The U. S. Sentencing Commission is seeking a Research Associate. The Research Associate (RA) assists the research staff in the preparation and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data for monitoring the application of the federal sentencing guidelines and for other related Commission or criminal justice research.
Summary
The U. S. Sentencing Commission is seeking a Research Associate. The Research Associate (RA) assists the research staff in the preparation and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data for monitoring the application of the federal sentencing guidelines and for other related Commission or criminal justice research.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Research Associate (RA) assists the research staff in the preparation and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data for monitoring the application of the federal sentencing guidelines and for other related Commission or criminal justice research. The RA may also assist on the work of Commission policy teams or congressional report projects by generating tables and graphics, assisting with designing coding instruments, and writing SAS programs for both data quality control and data analysis of data produced by the team.
DUTIES
The incumbent will work with research staff to:
Review existing data for errors and perform edits and data cleaning of research data files.
Assist in the production of sentencing statistics.
Compile, organize, and document research-related data files and assist in the preparation of data file documentation, statistical tables, and graphic displays and presentations.
Collect additional data from court documents as needed for research projects.
Analyze qualitative and quantitative data and contribute to reports and publications based on that data.
Assist in the preparation of reports assessing the sentencing impact of judicial and/or congressional sentencing modifications to the guideline structure and process.
Assist in the preparation of databases, writing and executing computer program code and working with large data files.
Research, review, and analyze social science research literature.
Perform support or administrative tasks as needed.
MANDATORY QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have a master's degree from an accredited university or college in criminology, sociology, or a related empirical social science, and a minimum of one year of specialized experience in quantitative research as either an intern or a paid employee. Satisfactory completion of course work in statistics and research methodology as well as experience programming with statistical software packages (i.e., SAS, SPSS, or STATA) is also required.
Applicants must have demonstrated work experience related to the mandatory requirements listed below and must address the qualification requirements in an attached cover letter or separate narrative statement.
Experience in collecting, entering, documenting, or editing original data.
Experience with manipulating, and analyzing quantitative data such as subsetting datafiles, creating collapsed or dummy variables, and matching or merging datafiles.
Experience with quantitative analyses techniques, such as descriptive and inferential statistics.
Proficiency using Microsoft Word, or comparable word processing software, specifically editing text as well as creating and/or inserting tables, charts, and other objects into text.
Experience using EXCEL or a comparable spreadsheet software program, specifically creating or editing tables and charts and using formulas.
Experience using PowerPoint to make presentations which include data graphics.
Experience with any statistical software packages (i.e., SAS, SPSS, or STATA), specifically including any experience writing syntax code.
Ability to work well in a team setting;
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preference will be given to applicants with one or more of the following areas of experience:
Experience performing data analysis using criminal justice related data.
Advanced SAS programming experience (e.g., working with macros and/or using SAS datafiles to auto-fill tables in Excel or Word).
BENEFITS
The Commission participates in the following federal benefits:
The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program;
the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP),
the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program,
federal retirement,
the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP),
and the federal leave program.
In addition, the Commission participates in the Judiciary's Flexible Spending Program for dependent care, health care, and commuter reimbursement, and the government-wide Long Term Care Insurance Program, unemployment, and workers' compensation benefits.
The Commission is conveniently located next to Union Station on Capitol Hill, and is easily accessible by public transportation, including the Metro, and the MARC and VRE commuter trains. In addition to the federal benefits package, the Commission's location in the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building offers various amenities such as a health unit, credit union, day care center, cafeteria, and free on-site fitness center.
The Commission offers a monthly transit subsidy to employees who use mass transit to commute to and from work, subject to the availability of funds. The Commission offers alternative work schedules (AWS), which are fixed work schedules that enable full-time employees to complete the basic 80-hour biweekly work requirement in 9 workdays.
The Commission offers regular telework (not full-time) to employees in positions deemed eligible by the staff director and who meet the requirements of an approved telework arrangement in which an employee performs official duties at home or at an approved telework site.
The Commission also offers training opportunities to employees through LinkedIn Learning, and the Judiciary's Online University, which offers academic credit and professional credit programs through web-based learning. These training tools assist Commission employees with taking online courses in a flexible way, by offering training courses in the areas of: staff training and development; credit toward undergraduate degree programs; continuing education and non-credit certificate programs; executive education; contract training; credit credentials courses for continuing professional education and credit for individuals who hold credentials and achieve certifications associated with several globally-recognized sponsored organizations.
Education
Applicants must have a master's degree from an accredited university or college in criminology, sociology, or a related empirical social science.
Additional information
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
This position is in the excepted service and does not carry the tenure rights of positions in the competitive Civil Service.
All information is subject to verification. Applicants are advised that false answers or omissions of information on application materials or inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.
Selection for this position is contingent upon completion of OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment during the pre-employment process and proof of U.S. citizenship or, for noncitizens, proof of authorization to work in the United States and proof of entitlement to receive compensation. Additional information on the employment of non-citizens can be found at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/. For a list of documents that may be used to provide proof of citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, please refer to http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf.
The Commission participates in E-Verify and will confirm your authorization to work in the United States.
A background security investigation is required for all selectees. Appointment will be subject to a selectee's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. A background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time.
All new Commission employees must identify a financial institution for direct deposit of pay before appointment, mandated by the Federal Compensation Act.
All new Commission employees, those converted from a temporary appointment to a permanent appointment, and all rehired former Commission employees are required to serve a one-year probationary period. The probationary period begins on the effective date of the employee's appointment, conversion, or rehire.
Applicant must relocate to the Washington DC Metropolitan area.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Commission evaluates applicants through a structured interview process. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary video conference interview. Applicants who do not address the qualification requirements (mandatory and preferred) in his or her application materials as stated in the vacancy announcement are automatically disqualified from consideration and must re-apply before the closing date to be considered for employment.
The Office of Human Resources:
Reviews each application to ensure the proper materials are submitted.
Ensures that the application addresses all of the qualification requirements (mandatory and preferred) as stated in the vacancy announcement.
Determines whether the applicant meets the qualification requirements for the particular position and notifies the applicant about the status of his or her application.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
In order to be considered, all applicants must submit an electronic resume and cover letter that address all of the qualification requirements listed in this announcement, and if available, provide a recent job performance evaluation and college transcripts. Applicants will also need to complete the online occupational questionnaire. All applications must be submitted at www.usajobs.gov.
United States Sentencing Commission
One Columbus Circle NE Suite 2-500
Washington, DC 20002
US
Next steps
Applicants who meet the mandatory qualification requirements will be considered and their application materials will be forwarded to the screening panel for review. Applicants who do not meet the mandatory qualification requirements for the position are automatically disqualified from consideration. In addition, some applicants may be tested using various assessment tools not listed on the vacancy announcement to verify an applicant's experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for consideration and selection.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
In order to be considered, all applicants must submit an electronic resume and cover letter that address all of the qualification requirements listed in this announcement, and if available, provide a recent job performance evaluation and college transcripts. Applicants will also need to complete the online occupational questionnaire. All applications must be submitted at www.usajobs.gov.
United States Sentencing Commission
One Columbus Circle NE Suite 2-500
Washington, DC 20002
US
Next steps
Applicants who meet the mandatory qualification requirements will be considered and their application materials will be forwarded to the screening panel for review. Applicants who do not meet the mandatory qualification requirements for the position are automatically disqualified from consideration. In addition, some applicants may be tested using various assessment tools not listed on the vacancy announcement to verify an applicant's experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for consideration and selection.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
