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

Clarification from the agency

You must be a United States Citizen. This program is targeting individuals from the academic community in fields of study directly related to current GAO activity. This position may be filled in any of the locations listed. Pay will be set consistent with the salary range for the location the position is filled in.

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Duties

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Through placement with the Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics (STAA) team, assignments may include :

(Responsibilities may vary based on the Band Level you are selected for.)

Leads and/or contributes as a technical authority on highly complex and/or sensitive science and technology engagements with biological science, physical science, or engineering components, based on requests from congressional committees and/or mandates written into legislation, resolutions, and committee reports. Researches the technical details of issues and provides focus to engagement design, to include developing criteria for evaluation of the technical area.
Leads the conduct of research and analysis on technology assessments and technical performance audits. Serves as an expert of specific technologies and gathers information on the maturity of those technologies, including the best practice criteria found in GAO's Technology Readiness Assessment Guide. Identifies key issues and assesses the impact of using the technologies to address specific public policy areas.
Performs broad and comprehensive evaluations of policies and programs involving S&T such as, mature technologies ranging from technical systems that are in use to research and development programs. Identifies key issues related to significant savings, improvements, or benefits.
Provides expert advice, opinions, alternatives or recommendations on technical questions or issues under review. Analyzes engagement research data and other evidence that has been collected from various sources and synthesizes technical information necessary to draw preliminary conclusions.
Independently prepares written products that provide factual and analytical information in a clear, balanced manner, that meets the needs of congressional clients. Advises on methods and procedures and serves as a quality assurance point for final products.
Collaborates with GAO leadership and teams to openly and constructively share information and feedback, and function as a technical resource. Identifies the best vehicle for communicating information to include making full use of technology to leverage the impact of GAO's work.
As needed, participates in forums, conferences, seminars, and/or panels as an expert speaker to articulate technical methodologies as well as oversight considerations. The incumbent may also be called to contribute content for publication, review GAO products for supportable conclusions regarding sound methodological practices, and provide presentations to both internal GAO customers and external clients such as Congressional staff.
Performs other duties as assigned that contribute to a range of staff functions involving research, planning, analysis, policy development, and technical assistance necessary to enhance key engagement decisions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen.
Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable. (www.sss.gov)
Completion of a financial disclosure statement is required.
Must meet/maintain background and suitability requirements for employment. You may be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance depending on the engagements, projects, and initiatives you are assigned to.

Qualifications

To qualify for the Band IIA (Salary range - $100,747 - $173,484):
You must have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower band or level equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal Service, or comparable private/public sector experience which has equipped you with the skills and knowledge required to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

(1) Supporting the execution of technology assessments, technical performance audits or audits with science-related components; (2) contributing to the planning and design of engagements; (3) providing expert level advice and support to engagement teams on science aspects; and (4) contributing to development of findings, recommendations and policy options in science-related work.

To qualify for the Band IIB (Salary range - $111,472 - $191,900:
You must have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower band or level equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal Service, or comparable private/public sector experience which has equipped you with the skills and knowledge required to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

(1) Leading the execution of technology assessments, technical performance audits or audits with science-related components; (2) leading the planning and design of engagements; (3) providing expert level advice and support to engagement teams on science aspects; and (4) leading the development of findings, recommendations and policy options in science-related work.

The ideal candidate(s) will also:

Have a superior academic performance and publication record.
Have a strong technical background and expertise in a STEM-related field.
Exhibit problem-solving, flexibility, and nonpartisan leadership qualities.
Have strong analytical, research, and communication (oral and written) skills and demonstrated capacity for creative thinking.
Have experience providing subject matter leadership, fostering collaboration, and developing highly productive relationships.

Fellows at the Band IIB will be expected to possess a higher degree of professional knowledge, expertise, and experience than Band IIA Fellows, and will perform their duties with greater independence.

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.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. To qualify you must meet the requirements for either occupational series listed below. Transcripts to verify your education must also be submitted with your application.

Biological Science Series, 0401:
A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

General Engineering Series, 0800 (including 801):

A. Degree: Successful completion of a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR

Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration or licensure - Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: http://www.nspe.org.

2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/HowtoGetLicensed/index.html.

3. Specified academic course - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A (above). The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A (above)

4. Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at the least 1 year of a professional engineering acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of extensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.)

