The Branch Chief maintains knowledge of policy and program-relevant information needs, provides scientific guidance and supervision to staff conducting policy analyses and managing research and evaluation contracts and agreements, provides first management-level quality control and review, makes decisions on work problems within the Branch, and makes recommendations to the Division Director on cost and schedule management issues.

Duties

Supervises employees who are trained in budget and policy analyses, regulatory impact analyses, research design, sampling procedures, measurement, data collection, statistical analysis methods and government procurement. Supervises employees to set and manage budgets and multi-year work plans and schedules for cost estimates, policy analyses, and regulatory impact analyses carried at FNS and contracted work carried out with private sector research organizations. Supervises staff in determining whether contractor performed work meets standards of adequacy necessary for authorization of payment. Supervise policy research and support fact-based decision-making by policy officials, develops and maintains working relationships with the directors, managers, and staff of agency programs, stakeholders and research organizations. Applies expert knowledge in national surveys; administrative data; criteria for program waivers? budget procedures and assumptions; research methods, including sampling and questionnaire design and testing; Data analyses of both primary and extant data, often in a linear regression framework; OMB clearance processes; and other areas in order to provide guidance and advice on FNS policy analyses, studies, and performance measurement. Routinely briefs the division director, program managers, and other stakeholders regarding policy analyses, research findings, program impacts and the implications for future FNS policy formulation and research. Prepares materials and briefs for the division director's review to address questions or concerns of senior policy officials and Congressional staff.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). You must include an SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one) that supports meeting this requirement with your application package. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirements and Minimum Qualifications: Basic Requirements For GS-0101-14: 1. Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR 2. Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR 3. Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. To qualify for the GS-14: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal and or Public Service. Specialized experience is defined as: Conducting inferential statistical tests and use of mathematical modeling to examine questions related to policy impacts and program goals and objectives; Social science research design and statistics to empirically address policy relevant questions, critique analyses and study reports, and communicate analysis and research findings; Provide oversight on the design, monitoring, and review of analytic activities and to interpret the implications of analysis and study findings; Experience in producing and reviewing new analyses and research based materials for senior leadership and Interpreting data that leads to the development of agency policy, programmatic, and legislative initiatives. 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 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

See the Qualifications section for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.

Contacts

• Address Food and Nutrition Service 1320 Braddock Place Alexandria, VA 22314 US
• Name: FNS HR Support
• Phone: 844-208-2364
• Email: [email protected]