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Social Science Research Analyst-Quality Assurance Specialist

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

Summary

This job will close at 11:59p.m. EST on the date we have received 125 applications which may be sooner than the closing date.

The salary range reflects the Washington, D.C. locality pay. Upon selection, the salary will be adjusted for the specific duty location.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/05/2022 to 08/06/2022
This job will close when we have received 125 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$106,823 to - $164,102 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
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
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
HHS-OIG-MP-22-11582961
Control number
667582300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees serving under career or career-conditional competitive service appointments, former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility, or persons eligible for non-competitive appointment under special appointment authorities. Veterans who are preference eligible or separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 or more years of continuous service may apply under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

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Duties

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Ensures that evaluations meet quality standards and comply with OEI policies and procedures. Develops recommendations for program officials in the development and revision of program procedures and instructions.

Works with the Organizational Development Director on projects and strategic initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness and OEI's ability to execute high impact evaluations and fulfill its mission. The incumbent assists the Organizational Development Director with the planning and execution of annual training plans, including coordination with OEI Technical Experts and the development of new training and resource curriculum, as needed, to support core competency development for OEI staff.

Assists the QAD Director with QAD regular projects and special initiatives. The QAD team is composed of professionals with a wide variety of expertise that supports and contributes to the OEI mission and helps ensure the success and credibility of OEI as a highly regarded evaluation office. The incumbent understands evaluation procedures; and also quality assurance and organizational development.

Assists the Quality Assurance Director to modernize OEI report publishing. Works with the Quality Assurance Director to streamline the OEI report review process and the report distribution process. The incumbent will work with the Director to update the format and secure a publishing software and contractor to realize such a report format modernization. The incumbent identifies potential bottlenecks in the review process and proactively initiates change. The incumbent analyzes the report distribution process and recommend efficiencies.

Provides oversight and guidance of regional report work papers. This includes routine monitoring that each reports' work papers are complete and in order within 30 business days of the report being published. This also includes identifying and implementing work paper storage solutions for regions.

Manages the CIGIE peer review process for OEI and in coordinating internal work paper quality control reviews. OEI is subject to a CIGIE peer review every 3 years and OEI staff is responsible for conducting a peer review on another I&E unit every 3 years. The incumbent will assist in preparing OEI for these reviews and in staffing the outside reviews. This includes coordinating regional volunteers and internal quality control reviews and feedback, including any all-OEI guidance.

Leads efforts to ensure the high quality of the OEI Intranet in terms of content, structure, and design. The OEI Intranet is often staff's first stop for guidance and resources. It houses a wealth of information, historical data, and potential for improved connectiveness amongst staff. Prepares management analysis and assessments. This includes identifying vulnerabilities in policies and processes, quality, timeliness, and management information. The incumbent then provides recommendations to QAD leadership to address issues identified. The incumbent maintains collaborative relationships with staff and management across OEI and OIG.

Ensures that all OEI staff benefit from high-quality new employee orientation, core competency training throughout their career, leadership and supervisor training, and career development. Tracks completed training to ensure that OEI staff complete HHS mandatory training and meet CIGIE training hour requirements. Conducts and leads research, evaluations and analyses to identify topics for inspections with high potential for improvement in Department programs. Develops rationale for recommended projects and proposal package.

Participates in the review and research/evaluation of pre-inspection findings of the assigned team. This includes conducting or directing studies that result in findings based on survey, research, evaluation, statistical, and social science methods and techniques. Also participates in making recommendations to managers, which may include rationale for cancellation or significant changes in the scope of the project.

Plans and conducts research/evaluation and analysis assignments to identify topics for inspections with high potential for improvement in national and interagency projects. This includes designing studies, including formulating research, evaluation, or analysis questions, project objectives, data collection and measurement strategies, and rigorous approaches for accomplishing study objectives.

Plans, coordinates and schedules conferences for briefing and training of all inspection/project participants which include the senior analysts in participating regions. Provides comprehensive background briefing including the pertinent legislation, regulations, court decisions and other information and materials relevant to the inspections. Conducts workshops for participants in the application of the methodology, techniques, guides, and other materials to ensure consistency in their interpretation and in meeting objectives of the project.

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.
  • One-year probationary period may be required.
  • Time in grade must be met within 30 days of closing date of announcement.
  • THIS POSITION IS SUBJECT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 14043 MANDATING COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

Qualifications

You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 08/14/2022

Expanded/Maximum telework Posture:

  • Your position may be eligible for workplace flexibilities which may include remote work or telework options, and/or flexible work scheduling. These flexibilities may be requested in accordance with the HHS Workplace Flexibilities policy.
  • Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Education used as part of an application package will only be considered if complete transcripts are submitted and must be from an accredited institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. To see if your institution is accredited, please follow this link: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

Basic Requirements:
  • Applicants must have completed a 4 year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a behavioral or social science; or related discipline appropriate to this position OR;
  • Must have 4 years of appropriate experience that demonstrates you have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field OR;
  • Must have a combination of the education and experience described above.
Specialized Experience:
GS-13: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:
  • Experience planning and conducting highly complex national projects to include identifying and applying appropriate study methodologies and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data to recommend substantial changes to program procedures;
  • Experience identifying vulnerabilities in policies and processes, quality, timeliness and management information and providing recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of issues identified which have significant impact; and
  • Experience implementing internal quality control measures to ensure that evaluations meet quality standards and comply with established policies and procedures.
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. Your resume should include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Additional information

Recruitment Incentives: Payment for relocation expenses are not authorized for this position. A recruitment bonus will not be offered. Repayment of student loans will not be offered. Private sector work experience may be approved as credit for your Annual Leave accrual.

Security and Background Requirements: 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. 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.

Career Transition Program (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Documentation: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee eligible for consideration under the CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility. Appropriate documentation such as a reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, an SF-50 reflecting your RIF separation, or a notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function to another commuting area. You MUST also submit documentation to reflect your current (or last) performance rating of record along with your application package. Those eligible for consideration will need to be rated as well-qualified at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position in order to exercise selection priority. For more information about ICTAP, go to: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition.

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.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions. Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate possession of any specialized experience and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement.

The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies (KSA's). You do not have to provide a narrative response to the KSA's.

  • Oral Communication
  • Quality Assurance
  • Research
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing


Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions, or your score may be adjusted or lowered accordingly which may affect your overall final rating. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or for changing your scored responses to questions you've answered, which may affect your overall final score.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the "Required Documents" section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11582961

Selections may be made for vacancies across the entire Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). By applying, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more HHS hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.

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