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Lead Social Scientist - Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration
Maternal and Child Health Bureau / Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems. The duty location for this position is Rockville, MD.

**Applicants please note: Additional selections may be made across the Department of Health and Human Services through this vacancy announcement.**

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/02/2020 to 07/17/2020
Salary
$121,316 to - $157,709 per year

Salary range listed includes locality pay.

Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
Rockville, MD
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Expected travel may be up to 25% for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
HRSA-MCHB-20-DE-10852987
Control number
572206400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is also open to PHS Commissioned Corps Officers. PHS Commissioned Corps (CC) Officers will be referred as CC personnel and not as a candidate for conversion to a permanent federal appointment.

Duties

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Major Duties

As a Lead Social Scientist Analyst,you provide expertise in developing and conducting program and policy analyses to identify and understand the needs and preferences of MCHB programs and populations served.
Your major duties and responsibilities include:

  • Leading a team of social scientists, program analysts, support staff, and contractors in evaluating DHVECS programs and innovative approaches related to improving the health and well-being of children and/or families.
  • Utilizing advanced research tools to develop and conduct program and policy analysis to identify and understand the needs and preferences of DHVECS programs and the populations they serve.
  • Serving as a Subject Matter Expert on social science research practices to apply the latest research methods, theories, techniques, and methodologies to identify ways to improve services of DHVECS programs and target populations.
  • Interpreting data tabulations and graphs, including identifying critical factors as data limitations, biases, sampling errors, and inconsistencies.
  • Creating and delivering findings to clients regarding research findings that are appropriate for scientific and non-scientific audiences.
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.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U. S. Citizenship is required.
  • Males ages 18 through 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • PHS Commissioned Corps applicants must submit current personnel orders.
  • A one year probationary period may be required.
  • Position is not in the Bargaining Unit.
  • Recruitment incentives are not authorized.
  • Student loan repayment incentive is not authorized.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of the pre-appointment process (i.e., background investigation, verification of qualifications and job requirements, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, etc.)

Qualifications

THESE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE: 07/17/2020

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.

The basic requirement for all Social Scientist 0101 series positions is:

NOTE: A copy of your unofficial transcript that verifies you meet the education requirement must be included in your application package by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

For GS-14: In addition to the basic qualification requirements above, in order to qualify for this GS-14 position , your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-13 level in the federal service.

Examples of qualifying experience include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis: developing and applying research tools and methodologies that target specific public health populations and communities, designing and monitoring data collection processes and procedures for large data sets; and, advising or consulting on the administration and analysis of statistical surveys, data collections plans, and evaluation of public health programs.

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • LEADERSHIP - Inspires, motivates & guides others toward goal accomplishment; coaches & mentors subordinates; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations; models high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, & respect for the individual by applying these values to daily behaviors.
  • STATISTICAL ANALYSIS - Uses descriptive or inferential statistical methods to collect, explore and present large amounts of data to discover underlying patterns and trends.
  • SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE - Provides knowledge or conducts studies of a body of information based on empirical or theoretical processes and principles in relation to scientific laws, arranged and communicated by qualitative and quantitative descriptions, and based on observation and experimentation.
  • DATA GATHERING AND ANALYSIS - Seeks or collects and synthesizes information from a variety of stakeholders and sources in an objective, unbiased manner to reach a conclusion, goal, or judgement and to enable strategic decision-making.
  • TECHNICAL WRITING - Prepares written documentation to transfer technical information about concepts, situations, products, services, or results to audiences with varying levels of technical knowledge.

TO PREVIEW THE OCCUPATIONAL ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE, please click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10852987

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

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

HHS is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences.

Click here for information on "Federal hiring for individuals with disabilities".

  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. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
  2. E-Verify: HRSA participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their social security numbers.
  3. Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  4. Creditable Service: A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for annual leave for prior work experience directly related to the duties of the position being filled. The use of this service credit is at the discretion of the selecting official and must be finalized prior to selectee's entrance on duty. For more information, please click here.
HRSA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. Telework eligibility may be discussed during the interview process.

How you will be evaluated

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

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings by the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as having knowledge of your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin prior to receiving an offer. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Category rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Qualified candidates will be ranked into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified or Qualified.

If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application and responses to the online questionnaire will be evaluated under Category Rating and selection procedures for placement in one of the following categories:

    • Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria
    • Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria
    • Qualified - for those who only meet the minimum qualification requirements

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/ Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): Must be found to be well-qualified to exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position. Click here for more information on ICTAP/CTAP.

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