Job opening: Research Social Scientist
Salary: $91 753 - 141 836 per year
Published at: Aug 17 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?
This position and is being advertised concurrently with the following announcements:
Open to all U.S. citizens under: USGS-DEN-23-12069205-DE-AJG
Duties
As a Research Social Scientist within the Fort Collins Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:
Qualifications
Definitions:
EXPERIENCE: One year of work experience is twelve months working full-time (at least 35-40 hours per week). Part-time experience can be pro-rated (i.e., a year at 20 hours per week is credited as 6 months of experience). If your position consisted of mixed duties, experience credit is given for the percentage of time that you spent on qualifying duties (i.e., if you held a position for 2 years, full-time, consisting of 25% personnel work and 75% budget work, and then applied for a budget position you could calculate your experience as follows: 2 yrs = 24 months. 24 months x 75% [percentage of time spent on budget duties] = 18 months of qualifying experience.)
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: A year of undergraduate education is 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent of college study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent was a prerequisite.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: In the absence of specific graduate program information, a year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours of graduate level college course work, or the number of credit hours the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full time study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A, B or C below to satisfy the basic requirement for Research Social Scientist
A. Degree- Completed all requirements for a bachelor`s or higher degree in a behavioral or social science or related discipline appropriate to the position.
B. Combination of education and experience -course work equivalent to a major (24 semester hours or equivalent) in a behavioral or social science or related discipline.
C. Completed four years of appropriate experience that demonstrates that the applicants have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in those fields.
GS-12 - In addition to the basic education requirement listed above, applicants must meet the following to qualify for this position.
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position is defined as experience in applying social science theory and methods in the context of natural resource management and conducting research to aid in the conservation and management of public lands and waters. Preferred candidates will have experience in one or more of the following areas: applying social science methods in participatory science, science planning, stakeholder engagement, science communication, institutional analysis, or policy analysis. This includes: assessment of research needs; proposal development; research design; and collecting data associated with the human dimensions of natural resource and public lands management and policy. Experience applying existing theory or methods to areas previously investigated, but under unique conditions, or involve adapting previous studies while accounting for changes in theory or improved techniques and methods. Experience in making contributions that add to scientific and professional knowledge or support developing new or improved methods and techniques.
**OR Possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a directly related field of study.
**OR Possess a combination of successfully completed progressive graduate level education, as described above, that is beyond the second year of graduate study and specialized experience, as described above.
GS-13 - In addition to the basic education requirement listed above, applicants must meet the following to qualify for this position.
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of the position to be filled that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
Specialized Experience for this position is defined as experience in applying social science theory and methods in the context of natural resource management and conducting research to aid in the conservation and management of public lands and waters. This includes: assessment of research needs; proposal development; research design; and collecting data associated with the human dimensions of natural resource and public lands management and policy. Experience working in contexts that have a broad and complex scope, requiring a series of comprehensive and conceptually related phases and studies. Experience working on subject matter that is difficult to define, require sophisticated research techniques, or involve the development of new or unconventional methods or approaches.
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
Education
- 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 completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS CONTINUED
Land Management Workforce Flexibility Eligibles
--If you are applying as a current or former employee of a land management agency, i.e., Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, or the U.S. Forest Service who is serving or previously served on a temporary or term appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, you must submit the following documentation by the closing date of this vacancy announcement in order to receive consideration:
- SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action, that documents your service under competitive examining procedures in time limited appointments that totals 2 or more years at land management agencies; and
- Documentation of satisfactory performance such as performance evaluations or references by supervisors or other documents, e.g., memorandums of record, whereas the supervisor documented an acceptable performance level.
Additional information can be found
here.
Eligibility for Special Appointing Authorities
If you are applying for this position based on eligibility under a special appointing authority, you must submit proof that supports your claim by the closing date of the announcement. If you fail to submit proof, you will not receive consideration under the special appointing authority. Below is a list of the most common authorities and the documentation requirements. If you're eligible for an authority not listed, you are responsible for submitting documentation that's appropriate for that specific authority.
--30% or More Disabled Veteran - Submit a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy; and an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, , etc. Additional information can be found in the
VetGuide.
--Individuals with Disabilities - Submit documentation issued by a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal agency, State agency, or an agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. Additional information can be found
here.
--Military Spouse - Submit Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders issued within the last 2 years, that lists you as authorized to accompany the Military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later)); OR verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage). Additional information can be found
here.
--Appointment of Certain Former Overseas Employees - Submit a SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that confirms your eligibility and a performance appraisal from that period. Additional information can be found
here.
--Peace Corps & VISTA - Former Peace Corps volunteers or VISTA members must submit their Certification of Volunteer Service. Present and former Peace Corps personnel must submit a SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that confirms their eligibility. Additional information can be found
here.
--White House Staff - Submit proof that you are a current employee serving in the immediate Office of the President or Vice-President or on the White House Staff who has completed at least 2 years of service. Additional information can be found
here.
--Certain National Guard Technicians - Submit proof that confirms that you were involuntarily separated (other than by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency); you served at least 3 years as a technician; and are within 1 year of your separation date from service as a Guard Technician. Additional information can be found
here.
--Public Land Corps (PLC) - Submit the signed Certificate of Eligibility for Noncompetitive Hiring Status (PLC) issued by the PLC Coordinator for the organization where the creditable service was completed. Additional information can be found
here.
Contacts
- Address FT COLLINS SCI CTR
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Mail Stop 600
Reston, VA 20192
US
- Name: Aleecia Garcia
- Phone: 303-236-9573
- Email: [email protected]
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