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Personnel Research Psychologist

Department of the Treasury
Treasury, Departmental Offices

Summary

This position is located at Departmental Offices,Management CFO - DAS Human Resources and CHCO. As a Personnel Research Psychologist, you will be applying Industrial Organizational (I/O) psychological principles, concepts, and theories to conduct research and participate in projects to support Human Resources (HR) program areas (e.g. workforce planning, succession planning, skills acquisition, strategic recruitment, learning and program evaluation, and HR transformation). .

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/09/2026 to 02/16/2026
Salary
$106,437 to - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Washington, DC
Parkersburg, WV
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
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
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-DO-12878230
Control number
856890000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All candidates who are: 1. Current or former federal employees qualifying as Status Candidates, Federal employees currently serving on a VRA, VEOA eligibles, CTAP/ICTAP eligibles, eligible for special hiring authorities (e.g., the Schedule A appointment for persons with disabilities, or covered by an Interchange Agreement); OR 2. Land Management employees eligible under Public Law 114-47.

Duties

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As a Personnel Research Psychologist, you will:

  • Evaluate the content of new or modified OPM and agency guidance material, determines impact upon programs and resources, and recommends changes, expansion, or revisions.
  • Formulate, direct, and guide research and development of surveys, assessments and other activities. This includes all activities necessary for maintaining, evaluating, assessing and improving existing testing instruments and other materials, as well as the development and evaluation of new methods and techniques for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of human capital programs.
  • Validate and participate in the development of major projects, initiatives, or efforts regarding positions descriptions and career paths for all Mission Critical Occupations (MCO's) and general skills series, to ensure they are aligned with the Human Capital Plan, Strategic Workforce and Succession Plans and 5 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Office of Management & Budget (OMB) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) policies, regulations, and memorandums.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

  • Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
  • All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated. You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated. You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
  • Must successfully complete a background investigation.
  • Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
  • All new hires will be required to comply with federal ethics laws. A review of financial or other interests may be conducted to determine if they create any real or apparent conflict of interests with official Treasury duties.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • Please refer to the "Additional Information" section for additional Conditions of Employment.

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Specialized experience for the GS-13 position is one year of experience at the GS-12 level, or equivalent, that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position, which include:

  • Applying principles and methodologies of personnel psychology to support research and evaluation projects related to employee assessment, performance, or workforce outcomes; AND
  • Developing, administering, or analyzing assessment and measurement tools, such as written tests, rating scales, or employee attitude surveys; AND
  • Assisting in the development and implementation of Human Resources assessment solutions and testing procedures in accordance with established psychological theories, professional standards, and applicable laws, regulations, and guidance.


The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your resumé.

TIME-IN-GRADE: In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement, if applicable: For the GS-13, you must have been at the GS-12 level for 52 weeks.

TIME AFTER COMPETITIVE APPOINTMENT: Candidates who are current Federal employees serving on a non-temporary competitive appointment must have served at least three months in that appointment.

Education

The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

Individual Occupational Requirements - Psychology Series, 0180
Degree: Major or equivalent in psychology for all specializations

Additional information

During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact on your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

OTHER INFORMATION:

  • We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
  • This is a non-bargaining unit position.
  • Relocation expenses will not be paid.
  • We offer opportunities for telework (ad-hoc or episodic only).
  • We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.
  • This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information about individual rights, Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).
  • Learn more about Federal benefits programs at: USAJOBS Help Center - Benefits
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Our comprehensive benefits are very generous. Our benefits package includes:

  • Challenging work, opportunities for advancement, competitive salaries, bonuses and incentive awards.
  • Eleven paid holidays, 13 days of sick leave, and 13 to 26 days of vacation time each year.
  • Access to insurance programs that may be continued after you retire.
  • A wide choice of health insurance plans, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and no waiting periods. We pay a substantial amount (up to 75%) of the health insurance premiums.
  • A retirement program which includes employer-matching contributions.
  • Learn more about Federal benefits programs at: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resumé, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. Please be sure that your resumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resumé may result in a "not qualified" determination.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)) you must meet the following "well qualified" definition listed below and any education requirement to receive special selection priority.

To be found well-qualified at the GS-13 grade level, and in addition to meeting specialized experience, the applicant must have documented the following experience:
- Having a solid and comprehensive understanding of the position. Can perform the required tasks efficiently and is proficient in applying the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the job.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:

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