Psychologist

Summary

Force Renewal Programs are designed to attract students & recent graduates with management/leadership potential to careers as Federal employees with the Air Force Civilian Service. This is accomplished by recruiting & selecting high-caliber candidates & training them to become competent, effective, & productive employees in a variety of career fields; providing training & developmental opportunities, & preparing them to successfully complete required training & developmental assignments.

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Duties

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• Performs developmental assignments in support of projects assigned to higher level analysts. Performs minor phases of a larger assignment or work of moderate difficulty where procedures are established, and a number of specific guidelines exist.
• Performs general operations and assignments for portions of a project or study consisting of a series of interrelated tasks or problems. The employee applies judgment in the independent application of methods and techniques previously learned.
• Participates in special initiatives, studies, and projects. Performs special research tasks designed to utilize and enhance knowledge of work processes and techniques. Works with higher graded specialists in planning and conducting special initiatives, studies, and projects.
• Prepares correspondence and other documentation. Drafts or prepares a variety of documents to include newsletter items, responses to routine inquiries, reports, letters, and other related documents.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection
• Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration
• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see
• Total salary varies depending on location of position
• PCS expenses if authorized will be paid IAW JTR and Air Force Regulations
• Recruitment incentives may be authorized
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Some position may be subject to drug testing
• Employee must maintain current certifications
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• You will be required to serve a one year probationary period
• To receive further consideration, YOU MUST log in to select the Palace Acquire (PAQ)/Copper Cap (COP) link at the bottom. Once there, select the "Apply Now" button.

Qualifications

*The CSA PAQ program requires a degree with overall GPA standing of 2.95 /3.0 or higher. All qualifications must be met prior to August 2026. This must be from an accredited college or university:

• Meet the qualification standards of the position
• Must be at least 16 years of age
• A U.S. citizen or a national (resident of American Samoa or Swains Island)
• Must sign a mobility agreement

BASIC REQUIREMENTS for GS-7 and GS-9:

Degree: major or equivalent in psychology for all specializations except clinical psychology and counseling psychology. These two specializations have additional educational requirements, as stated below:

• Clinical psychology: For positions at grades GS-11 and above, satisfactory completion of all the requirements for the doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology is required.
• Counseling psychology: For positions at grades GS-9 and above, satisfactory completion of 2 full academic years of graduate study directly related to professional work in counseling psychology, or satisfactory completion in an accredited educational institution of all the requirements for a master's degree directly related to counseling psychology is required.

You may qualify if you meet one of the following:

1. GS-7: You must have completed or will complete a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's from an accredited institution AND must have documented Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) at the undergraduate level in the following:

a) Grade Point Average 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on your official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of curriculum; OR 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in your major field completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum.

2. GS-9: You must have completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree:

a) Grade Point Average - 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on your official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of curriculum; OR 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in your major field completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum. If more than 10 percent of total undergraduate credit hours are non-graded, i.e. pass/fail, CLEP, CCAF, DANTES, military credit, etc. you cannot qualify based on GPA.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES ( KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Professional knowledge of the principles, concepts, and theories of Psychology, and the standard practices, methods, and techniques of the occupation sufficient to perform difficult, but well-precedented assignments.

2. Knowledge of analysis, evaluation, fact-finding, and investigative techniques in order to gather data, identify significant factors and recommend a solution from a number of possible alternatives.

3. Knowledge of Psychology to perform studies and prepare reports, documentation, and correspondence to communicate factual and procedural information clearly.

4. Skill in applying the principles, concepts, and practices of the occupation sufficient to perform moderately difficult assignments.

5. Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy, both orally and in writing, as well as work in a professional manner with peers and management.

6. Ability to learn and apply analytical investigative techniques to accomplish work in the subject-matter field.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

- your performance and conduct;

- the needs and interests of the agency;

- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency of the Government; and

- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency if the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Please submit copies of all Transcripts to include Transferred hours - Official copies are not required at time of application. If selected, you will be required to provide official copies of all Transcripts.

***NOTE***Degree Audits are not accepted.

If you qualify based on undergraduate education and you have not graduated prior to applying to this position. You may be offered a position contingent upon your final grade point average or class ranking.

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information

For DHA Positions: These positions are being filled under Direct-Hire Authority for the Department of Defense for Post-Secondary Students and Recent Graduates. The Secretary of the Air Force has delegated authority by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to directly appoint qualified post-secondary students and recent graduates directly into competitive service positions; these positions may be professional or administrative occupations and are located Air Force-Wide.

Positions may be filled as permanent or term with a full-time or part-time work schedule.

Pay will vary by geographic location.

*** The term "Current post-secondary student" means a person who is currently enrolled in, and in good academic standing at a full-time program at an institution of higher education; and is making satisfactory progress toward receipt of a baccalaureate or graduate degree; and has completed at least one year of the program.

*** The term "recent graduate" means a person who was awarded a degree by an institution of higher education not more than two years before the date of the appointment of such person, except in the case of a person who has completed a period of obligated service in a uniform service of more than four years.

Selective Service: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information, click here.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for 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.

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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.

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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.