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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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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/12/2019 to 07/26/2019
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-DE-10543690-SMW
Control number
539154900

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

N/A

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 $152,352.00 (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 hypotheses related to assigned projects;
  • Providing 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 at least three of the last five 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 REQUIREMENT: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below.

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 as described above, and possess one year of specialized experience, or substitution of education, if applicable, listed 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
  • 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 by 07/26/2019.

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: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency wavier by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
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 be placed in the Well-Qualified category for this position, as described in the How You Will Be Evaluated Section.

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.

Supervisory Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an 18 month probationary period upon appointment and complete a supervisory training course within 12 months of assignment.

Supervisory Training: All newly appointed, first-time CBP Supervisors are required to complete mandatory training. The training will be scheduled by the Office of Training and Development within the first 90 days of appointment. The duration of the training will include SLT three (3) weeks, of in residence training in Harpers Ferry, WV. Note: This training may be waived if previously completed.

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

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.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will use an online self-assessment questionnaire to place you in one of three categories based on your experience, education and training. 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 meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

  1. Best Qualified: Applicants possessing knowledge, skills and abilities and/or competencies substantially exceeding the minimum requirements of the position.
  2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing knowledge, skills and abilities and/or competencies clearly exceeding the minimum requirements of the position.
  3. Qualified: Applicants possessing knowledge, skills and abilities and/or competencies meeting the minimum requirements of the position.
Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is considered scientific/professional. Other 10 point preference eligibles and veterans with 5 point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. For more information about veterans' preference visit this link.

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/10543690

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
  • Ability to effectively communicate and provide consultative services to all levels of customers

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