- Position Title
- Social Scientist
- Agency
- Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Announcement Number
- MR-21-11094124-DP (MP) Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Thursday, May 6, 2021 to Friday, May 21, 2021
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
2.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position?
If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
3.
Do you meet one of the following Competitive Merit Promotion eligibilities:
- Current or Former Federal Employee who has held or currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service and has never held the full performance level of the position being announced.
- Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA)
- Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)
4.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent. For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent. For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
5.
Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency and are serving or served under a time-limited competitive service appointment? You may be eligible to compete under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, P.L. 114-47.
Current land management agency appointees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.
Former land management agency employees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; must have been separated (with respect to their most recent separation) for reasons other than misconduct or performance, and must apply for a position covered by these provisions within two years of their most recent date of separation.
You must provide documentation showing all required periods of service (generally SF-50s) and acceptable performance (generally performance appraisal ratings or references from supervisors if employed for periods of time too short to require an appraisal.)
Current land management agency appointees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.
Former land management agency employees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; must have been separated (with respect to their most recent separation) for reasons other than misconduct or performance, and must apply for a position covered by these provisions within two years of their most recent date of separation.
You must provide documentation showing all required periods of service (generally SF-50s) and acceptable performance (generally performance appraisal ratings or references from supervisors if employed for periods of time too short to require an appraisal.)
6.
Do you meet one of the following Non-Competitive eligibilities:
- Current or Former Federal Employee who has held or currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service and has held a permanent (non-temporary) position in the competitive service at the same or higher full performance level as the position being announced
- Veterans who have a service connected disability of 30% or more
- Certain Military Spouses (Relocating with your spouse under Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders / a spouse of a service member who is 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury / a spouse of a service member killed while on active duty)
- Certain Overseas Family Members (A family member of a federal employee, or uniformed service member, who has completed 52 weeks of service in a federal position overseas.)
- Peace Corps/VISTA
- Foreign Service Employees
- Miscellaneous Authorities not regulated by OPM (Postal Career Service Employee; Postal Rate Commission Employee; Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee)
- DOI or FWS Authorities not regulated by OPM
- Individuals with a Disability: Schedule A Disability appointments (Severe Physical, Psychiatric, Mental Disability)
- Interchange agreement with other merit systems
7.
Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.
Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?
8.
Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:
• served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• are entitled to veterans' preference?
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service.
• served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• are entitled to veterans' preference?
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service.
Preferences
1.
Select the locations you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location.
2.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
Assessment 1
Minimum Qualification
For each question, choose the response that best describes your experience and training. Mark only one response for each question. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provided in your resume or application and information provided by your references.
1.
Education and Four Experience
2.
GS-12 Specialized Experience
A valid driver's license is required.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
3.
I possess a valid State driver's license.
Knowledge of and skill in applying conservation social science concepts, principles, and practices sufficient to identify research needs, provide technical support, and identify data-gaps for complex natural resource issue; to address complex natural resources management issues at both site-specific and regional scales to inform management decisions.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
4.
Utilize professional knowledge of principles, theories and techniques of the conservation social sciences to address complex interdisciplinary natural resource problems.
5.
Apply statistical analysis methods and procedures used in conservation social science field to analyze and interpret data.
6.
Apply social science theory and methods to address wildlife or other natural resource management issues, using qualitative and quantitative approaches.
7.
Use conceptual maps, logic models or other systematic processes to plan, design, or evaluate program goals and objectives.
Skill in integrating social science and natural science concepts and principles to independently develop communication materials and products that address complex relationships between people and the wildlife and their habitats.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
8.
Apply strategic communication techniques such as framing, persuasion, story telling, and awareness building to communicate technical social science to natural resources practitioners.
9.
Coordinate with natural resource practitioners to identify evaluation needs and approaches.
10.
Synthesize a variety of conservation social science documents, data, information, and plans into relevant resources that can be interpreted and used by field or regional level employees not trained in the social sciences.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with natural resource practitioners and decision-makers to ensure social science results are applied to conservation planning, program development, and policy
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
11.
Consult with natural resource practitioners to understand and help them frame their conservation challenges and recommend social science tools and resources to address them.
12.
Give briefings to practitioners and leadership that highlight the utility of social science to address complex natural resource issues, including impact on the project outcome or decision.
