TRAVEL REQUIRED

• Occasional Travel
• 3-5 times per year.

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

• Yes
• Relocation expenses may be authorized.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• A three year probationary period may be required.

The Incumbent is a Research Social Scientist (Quantitative) in Pacific Northwest Research Station’s Goods, Services and Values Program (PNW 2665) with a duty station in Olympia, Washington. The mission of the Programis to conduct and communicate research to advance understanding of relationships among people and forest and rangeland ecosystems. The unit conducts interdisciplinary research in five problem areas:

1: Improve knowledge of fundamental social and economic processes and their interactions with the natural environment.

2: Examine the roles of policies, programs, and other institutions in interactions between people and natural resources.

3: Describe and analyze the implications of changing demographics, socio-economics, and technology on natural resources and their management.

4: Describe the capacity of dynamic landscapes to provide for evolving human wants and needs.

5: Conduct and use integrated multidisciplinary research to support development of management approaches that account for interactions among socioeconomic, ecological, and physical factors.

The scientist works with the Team Leader to foster the integration of studies arising out of the research areas within the team. As a result the scientist is engaged at the team level in defining the scope of projects, setting research priorities and making budget decisions concerning research and development. The scientist identifies research problems, describes research objectives and approaches, describes expected results, evaluates progress, and determines best avenues for disseminating results.

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.

You must possess the Basic Requirements identified below to be considered eligible for all positions at the GS-5 grade level and above. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education.

GS-0101

Bachelors Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

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 Basic Requirements, your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the specialized experience requirements. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level; or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Specialized experience is defined as conducting social science research related to natural resource management. Using analytical and statistical software for quantitative data analysis (e.g., multivariate, econometric, hierarchical linear or structural equation modeling, etc.). Collaborating with internal and external customers to develop processes and policies to address natural resource management issues. Disseminating results through peer-reviewed journals, technical bulletins, scientific meetings, and workshops.

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, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

Foreign Education: Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. Applicants must provide documentation with their application that the education was evaluated by a U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials, commonly called a credential evaluation service. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, refer to the U.S. Department of Educations website at http://www.ed.gov.

To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements with 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

REQUIREMENTS:

May be subject to satisfactory completion of a three year probationary period or trial period.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience, and training you described in your resume, as well as the responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:

• Ability to formulate and plan research studies or projects.

• Knowledge of social science practices, and procedures.

• Skill with quantitative data analysis software.

• Ability to develop collaborations and partnerships with both internal (Forest Service) and external customers.

• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.                                                                                                                           Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. All Quality candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Non-Competitive and special hiring authority candidates need to meet minimum qualification requirements to be referred.

  Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the “Apply Online” button to the right.