SOCIAL SCIENTIST

Summary

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.

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Duties

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This position is located in the Environmental Infrastructure Oversight directorate of the Office of Special Review and Evaluation within the Environmental Protection Agency Office of the Inspector General (OIG). This position will assist in planning and executing inspections and evaluations of state, regional, or nation-wide environmental programs.

As a SOCIAL SCIENTIST GS -0101-9/11 in a semi-developmental capacity, assignments are designed to prepare the candidate to perform various assignments independently.

At the GS-09 level, the candidate will perform the following:

• Assist with aspects of inspections and evaluations of various programs to identify areas where significant improvements in economy, efficiency, and/or effectiveness can be made in agency statutes, regulations, guidance, policies, procedures, or practices.
• Assist with gathering and analyzing data in support of assignments and apply conventional evaluation techniques to complete relatively uncomplicated portions of inspections or evaluations.
• Assist with researching and gathering reference materials to gain an understanding of the areas under review, such as applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, guidance documents, and industry best practices.
• Help prepare written products and assist with oral presentations on the subject.
• Participate in meetings with agency program personnel and OIG leaders. Assist with or participate in meetings with management officials to present findings, explain the significance of conclusions, justify recommendations, and answer questions on the inspection or evaluation planning, scope, and methodology.
• Help support meetings with internal and external representatives of organizations to establish cooperative relationships.
• Participate in workgroups to improve the management and work processes of the organization on an as needed basis.

At the GS-11 level, the candidate will perform the following:

• Evaluate various programs to identify areas where significant improvement in economy, efficiency, and effectiveness can be made in agency statutes, regulations, guidance, policies, procedures, or practices.
• Gather and analyze data in support of assignments and apply conventional evaluation techniques to complete relatively uncomplicated portions of evaluations.
• Research and gather reference materials to gain an understanding of the areas under review, as well as applicable laws, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Prepare written products and make oral presentations on the topic.
• Participate in meetings with program personnel and OIG managers and other management officials to present findings, explain the significance of conclusions, justify recommendations, and answer questions on the evaluation planning and methodology. Work to establish customer/client agreement on evaluation design.
• Support meetings with internal and external representatives of organizations to establish cooperative relationships.
• Participate in workgroups to improve the management and work processes of the organization on an as needed basis.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the tentative employment offer may be withdrawn.

If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment" (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms.

Upon appointment, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually.

Depending on your status, this position may require serving a 1-year probationary period.

Qualifications

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.

Preview the Application Questionnaire, click

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is the number of credits hours 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.

Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) or you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the courses.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.

Additional information

Identification from the I-9 Form: We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about e-verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility , you must submit proof by 10/23/2026 that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the agency notice, your most recent Performance Rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty station. To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority of this vacancy, you must earn a minimum score of 85 (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference) on the rating criteria for this position.

VETERANS PREFERENCE : If claiming 5-point veteran preference you MUST submit copy number 4 of the DD-214. If you are claiming 10-point veteran preference you MUST submit an SF-15, Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference AND all other required documents in order to be granted the preference.

Additional information on veteran's preference is available at:

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (

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.

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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.

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. Learn more about federal benefits.

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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.