SOCIAL SCIENCE ANALYST

Summary

This position is part of the Defense Human Resources Activity. The incumbent serves as Social Science Analyst responsible for executing the professional and technical work of the organization. The mission of the organization involves major aspects of key research and development programs and has substantial effect on national defense issues and new technology areas. Programs generally involve substantial fiscal responsibility (e.g., management of multimillion-dollar efforts).

Duties

As a SOCIAL SCIENCE ANALYST at the GS-0101-13 some of your typical work assignments may include: Conducts front-end and practitioner-centered occupational analyses: Plans, designs, and executes comprehensive front-end analyses, cognitive task analyses, and practitioner-centered occupational studies to systematically identify organizational performance gaps and target-population requirements. Translates complex qualitative and quantitative task data into empirical knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) and validated competency models to directly inform evidence-based learning objectives and curriculum frameworks. Conducts mixed-methods social science research and psychometrics: Conceptualizes, executes, and oversees applied mixed-methods social science research to support human relations workforce development across the Department. Formulates rigorous experimental designs, develops and psychometrically validates measurement instruments, and applies advanced inferential and multivariate statistical modeling to laboratory and field data. Training Effectiveness, Program Evaluation Science & Performance Measurement: Designs, validates, and directs comprehensive, multi-tiered training and program evaluation architectures to measure instructional effectiveness, learner competency attainment, and operational transfer of learning. Develops formative and summative assessment plans, psychometrically sound rubrics, and data-collection protocols, integrating longitudinal evaluation finding with front-end occupational baselines to drive data-informed curriculum and programmatic refinements. Behavioral Science Technical Advisory, Evidence Synthesis & Policy Translation: Locates, critically appraises, and synthesizes multidisciplinary social, behavioral, and organizational science literature and requisite policy to serve as a principal technical authority on human relations workforce performance. Project Planning, Technical Direction & Scientific Quality Assurance: Plans, coordinates, and provides technical project direction for multidisciplinary research and evaluation efforts, establishing milestones resource allocations, and scientific protocols compliant with Departmental priorities and research ethics standards. Conducts rigorous peer reviews and quality assurance evaluations of technical reports, briefs, and peer-reviewed manuscripts prepared by project teams and external collaborators to ensure methodological soundness and adherence to scientific publication standards. Manages, transforms, and analyzes large-scale defense personnel, survey, and educational datasets: Leverages advanced analytical environments and relational databases using Structured Query Language (SQL), R, and Python to extract, clean, manipulate, and model complex longitudinal datasets. Utilizes enterprise analytical workspaces to build reproducible data pipelines, monitor workforce metrics, and merge heterogeneous demographic, training, and operational data. Prepares and completes comprehensive professional written reports documenting data, results, and findings to include the reliability and validity of results in final technical reports. Prepares and provides briefings which includes initial research approach, research effort, and results that have implications for DEOMI and the Department of War.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-13, if you fulfill the following qualifications: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service: Conducting complex social and behavioral science research in support of human performance, training, education, curriculum development, evaluation, organizational effectiveness, or human relations programs by planning and directing studies; identifying researchable problems; preparing research plans and technical documentation; and producing findings that inform program, policy, or operational decisions. Applying advanced mixed-methods research techniques, including designing valid and reliable data collection instruments, collecting and analyzing laboratory and field data, conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses, and using descriptive, inferential, psychometric, and other advanced statistical methods to evaluate hypotheses, interpret results, and ensure methodological rigor. Developing, validating, or applying competency models, performance measures, forecasting models, test and measurement approaches, or other analytic frameworks to assess knowledge, skills, and abilities gaps, support workforce or learner assessments, and improve organizational or instructional outcomes. Translating research and assessment findings into evidence-based recommendations for training, curriculum, evaluation, or organizational improvement by conducting front-end analyses, cognitive task analyses, learner population assessments, or related needs assessments, and communicating actionable solutions to leaders, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams. Advised professional staff, leaders, or cross-functional teams on the application of social science, mathematical, and statistical theories and methods to solve complex problems, evaluate program effectiveness, and support mission-related research, development, or instructional systems design efforts. 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. In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0101 series: Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. 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. *NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts may result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO SATISFY THE INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to