Physical Scientist Series, 1301:

Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Additional information

This is a bargaining unit position.

This is a temporary position and may be terminated at any time.

This position is not eligible for conversion to permanent status.

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid for by the GAO.

GAO participates in the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. If selected, you will be required to complete the Form I-9 at the time of appointment. Click here for more information about E-Verify and to obtain a copy of the Form I-9.

You will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. At the time of appointment, you will be required to update the OF-306.

You will be subject to a determination of suitability for Federal employment.

GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov.

GAO's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

How you will be evaluated

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

These positions are covered by a direct hire authority. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants, including category rating, does not apply to this vacancy. Veterans' Preference also does not apply.

If your submission demonstrates that you meet the criteria listed in the Qualifications section and includes the documents as listed under the Required Documents section, your application will be further evaluated based on:

- Your years and level of experience researching and analyzing complex S&T issues and applying the law, regulations, and policies relevant to the issues and responsibilities described above under "Summary" and "Duties."
- Experience and expertise that demonstrates superior knowledge of a variety of science and technology disciplines and related advanced concepts in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum sciences, synthetic biology, advanced manufacturing, or other emerging S&T areas.
- Experience that demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills, interpersonal skills, and sound judgement.

The successful applicant will be hired at the grade level commensurate with their qualifications.

Required Documents

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To apply for this position, you must submit a complete application package which includes:

RESUME: You are encouraged to use the USAJOBS resume builder to create your resume. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. In addition to describing duties performed, you must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. CV's are not recommended.
TRANSCRIPTS: If you are using your education to qualify (even partially), you must submit a copy of your transcripts. Foreign Education: If you are submitting a transcript from a non-US educational institution, applicants must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials, commonly called a credential evaluation service. For additional information, please visit: Foreign Education
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION/LICENSE: Proof of professional registration, licensure, or evidence of passing written test (if applicable).
WRITING SAMPLE:Submit a writing sample that demonstrates your ability to write about complex S&T topics for lay audiences. Maximum 10 pages.

If you do not meet the key requirements and/or basic qualifications or you fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

Help

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume (you are encouraged to create a resume using the USAJOBS resume builder)and/or other supporting documentsto be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

Ebonye Watson

Email: watsone@gao.gov

Address: Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US

Next steps

Fellows will be selected through a highly competitive process that includes reviews of all application materials. If you do not meet the key requirements and/or basic qualifications or you fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.

You may be invited to attend a virtual interview. If so, you may be asked to provide references, which will also be considered in the selection process. You may be invited to more than one round of interviews. The selection process may take up to 30 days.

The fellowship is a one-year, temporary appointment that is anticipated to begin in the Spring of 2024. The exact start and end dates are subject to mutual agreement between each fellow and the program.

If you have questions regarding this program, please send an email to GAOSTFellows@gao.gov .

Required Documents

Help

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete application package which includes:

RESUME: You are encouraged to use the USAJOBS resume builder to create your resume. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. In addition to describing duties performed, you must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. CV's are not recommended.
TRANSCRIPTS: If you are using your education to qualify (even partially), you must submit a copy of your transcripts. Foreign Education: If you are submitting a transcript from a non-US educational institution, applicants must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials, commonly called a credential evaluation service. For additional information, please visit: Foreign Education
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION/LICENSE: Proof of professional registration, licensure, or evidence of passing written test (if applicable).
WRITING SAMPLE:Submit a writing sample that demonstrates your ability to write about complex S&T topics for lay audiences. Maximum 10 pages.

If you do not meet the key requirements and/or basic qualifications or you fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

How to Apply

Help

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume (you are encouraged to create a resume using the USAJOBS resume builder)and/or other supporting documentsto be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

Ebonye Watson

Email: watsone@gao.gov

Address: Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US

Next steps

Fellows will be selected through a highly competitive process that includes reviews of all application materials. If you do not meet the key requirements and/or basic qualifications or you fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.

You may be invited to attend a virtual interview. If so, you may be asked to provide references, which will also be considered in the selection process. You may be invited to more than one round of interviews. The selection process may take up to 30 days.

The fellowship is a one-year, temporary appointment that is anticipated to begin in the Spring of 2024. The exact start and end dates are subject to mutual agreement between each fellow and the program.

If you have questions regarding this program, please send an email to GAOSTFellows@gao.gov .