Ability to collaborate with others on teams to accomplish shared objectives.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
13.
Serve as a contributing member of a growing conservation social science community of practice across the federal, state and nongovernmental organizations, representing the organization and providing social science expertise.
14.
Work with small groups of social science experts in an organization or across organizations to identify social science needs and capacity.
15.
Participate in interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement solutions to complex conservation issues.
Minimum Qualifications
For each question, choose the response that best describes your experience and training. Mark only one response for each question. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provided in your resume or application and information provided by your references.
16.
Education or Four years experience
17.
GS-13 Specialized Experience
A valid drivers license is required.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
18.
I possess a valid State driver's license.
Mastery knowledge of and skill in applying qualitative and quantitative social science principles, practices, and techniques to better understand how human factors may impact wildlife or other natural resource management, such as to evaluate conservation interventions or work unit strategic communications; to inform campaigns or strategies aimed at influencing human conservation behavior; to improve stakeholder engagement processes or partnership building efforts; to develop reports that identify short-coming (realized and projected) and recommend solutions of alternative courses to take; and to discuss study results with technical and non-technical individual(s).
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
19.
Apply statistical analysis methods and procedures used in a conservation social science field to analyze and interpret data.
20.
Apply social science theory and methods to address wildlife or other natural resource issues, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
21.
Use conceptual maps, logic models or other systematic processes to plan, design or evaluate program goals and objectives.
22.
Utilize professional knowledge of principles, theories and techniques of the conservation social sciences to address complex interdisciplinary natural resource problems.
Skill in integrating social science and natural science concepts and principles to independently develop communication materials and products that address complex relationships between people and the wildlife and their habitats.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
23.
Apply strategic communication techniques such as framing, persuasion, story telling, or awareness building to communicate technical social science to natural resource practitioners.
24.
Coordinate with natural resource practitioners to identify evaluation needs and approaches.
25.
Develop tools or resources communicate the conservation social sciences and their application to a variety of stakeholders, such as natural resource practitioners, managers and supervisors, senior management, and external partners.
Ability to coordinate work unit efforts with other internal and external offices, represent these efforts to key individuals and groups outside the immediate work unit, as well as serve as spokesperson and social science subject matter expert for the Service.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
26.
Serve as a key member of a growing conservation social science community of practice across federal, state and nongovernmental organizations, representing the organization and providing social science expertise.
27.
Work with leadership and others to develop and implement a plan to integrate social science into strategic planning efforts, policy recommendations, and programmatic priorities.
28.
Coordinate the work of a team in planning and carrying out program or project objectives
29.
Convene small groups of conservation social science experts in an organization or across organizations to identify social science needs and capacity.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with a wide range of conservation and natural resource practitioners, program managers, and decision-making officials sufficient to ensure that social science principles are incorporated into conservation planning, program development, and policy to address stakeholder and public involvement, socioeconomic consideration of the surrounding communities; and to develop collaborative conservation partnerships and strong strategic communication.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
30.
Collaborate with relevant conservation organizations (e.g., federal, state, academic, nongovernmental) to integrate social science into wildlife and other natural resource management and to coordinate on approaches, best practices or practitioner tools.
31.
Consult with natural resource practitioners to apply conservation social science to complex issues in areas such as landscape-level planning, stakeholder engagement, partnership building and strategic communication.
32.
Give briefings to practitioners and leadership that highlight the utility of social science to address complex natural resource issues, including impact on the project outcome or decision.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
33.
I have assured my resume/application contains all of the information listed under the Section titled: "Required Resume/Application Information."
34.
Verification Statement
As explained in the vacancy announcement, your responses to this Occupational Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents and references you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your responses and rating. Providing false or fraudulent information in or attached to your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for separating, you after you begin work. All information you provide is subject to investigation.
Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. By agreeing below to this verification statement, you are confirming that you: 1) understand this verification statement, 2) have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy, and 3) verify that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and capability.
Failure to agree to this verification statement will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.
As explained in the vacancy announcement, your responses to this Occupational Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents and references you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your responses and rating. Providing false or fraudulent information in or attached to your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for separating, you after you begin work. All information you provide is subject to investigation.
Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. By agreeing below to this verification statement, you are confirming that you: 1) understand this verification statement, 2) have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy, and 3) verify that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and capability.
Failure to agree to this verification statement will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.