Social Scientist

Summary

WHAT IS TAXPAYER SERVICES?

A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions

• Position(s) are to be filled in following area(s):
  
  • TS - Operation Support - Strategies & Solutions, Research Group

REVIEW THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS

Duties

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The following are the duties of this position at the full working level. If this vacancy includes more than one grade and you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to help you grow in this position.

• Assumes responsibility for a pattern of small studies or program segments which involve the initiation, formulation, planning, execution, and control of a major social economic and social psychology study or continuous project. Projects may include such tasks as the specification of social economic and social psychology methods to be used, preparation of appropriate specifications and procedures, and review of computer system specifications and materials, and instructions needed for assuring the adequacy of the study design. The incumbent is responsible for the original plan, for coordinating the execution of the project, and for the conclusions which represent the solution.
• Develops application of new techniques and original methods of attack to the solution of important and unusual problems and determines goals and schedules for future programs. Acts as a troubleshooter to resolve bottlenecks at any step in a social economic and social psychology program or research project.
• Resolves large or complex social economic and social psychology research problems requiring incumbent's in-depth knowledge.
• Participates in executive-level meetings within a large division as a management representative.
• Assumes responsibility for the effective use of resources within assigned subject matter projects. Monitors such use to advise superiors of necessary remedial action or changes.

STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTIONS (SPD): PD95235

Visit the IRS SPD Library to access the position descriptions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Probationary Period - A person who is required to go through a probationary period and then is transferred, promoted, demoted, or reassigned before he or she completes such period is required to complete the remainder of the probationary period in the new position.
• Government Credit Card - Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS SHOWN IN QUALIFICATIONS SECTION

Qualifications

Federal experience is not required. Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or through Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To qualify for this position, you must meet the qualification requirements outlined below:

IOR BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

A degree behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

You must have a 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

You must have four (4) years of appropriate experience that demonstrated knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

AND

GS-13 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to the basic requirements, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include:

• Demonstrating the use of professional knowledge of the methods and principles of social economic and social psychology to identify behavioral segments and profiles of taxpayer behavior, to determine conclusions, solve complex problems within the assigned area, draw rational social economic statistical conclusions and prepare comprehensive reports.
• Applying technical expertise and application of social economic and social psychology and statistical techniques to research data and skillful interpretation of the results and validate findings;
• Developing, analyzing, and presenting social science information statistically, recognizing and adopting new techniques and preparing comprehensive reports;
• Completing research assignments using social science and statistical methodology to define profile and evaluate market segments of taxpayers for compliance with tax laws and resolve critical problems and to draw rational inferences.
• Utilizing various phases of initiation, formulation, planning, execution, and control of major social science studies or continuous projects to recognize and evaluate significant and critical factors, to solve complex problems and to draw rational inferences based on research findings;
• Reviewing technical papers, articles, and other reports that use social science data for technical accuracy and proper application of social science methods and statistical analysis and resolving complex social science problems or errors.

AND

You must also meet the following requirement(s):

• TIME AFTER COMPETITIVE APPOINTMENT (TACA): By the closing date (or if this is an open continuous announcement, by the cut-off date) specified in this job announcement, current civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive referral certificate, known as time after competitive appointment. For this requirement, a competitive appointment is one where you applied to and were appointed from an announcement open to "All US Citizens"
• TIME IN GRADE (TIG): For positions above the GS-05,applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the grade you are applying for. For positions at the GS-05, you cannot advance to the GS-05 if you have held a GS-02 in the past 52 weeks. There is no TIG restriction for GS-02, 03 or 04 positions.

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Education

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

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. Click here (Section 3, Explanation of Terms) or here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.

We recommend choosing an evaluator from a member organization of one of the following national associations of credential evaluation services: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE).

Additional information

• Consider each location carefully when applying. If you are selected for a location, that location will become your official post of duty.
• In the event that a building is closed due to rent management, new hires may be placed in a local commuting location.
• Additional jobs may be filled from this announcement or any other source to fill these vacancies.
• Alternative work schedule, staggered work hours may be available.
• Salary: General Schedule (GS) Locality Pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

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Benefits

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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.

As a current employee, you know the great benefits we offer. Should you have any questions about benefits, please contact the Employee Resource Center (ERC)

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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.