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Social Science Research Analyst

Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Inspector General
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are in the Office of Evaluation and Inspections (OEI), in OIG. The mission of OEI is to protect the integrity of HHS programs, as well as the health and welfare of beneficiaries, by conducting evaluations and producing reports that provide timely, useful, and reliable information and advice to decision makers. Evaluations measure the effectiveness of Departmental legislation, policies, and procedures; assess efficiency of operations; and identify vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, and abuse. These evaluations provide decision makers with current, reliable data on high-impact, targeted issues important to HHS.

These positions are for Recent Graduates (RG) who have completed within the previous two years a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. A veteran, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108, who due to military service obligation, was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduate Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon his/her release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may the individual's eligibility period extend beyond 6 years from the date on which the individual completed the requirements of an academic course of study.

This is an excepted service appointment expected to last only two years under the OIG Pathways Recent Graduate Program. After the RG successfully completes the two year developmental program and meets the OPM Qualification Standards for a Social Science Research Analyst, OIG may non-competitively convert the RG to a term or permanent appointment in the competitive service.

Note: Conversion is not guaranteed and is based on the needs of OIG. At the agency's discretion, this position may allow for promotion eligibility. Upon conversion, the Social Science Research Analyst GS-0101 has promotion potential to the GS-13 grade level.

This vacancy is limited to the first 100 applications received and will close at midnight on the closing date or when the numerical cut-off is reached, whichever occurs first.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/29/2018 to 06/04/2018
Salary
$45,707 to - $59,417 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Boston, MA
Travel Required
Occasional travel - 10% or less
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Recent Graduates
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
HHS-OIG-RG-7-10219545
Control number
500749200

This job is open to

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Recent graduates

Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.

Clarification from the agency

Recent Graduates who have completed within the previous two years a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. Veterans precluded from applying within two years due to a military service obligation have up to 6 years from completing their degree to apply.

Duties

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The incumbent conducts national evaluations to provide HHS, Congress, and the public with timely, useful, and reliable information. To do this, the incumbent provides assistance on program evaluations to senior program analysts and OEI leadership for effective implementation of office goals and priorities. Medicare, Medicaid, and public health and human service programs are evaluated to identify vulnerabilities and potential fraud, waste, and abuse and to make recommendations for improvement.

Incumbent applies qualitative and quantitative analytical steps appropriate for assigned evaluations, or portions of evaluations, from planning through data collection and analysis to reporting results. To do this, incumbent researches public policy in order to assist in creating evaluations of Medicare, Medicaid, and public health and human service programs. Incumbent also assists in gathering and organizing narrative and statistical information using established qualitative and quantitative methods, such as questionnaires and interviews, and assists in analyzing this information using standard computer software applications or other appropriate methods. Incumbent assists in developing draft findings and recommendations for improving program effectiveness and efficiency and assists in preparing reports and briefings for program stakeholders and OIG leadership.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Registration with the Selective Service (if applicable).
  • Suitability for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
  • Must complete a Pathways Participant Agreement.
Please see below for a brief summary for the Recent Graduate Program:

Eligibility
  • Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.
  • Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.
Training and Development
  • Orientation program for Recent Graduates hired for the program.
  • Mentorship throughout the program.
  • Individual Development Plan to create and track Recent Graduates' career planning, professional development, and training activities.
  • At least 40 hours of formal, interactive training each year of the program.
  • Positions offer opportunity for career advancement.
After Program Completion

Recent Graduates may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, a term appointment lasting 1-4 years). To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must have:
  • Successfully completed at least 1-year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the Program.
  • Demonstrated successful job performance.
  • Meet the qualifications for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.

Qualifications

You must meet the eligibility requirements for the Recent Graduate Program, basic education requirements for a Social Science Research Analyst, and qualification requirements for the position by the closing date of this announcement.

To qualify for a Social Science Research Analyst the applicant must meet the basic education requirements described below.

Basic Education Requirement:

Degree: behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position (e.g. Public Policy, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, and Economics).

OR;

Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR;

At least 4 years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement described above, the applicant must have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level or equivalent level.

Specialized Experience includes conducting program evaluation or social science research; experience requires working knowledge of a variety of research methodologies and sources; and experience conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis of data.

Experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work.

If you fail to submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, you will be deemed ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.

Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants should report only attendance and/or degrees from accredited institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx.

Education

Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click on the link for a list of accrediting organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.

Additional information

Security and Background Requirements: A Public Trust background 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 reinvestigation 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.

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.

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

Veterans' Preference Documentation: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy),or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. 10 point preference eligibles must also submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, along with the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. An SF-15 may be found at: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf. For more information on veterans' preference, go to: http://www.opm.gov/Veterans.

EEO Statement: 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your experience, education (if applicable), and training relevant to the duties of this position. If you are found minimally qualified for the job, your application package will be further evaluated by a rating panel to determine your possession of the competencies listed below.

Your responses to the job questionnaire will be validated against your application to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications requirements for this position. Your application must provide enough detail to fully support your possession of the competencies listed below and answers to the questionnaire. Applicants found to be best qualified after the rating panel will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration.

If, after reviewing your application and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, you will not receive further consideration.

The rating panel will rate and rank based on the following Competencies:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Communication
  • Collaboration with others
  • Research
  • Data Collection and Data Analysis
?Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you and/or will affect your overall final rating.

Under Delegated Examining, we will use your final rating to place you in one of three categories:
  1. Best Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
  2. Well Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of evaluation criteria.
  3. Qualified: Applicants possessing the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.
The Category Rating Process protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed at the top of the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

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