Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibles and Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) employees.

The selectee will serve as a Social Science Research Specialist in the Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information (SII), National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC). Typical work assignments include:

• Performing routine tasks to support research projects by applying behavioral and social science research principles to include collecting and analyzing data, interpreting data results, using thematic analysis, data entry, and executing statistical analysis on topics including prevention of targeted violence, behavioral threat assessment, terrorism, and criminal behavior.
• Prepares comprehensive written analyses for internal and external distribution that summarize the research process, findings, and implications; that contribute to scientific and professional knowledge of targeted violence and behavioral threat assessment.
• Develops training material and delivers presentations to internal and external partners, which enhance and/or contribute to the scientific and professional knowledge on behavioral threat assessment and preventing targeted violence.

• Participates in consultation meetings with internal and external partners, which enhance and/or contribute to professional knowledge of behavioral threat assessment and preventing targeted violence.

• Manages administrative tasks for project and division efforts, overseeing documentation and coordination that may involve multiple phases.

Apply for this exciting opportunity to be able to support research, training, and consultative initiatives on the prevention of targeted violence and to the field of behavioral threat assessment, which significantly impacts and informs the agency's approach to preventing potential threats to persons and facilities protected by the agency. This Social Science Research Specialist position starts at a salary of $70,623.00,GS-9, step 1, with promotion potential to $158,322 GS-13 step 10.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• Obtain and maintain a top-secret Tier 5 clearance for more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
• Submit to a polygraph examination prior to your appointment.

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 or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To be considered qualified for this position you must meet the following qualification requirements for the respective grade level in which you are applying.

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Basic Requirements AND Minimum Qualification requirements as listed below:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position (Transcripts required)

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 (e.g., degree plus relevant experience in the field of behavioral or social science; or related disciplines to the position outlined in the job posting). (Transcripts required)

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. (e.g., only relevant experience in the field of behavioral or social science, or related disciplines to the position outlined in the job posting).

AND

GS-9:
You qualify for the GS-09 level (starting salary $70,623) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level performing duties such as:

• Performing routine tasks and assignments to support research projects to include collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and interpreting data results that develops an understanding for the prevention of targeted violence, behavioral threat assessment, terrorism, and criminal behavior.
• Applying behavioral and social science principles, concepts, and methods in support of research projects.
• Assisting in the task of open-source analysis on topics associated with the prevention of targeted violence, behavioral threat assessment, protective intelligence, criminal behavior, and terrorism.
• Maintaining records and documentation to provide updates to staff.

OR

Master's or equivalent graduate degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

A combination of graduate education and experience. This will be calculated using your résumé and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

GS-11:

You qualify for the GS-11 level (starting salary $85,447) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level performing duties such as:

• Supporting the task of open-source analysis on specific topics associated with the prevention of targeted violence, behavioral threat assessment, protective intelligence, criminal behavior, and terrorism.
• Assisting with tasks related to applying behavioral and social science research principles, concepts and methods to execute research tasks to include identification of study samples, analyzing qualitative data using thematic analysis, data entry, executing statistical analyses, and interpreting data results.
• Assisting with the development of instructional material.
• Maintaining complete records and documentation that is clear, concise, and accurate, ensuring it properly communicates updates to staff.

OR

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position;

OR

3 full years progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

A combination of graduate education and experience. This will be calculated using your résumé and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

GS-12:

You qualify for the GS-12 level (starting salary $102,415) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level performing such duties as:

• Executing detailed analysis of defined objectives associated with targeted violence, behavioral threat assessment, protective intelligence criminal behavior, and terrorism, with little oversight.
• Conducting open-source analysis on specific topics or issues to identify pertinent theories or data in scientific literature, reports, news media, and other information systems on targeted violence, behavioral threat assessment, and related concepts.
• Utilizing conventional research techniques to evaluate, synthesize, analyze, interpret, and summarize data to communicate these methods and findings in briefings and written reports, as well as communicate these findings in support of training and consultative initiatives in the areas of targeted violence prevention and behavioral threat assessment.
• Preparing incident analyses and other reports summarizing the research process, findings, and implications, which enhance and/or contribute to the scientific and professional field of targeted violence, behavioral threat assessment, protective intelligence, criminal behavior, and terrorism.

The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This announcement is being filled using the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Direct-Hire Authority. Agencies may appoint candidates directly to jobs, without regard to the provisions of Title 5 U.S.C.3309 through 3318. Therefore, Veterans' preference does not apply when appointing individuals. For more information on Direct Hire Authority please visit: Direct Hire Authority.

Applicants who meet the basic requirement and specialized experience for the position will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to the announcement.

Veterans: Although the Direct Hire Authority permits hiring without regard to Veterans Preference, applicants who are eligible for Veterans Preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (See Required Documents section for information on substantiating documents).

Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices to the assessment questionnaire. Your resume must also reflect the one year of specialized experience requirement, in order to be considered. If the one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level cannot be identified in your resume, you will be considered not qualified.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

If you are called for an interview, you must submit the following items:
1) Writing sample - This should be a document you authored that best represents your writing style.
2) Work sample #1 - Following instructions that will be provided, you will complete a work sample to evaluate your ability to assess information from multiple sources and construct an accurate timeline of events pertaining to an act of targeted violence.
3) Work sample #2 - You will develop a 10-minute presentation on a topic of your choice that is relevant to the field of social and/or behavioral sciences and be prepared to deliver the briefing during the interview.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

In addition to addressing the vacancy specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation:

• Resume - Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show work experience in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours worked per week. To learn how to format and submit a two-page resume, please visit the USAJOBS Help Center..
• The position has an education requirement: Submit a copy of your college/university transcript (unofficial is acceptable) it must show school name, student's name, credit earned, degree, and date awarded. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of 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.
• Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit a copy of your agency notice, copy of your most recent performance appraisal (with at least a satisfactory rating), and your most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.
• Are you a veteran? Veterans' preference does not apply to selections made using Direct Hiring Authority however, if you would like to submit your military records for benefits you may receive after selection, please submit the following: a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4). If a DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4) is not available, other documentation listing the beginning and ending dates of active service and the type of discharge must be submitted to verify eligibility. If claiming 10-point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." For more information view Veteran Information.
• Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title, Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee) Agency, Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Next steps