Summary
The United States Sentencing Commission is looking for a Senior Research Associate. The incumbent analyzes factors associated with the sentencing of federal criminal defendants and provides expertise in research methods and analytic techniques. Under the supervision of the Director and Deputy Directors of the Office of Research and Data (ORD), the incumbent will be responsible for leading data analysis projects.
Clarification from the agency
Open Until Filled. The first review of applications will be on Friday, September 1, 2023.
Duties
The duties of this position include but are not limited to:
- Independently managing and directing large-scale research projects from inception to final project completion including:
- Participating in the design f new data coding instruments, making data coding decisions, and evaluating the reliability of data collection projects;
- Overseeing research design and data cllection;
- Prviding technical guidance and project direction to research associates;
- Cnducting quantitative and qualitative analysis; and
- Interpreting the findings fr use by Commission staff, Congress, the criminal justice community, and the public.
- Providing technical advice to other ORD staff on methodological approaches to research projects (e.g., research design, analytical techniques, etc.).
- Providing expert briefings on research findings to the Commission, Commission staff, at national conferences, to judges, and to other key stakeholders.
- Participating in Commission staff policy teams and working groups, including analyzing data to support policy team memos and briefings, participating in team meetings, assisting in preparing memoranda to the Commission, attending and presenting data at Commission meetings, and reviewing the work of other ORD staff assigned to the policy team.
- Writing, editing, and supervising the editorial process of Commission research reports to be published for public dissemination.
- Reviewing reports and findings by Commission staff outside ORD to assure accuracy in terms of guideline application, data use, and technical precision.
- Mentoring and assisting in the training and development of research associates.
- Assisting the Director and Deputy Directors of ORD in: (a) managing Commission contracts, (b) coordinating and allocating resources, and (c) providing input regarding ORD staff job performance.
- Performing other duties as assigned by the Director or Deputy Directors of ORD.
Conditions of Employment
Qualifications
MANDATORY QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in criminology or a closely related social science field, and a minimum of five years of work experience in the criminal justice field.
One (1) year of specialized work experience equivalent to the previous level in the federal service is required. For example, one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-13 level is required to qualify for appointment at the GS-14 level. Specialized experience is defined as progressively responsible work experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities that will enable the individual to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position.
SKILL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to conduct and lead large scale criminal justice research projects.
- Advanced knowledge of SAS, R, or SPSS
- Knowledge of advanced statistical techniques.
- Ability to produce high-quality written research reports for several audiences including Commissioners, Congress, the Federal Judiciary, academia, and the public.
- Effective oral and written communication skills and an ability to serve as a representative for the agency at professional conferences and meetings with other government officials.
- Ability to work well in a demanding environment, meet tight deadlines, and manage multiple assignments.
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team, and to maintain effective working relationships with agency staff at all levels and with key individuals in other federal government organizations and interest groups.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with extracting data from databases (e.g., Oracle).
BENEFITS
The Commission participates in the following federal benefits:
- The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program
- The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
- The Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program
- Federal Retirement
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
- The Federal Leave Program
In addition, the Commission participates in the Judiciary's Flexible Spending Program for dependent care, health care, and commuter reimbursement, the government-wide Long Term Care Insurance Program, unemployment, and workers' compensation benefits.
The Commission is conveniently located next to Union Station on Capitol Hill, and is easily accessible by public transportation, including the Metro, and the MARC and VRE commuter trains. In addition to the federal benefits package, the Commission's location in the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building offers various amenities such as a health unit, credit union, day care center, cafeteria, and free on-site fitness center.
The Commission offers a monthly transit subsidy to employees who use mass transit to commute to and from work, subject to the availability of funds. The Commission offers alternative work schedules (AWS), which are fixed work schedules that enable full-time employees to complete the basic 80-hour biweekly work requirement in less than 10 workdays.
The Commission offers regular telework (not full-time) to employees in positions deemed eligible by the staff director and who meet the requirements of an approved telework arrangement in which an employee performs official duties at home or at an approved telework site.
The Commission also offers training opportunities to employees through LinkedIn Learning, and the Judiciary's Online University, which offers academic credit and professional credit programs through web-based learning. These training tools assist Commission employees with taking online courses in a flexible way, by offering training courses in the areas of: staff training and development; credit toward undergraduate degree programs; continuing education and non-credit certificate programs; executive education; contract training; credit credentials courses for continuing professional education and credit for individuals who hold credentials and achieve certifications associated with several globally-recognized sponsored organizations.
Education
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in criminology or a closely-related social science field.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Commission evaluates applicants through a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. Applicants may be required to take a skills assessment test. Applicants who do not address the qualification requirements (mandatory and preferred) in his or her application materials as stated in the vacancy announcement are automatically disqualified from consideration and must re-apply before the closing date to be considered for employment.
- Resume
- Cover letter that addresses all of the qualification requirements listed in this announcement
- If available, please provide a recent job performance evaluation
- If available, please provide college transcripts
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.
In order to be considered, all applicants must submit an electronic resume and cover letter that address all of the qualification requirements listed in this announcement, and if available, provide a recent job performance evaluation and college transcripts. Applicants will also need to complete the online occupational questionnaire. All applications must be submitted at www.usajobs.gov.
Next steps
The Office of Human Resources:
- Reviews the applicant's application to ensure the proper materials are submitted.
- Ensures that the application addresses all of the qualification requirements (mandatory and preferred) as stated in the vacancy announcement.
- Determines whether the applicant meets the qualification requirements for the particular position and notifies the applicant about the status of his or her application.
Applicants who meet the mandatory qualification requirements will be considered and their application materials will be forwarded to the screening panel for review. Applicants who do not meet the mandatory qualification requirements for the position are automatically disqualified from consideration. In addition, some applicants may be tested using various assessment tools not listed on the vacancy announcement to verify an applicant's experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for consideration and selection.
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