SOCIAL SCIENTIST

US Environmental Protection Agency; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General, invites applications for a position in the Office of Special Review and Evaluation.

This role supports planning and conducting evaluations of environmental programs and assisting project teams with data collection and reporting. Candidates must meet Basic/Individual Occupational Requirements, with options for GS-9 or GS-11 levels, including combinations of education and experience.

Qualifications

• Earned bachelor's or higher degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines.
• Combination of education and experience that provides knowledge of one or more behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
• Four years of appropriate experience demonstrating knowledge of one or more behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
• For GS-9: one year specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 or the private sector equivalent.
• Education options include master's or higher or a combination of education and experience to qualify.

Responsibilities

• Assist project managers with planning and executing inspections or evaluations of environmental programs.
• Assist a team with gathering evidence and data on programs being inspected or evaluated.
• Assist with analyzing data and evidence to measure and evaluate conditions of programs being reviewed.
• Contribute to written products such as draft and final reports, memoranda, briefing materials, or other documents.

Skills

Planning inspections

Data gathering

Data analysis

Written reports

Education

Bachelor's degree in behavioral or social science

Master's degree or higher in related field

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

Job description

This position is located in the Office of Inspector General, Office of Special Review and Evaluation. The Office of Inspector General is an independent office within EPA that helps the agency protect the environment in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. We consist of evaluators, auditors, program analysts, investigators, and others with extensive expertise. Although we are a part of EPA, Congress provides us with our funding separate from the agency, to ensure our independence.

BASIC/INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

Degree: Earned bachelor's or higher degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position from an accredited college or university.

OR

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

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.

In addition to the above Basic/Individual Occupational Requirement:

You may qualify for the GS-9 grade level, if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the federal sector, or the equivalent in the private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

For this position at grade level (GS9), your specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

1. Assisting project managers with planning and executing inspections or evaluations of environmental programs; AND
2. Assisting a team with gathering evidence and data on programs being inspected or evaluated; AND
3. Assisting with analyzing data and evidence to measure and evaluate the conditions of programs being reviewed; AND
4. Contributing to written products such as draft and final reports, memorandum, briefing materials, or other documents.

OR

Education: Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. (Please submit a copy of your transcripts)

OR

Combination of Experience and Education: If you have less than one year of specialized experience as described above, and at least one year of graduate education as described above but less than the required two years, graduate level education can be used if, when combined the equivalent is 100% of the qualification requirement. Only graduate level education in excess of the first full year can be used in this calculation. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. To compute the percentage of education, divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Please submit a copy of your transcript)

You may qualify for the GS-11 grade level, if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the federal sector, or the equivalent in the private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

For this position at grade level (GS-11), your specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

1. Assisting project managers with the design and appropriateness of audits and/or evaluations of environmental programs; AND
2. Documenting observations and gathering data, reference materials, and/or documents as part of a team to accomplish work activities for programs being reviewed; AND
3. Analyzing data and evidence to measure and evaluate the conditions of programs being reviewed; AND
4. Presenting findings to stakeholders through written reports and other documents.

OR

Education: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. (Please submit a copy of transcripts)

OR

Combination of Experience and Education: If you have less than one year of specialized experience as described above, and at least one year of graduate education as described above but less than the required two years, graduate level education can be used if, when combined the equivalent is 100% of the qualification requirement. Only graduate level education in excess of the first full year can be used in this calculation. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. To compute the percentage of education, divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Please submit a copy of your transcript)

Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

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.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position within thirty (30) days of the closing date of this announcement.