Summary
The National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for an Interdisciplinary (Computational Social Scientist) position for the Evaluation and Assessment Capabilities Section (EAC). within the Office of the Director (OD), Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) in Alexandria, VA.
For more information on OIA, please click here.
This vacancy will close once 50 applications are recieved.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Applications will be accepted from all US citizens who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements. Please see the "Other Information" section for further information.
Duties
This position is in the Office of the Director, Office of Integrative Activities (OIA), Evaluation and Assessment Capabilities Section (EAC). OIA works across disciplinary boundaries to lead and coordinate strategic programs and opportunities that advance interdisciplinary research and innovation across the U.S.; develop critical infrastructure for the nation's STEM enterprise; develop a diverse and engaged next generation of scientists and engineers and expand NSF's impact by producing evidence and information to support decision-making. OIA provides policy and programmatic analytical support to the NSF Director and Deputy Director and, working in partnership with NSF directorates and offices, plays a leadership role in shaping agency-wide policies and new strategic directions that promote cross-Foundation programmatic and operational unity and alignment.
EAC advances the science of science by providing centralized support and resources for data collection, analysis, and design of evaluations, surveys, and enterprise analytics. EAC engages stakeholders to identify learning priorities that drive a broad portfolio of projects that use qualitative and quantitative methods, from simple descriptive analysis to advanced modeling, network analysis, and machine learning. These activities enable NSF to understand program outcomes, evaluate the impacts of investments, make data-informed decisions, and promote a culture of evidence-based planning and policymaking.
The incumbent assists the EAC Section Head, Chief Evaluation Officer, and OIA leadership in formulating scientific goals and program planning through expert knowledge and applying computational methods for program evaluation and science and public policy research and analytics. The incumbent prepares relevant analyses that inform program planning, management, budgetary, and operational decisions in EAC and OIA. The incumbent maintains awareness of current and proposed activities and initiatives that affect EAC, OIA, and/or NSF evidence-building activities and provides advice on the implications of such activities and initiatives on EAC and OIA priority goals and activities. The incumbent will develop and maintain relationships with staff across NSF and other Federal government groups related to data science.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Computational Social Scientist is responsible for conducting data-driven program evaluations, portfolio analyses, and other studies of NSF research and education programs. The incumbent will use advanced computational and statistical methods to assess various federal initiatives' effectiveness, impact, and outcomes to advance STEM research and education. This position requires a strong background in social science research methodologies and computational data analysis techniques.
- Design and implement rigorous evaluation methodologies to assess the effectiveness and outcomes of federal STEM and STEM education programs.
- Collect, clean, and analyze large-scale datasets from diverse sources, including NSF administrative data, surveys, programmatic data, and external data on the science and technology enterprise.
- Apply advanced statistical and computational techniques to identify trends, patterns, and correlations within complex datasets.
- Develop and maintain predictive models to forecast program outcomes and inform strategic decision-making.
- Develop an EAC data and analytics vision and strategic plan. Develop data management policies and practices to ensure data is available, reliable, consistent, accessible, secure, and timely across the office to its mission and activities.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams of researchers, policymakers, and program managers to interpret findings and communicate results effectively.
- Prepare comprehensive reports, presentations, and technical documentation summarizing evaluation findings and recommendations for program improvement.
- Stay abreast of emerging research methodologies, technologies, and best practices in computational social science and program evaluation.
- Contribute to developing evaluation frameworks, data collection instruments, and evaluation plans for new and existing programs.
- Provide technical assistance and training to internal and external stakeholders on evaluation methodologies and data analysis techniques.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Establish contacts and maintain active involvement in the Program and related areas through participation in professional activities. Maintain familiarity with salient current research developments. Pursue individual research as workload and travel funds permit.
- Expand administrative capabilities through training courses or the assumption of new management responsibilities.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
This position is outside the competitive civil service.
You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
This position is in the bargaining unit represented by AFGE Local 3403.
The Selected Candidate(s) may be subject to a background investigation.
Qualifications
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in an appropriate field plus after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position; OR a Master's degree in an appropriate field plus after award of the degree, eight or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.
Appropriate Field of Study: Computational social science, social science, statistics,
mathematics, computer science, data science, or a related field.
Highly sought-after experience using computational methods to support program evaluation, science or public policy research, or big data analytics.
Education
Please refer to the Qualifications section.
If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, please also submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, expertise, education, and research activities relevant to the duties of the position. In some cases, additional assessment processes may also be used. We strongly encourage you to specifically address the Quality Ranking Factors below. This will ensure that you receive full consideration in the evaluation process.
Quality Ranking Factors
- Expert-level knowledge of data science and data analytics methods and tools, including programming languages such as Python, R, and/or SQL and tools such as Tableau and Microsoft Power BI.
- Experience working with large-scale datasets and applying data science and data analytics methods and tools, including machine learning algorithms for predictive modeling and pattern recognition.
- Knowledge of quantitative evaluation methods, including experimental design, causal inference, and statistical analysis, particularly in the context of federal STEM research and education programs and science policy evaluation.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts and findings to non-technical audiences effectively.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment.
- Prior experience conducting program evaluations or research in the fields of STEM research, STEM education, STEM workforce development, or related areas is preferred.
Required Documents
All applicants must submit a resume in any format and may also submit a cover letter.
In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date.
You are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how your background relates to the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed in the Qualifications and Evaluation Requirements section of this announcement. Additionally, you are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in your CV or in a supplemental statement. This information will be used in the evaluation process.
Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your application materials. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you MUST submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
- Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
-If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
- As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields.
- If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
WARNING! Applications submitted online must have a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
Next steps
You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website
Applicants should click 'Track this Application' in the Applicant Dashboard to receive application updates.
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