on statistical topics. An example of an experience indicator at this level includes planning, coordinating, and executing tasks for statistical studies. Statistical topics may have included, but are not limited to the following: evaluating new sampling techniques, analyzing frame data, evaluating alternative estimators, evaluating alternative variance computation techniques, testing better approaches for obtaining survey data, evaluating non-response bias, evaluating seasonal adjustment procedures, evaluating imputation procedures, researching regression trees and estimators, OR statistical requirements/specifications for systems development and/or testing.

OR

3) Combination of Education and Specialized Experience as described below. 

GS-11

More than two years (but less than three) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree (or equivalent doctoral degree) and specialized experience as required for GS-11 (less than one year) that when combined totals one year.

GS-12

Education and experience may not be combined at this level; see Specialized Experience for GS-12 listed above in #2.

Education

Applicants MUST submit academic transcripts as proof of meeting the qualifying educational requirements. Because specific course work is required, applicants MUST submit transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit for that course work. See the Required Documents section for submitting necessary proof. Failure to submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate the educational requirements will result in an application being deemed incomplete and removal from further consideration.

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position.   Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION,  ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

How you will be evaluated

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

Under the authority of direct hire recruitment, evaluation factors are a tool to gauge one's proficiency in relevant competencies, but will not be used to determine who will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. All candidates who have provided a complete application, and meet the minimum qualifications will be referred for consideration. For Displaced Employees ONLY: if you meet the eligibility requirements for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. ICTAP/CTAP eligibles will be considered "well-qualified" if they attain a rating score of at least 85 in the numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 and 27 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP/CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

Evaluation Factors (Competencies)
 
-Decision Making/Problem Solving
-Interpersonal Skills
-Oral Communication
-Technology Application and Management
-Writing
-Sampling and Estimation
-Maintenance and Improvement of Statistical Output

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview).  Your evaluation may also include a review by an HR Specialist or panel and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc).  The examining Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings.  Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses.  If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.


To preview questions please click here.

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