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Student Trainee (Personnel Research Psychologist)

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
Office of Human Resources Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

As our nation navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, CBP is committed to delivering our mission to safeguard America's borders and enable legitimate trade and travel. Staffing mission critical positions remains a high priority. Be reassured that CBP is still hiring, despite potential hiring process step delays due to restrictions to in-person activities.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/29/2022 to 09/09/2022
Salary
$44,740 to - $71,146 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
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
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships
Work schedule
Part-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
9
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
HRM-DE-(INT)-11622844-JMC
Control number
674015000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Students who have been accepted for enrollment or are currently enrolled in an accredited educational institution or certification program on at least a halftime basis.

Duties

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The Pathways Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent position in the civil service. This position starts at a salary of $44,740.00 (GS-07, Step 1) to $71,146.00 (GS-09, Step 10).

Salary: Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet the locality pay or cost of living expenses of the duty location upon selection.

Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied. Your promotion potential will ultimately be determined by your qualifications and will be initiated at management's discretion.

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Human Resources Management, Personnel Research and Assessment Division (PRAD), Organizational Measurement Branch. Location is negotiable upon selection.

Law enforcement positions are expected to report to their duty station on a daily basis. However, due to COVID-19, some positions in CBP are currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, and you are given an entrance on duty date you will be provided additional information on the reporting requirements of your position.

In this Student Trainee (Personnel Research Psychologist) position, you will become a key member of a team assisting in the delivery of a wide range of organizational, employee, and applicant assessment and development services to facilitate the selection and retention of a quality workforce within CBP. Typical work assignments include:

  • Participating in job analyses of mission critical occupations to determine the competencies, job skills, knowledge, abilities, and other characteristics critical to effective job performance in the occupation;
  • Assisting experienced Industrial/Organizational Psychologists in the development, validation, and implementation of tests and other instruments for selection and promotion;
  • Participating in the administration, evaluation, and analysis of surveys and other assessments used to provide CBP leadership with insight into areas impacting organizational health, employee motivation, and workplace stress;
  • Applying quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to evaluate the validity of proposed and on-going workforce engagement efforts; and
  • Assisting in conducting psychometric analyses and conducting research on a variety of human resources issues.

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
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
  • Must be at least 16 years old
  • Proof of student status must be submitted with the application
  • As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement Safer Federal Workforce Task Force 2 pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. 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.

Qualifications

You must be a student who has been accepted for enrollment or who is currently enrolled and seeking a degree, diploma or certificate in a qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis (half-time is defined by the educational institution in which the student is enrolled).

Students that have education, training and experience in Industrial/Organizational Psychology are highly desired.

AND:

GS-07: Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate level education; or Eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision and completion of a bachelor's degree. You may substitute superior academic achievement for the experience required at the GS-7 level. You must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, class standing in the upper third of a graduating class or major subdivision, or membership in a national scholastic honor society.

GS-09: Completion of master's or equivalent graduate degree; or full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 09/09/2022.

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 additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.

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 waiver 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
Schedules: Positions can be filled on full-time and part-time basis. Part-time schedules are typically 16 to 32 hours per administrative workweek, prearranged on a scheduled tour of duty.

Trial Period: The entire period served under the Internship Program counts as the participant's trial period.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement: Pathways students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for undergraduate studies or lower program, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for a master's program or higher program.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information.

Additional information

This position is covered under a bargaining unit.

A Pathways Participant Agreement will be required if you are selected for a position. This agreement must be signed by all applicable parties prior to entrance on duty.

Students are required to meet enrollment requirements and remain in good academic standing for the full duration of their appointment in order to maintain eligibility for the Pathways Internship program.

Conversions: Interns may be non-competitively converted from the internship program to a term or permanent position in the competitive service within 120 days following successful completion of all their educational requirements in accordance with section 5 CFR 362.204 given there is an available position; however, conversion is not mandatory or guaranteed.If converted, this position will likely fill a GS-0180-12 position. Please note the expected conversion position has an education requirement of:

Basic Education Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic education requirement listed. 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.

DHS 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.

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 minimum qualification requirements. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are considered in the following order: (1) preference eligibles having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more; followed by (2) other 10-point preference eligibles; (3) 5-point preference eligible; and (4) non-preference eligibles (i.e., non-veterans).

If you are qualified and referred, you may be called for an interview. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11622844

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