Research Social Scientist

Summary This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Rural Economy Branch. In this position, you will be responsible for formulating research plans, developing methodology, determining data needs, and defining resources needed to carry out complex social science research and analysis programs of great significance and difficulty. Learn more about this agency Duties Formulates research plans, develops methodology, determines data needs, and defines resources needed to carry out complex social science research and analysis programs of great significance and difficulty. Conduct analysis of demographic phenomena that have economic and social consequences on various areas within rural America. May serve as an expert on rural data sources and on definitions of rural necessary for both Federal research and policy applications. Produce authoritative technical advice and guidance on Departmental actions and policy decisions related to demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic analyses of rural America. Conduct analysis of population and migration change at both the overall rural level and in individual counties and regions. Use spatial analyses of various indicators of rural resident and community well-being. Report findings and provide solutions to problems that have been particularly difficult and unyielding to analysis, validate or modify existing scientific theory. Lead the development and reporting of analyses of population trends and migration patterns for rural US households. Requirements Conditions of employment 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 Successful completion of one-year probationary period. 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 E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/ Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Requirements: Degree: A full 4-year degree of study in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Related disciplines may include demography, sociology, geography, economics, and agricultural economics. OR A 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. AND In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet the following minimum qualification requirements: Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: GS-12: Qualifying experience for GS-12 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-11; or its non-Federal equivalent that includes experience applying advanced social science research methodologies and quantitative analysis techniques to the conduct of complex demographic and/or socioeconomic research and analysis relevant to rural development; communicating research findings through peer-reviewed publications or equivalent government reports. GS-13: Qualifying experience for GS-13 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-12 level; or its non-Federal equivalent that includes experience coordinating and analyzing data for the development of policies to implement programs that enhance the health of rural communities; collaborate with various stakeholders to gather information on the performance of rural and agricultural research; and assist in conducting program evaluations to improve the administration and efficacy of research and education programs. GS-14: Qualifying experience for GS-14 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-13 level; or its non-Federal equivalent that includes experience developing and providing input and direction for regional or national rural and agricultural science programs; participating in the development of policies to implement programs to enhance health of rural communities; leading workgroups with various stakeholders in the performance of agricultural research or education activities; and participating in conducting program evaluations to improve the administration and efficacy of research and education programs. GS-15: Qualifying experience for GS-15 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-14 level; or its non-Federal equivalent that includes experience in primary authorship of a number of important papers, models, theories, and/or techniques that impact the advancement of or are accepted as authoritative in the field of rural economics; conducting policy-related research on the drivers of economic and population growth and decline in rural areas; participating in symposia that define the state of the discipline or introduce new areas in the field of rural economics. 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 Please see above for education qualification requirement information. Additional information **This Position is being filled through OPM's government-wide Direct-Hire Authority for this occupation and is open to all U.S. Citizens. Your application will be evaluated for basic eligibility and to determine if your experience and/or education meet the minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and other basic requirements will be referred and are eligible for selection. ** Selections made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given a new appointment to the civil service. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified based on an evaluation of the following competencies: Competencies: Economics - Knowledge of economic policy, scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results. Communication - Communicates economic information to public and private decision-makers. Administration and Management - Knowledge of planning, coordination, and execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production. CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: Federal employees at GS-14/15 are subject to prohibitions against officially dealing with outside organizations in which they have a financial interest. If hired for this position, you may be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of the effective date of your appointment and annually thereafter. Expand Hide  additional information 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. Benefits 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.