Interdisciplinary

Defense Human Resources Activity • Alexandria, VA

1d

About The Position

This position is part of the Defense Human Resources Activity. The incumbent plans, designs, and executes short- and long-term research projects across broad military personnel policy domains, including retention, career progression, total force fitness, and quality of life. Research may address highly sensitive behavioral and sociological topics such as sexual assault and suicide prevention.

At the GS-12 level, the position manages and coordinates one to two concurrent research projects of moderate scope and complexity, while supporting senior researchers on more complex efforts. Under general supervision, the employee contributes to collaborative project teams and executes key project phases, including research design and work planning, stakeholder coordination, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting. The employee independently carries out routine study protocols and consults senior specialists on novel or non-standard analytical problems.

At the GS-13 level, the position oversees three or more simultaneous research projects and manages all phases, from design and planning through stakeholder coordination, data collection, analysis, and reporting. The employee serves as the primary stakeholder and customer contact. At both levels, the work applies theories, methodologies, and advanced analytic techniques from social science disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and survey methodology. The position includes leading interdisciplinary research teams, developing research plans and survey or focus group materials, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, managing project schedules and teams, preparing or reviewing research reports, and briefing technical and nontechnical audiences.

The position is full-time, has a flexible tour of duty, and may require occasional overtime. It is telework eligible. A background investigation is required, and the employee may be required to complete a probationary period. Financial disclosure is required.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Meet the specialized experience requirement for the applicable grade: one year equivalent to GS-11 for GS-12, or one year equivalent to GS-12 for GS-13.
• Graduate-level statistical training, including 9 semester hours in statistics at the graduate level.
• For the GS-13 qualification path, experience planning, developing, administering, and analyzing survey instruments, questionnaires, and/or focus group protocols, including setting specifications for data content, collection, and dissemination.
• For the GS-12 qualification path, experience assisting in the planning, development, administration, and analysis of survey instruments, questionnaires, and/or focus group protocols, including setting specifications for data content, collection, and dissemination.
• Experience applying or supporting advanced social and statistical methods and analytic techniques used in behavioral science research, including descriptive, inferential, univariate, regression, and other multivariate methods.
• Experience analyzing data from large-scale, probability-based sample surveys to determine attitudes and opinions.
• Experience writing or contributing to technical, methodological, and research reports, and synthesizing complex analytical findings for reports or presentations.
• Meet the individual occupational requirements for the applicable series: 0101 Social Science, 0180 Psychology, or 1530 Statistics.
• For the 0101 series, have an appropriate behavioral or social science degree, equivalent education and experience, or four years of appropriate experience demonstrating equivalent knowledge.
• For the 0180 series, have a major or equivalent in psychology, except for clinical psychology and counseling psychology specializations.
• For the 1530 series, meet the specified statistics coursework and related science or social science coursework requirements, or the stated combination of education and experience.
• Provide transcripts or other documentation supporting educational claims; failure to provide transcripts will result in an ineligible rating.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service or be exempt.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise or familiarity researching military personnel topics such as readiness, organizational climate, sexual assault, retention, and military spouse employment.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and execute short- and long-term research projects on military personnel policies and related topics.
• At GS-12, manage and coordinate one to two concurrent research projects and support senior researchers on more complex efforts.
• At GS-13, oversee three or more simultaneous research projects and manage all phases of each project.
• Develop research plans and conduct literature and policy reviews.
• Coordinate and collaborate with stakeholders and customers throughout the research lifecycle to understand research questions and needs.
• Develop survey instruments, questionnaires, and focus group content and protocols.
• Coordinate and carry out data collection, including survey fieldings and structured focus groups.
• Conduct and interpret quantitative and qualitative analyses, including mean comparisons, regression, factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and qualitative analysis.
• Manage project schedules and research teams, and lead interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Write research reports; at GS-13, review reports as well.
• Present research briefings to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Serve as a working-level technical liaison at GS-12 and as the primary stakeholder and customer contact at GS-13.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level