Summary
This position is located in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. The Required Documents section of this announcement identifies all documents that must be uploaded in order to be considered a complete application package. Applicants that do not submit a complete application will not receive further consideration.
Duties
Provides expert advice to senior management on developing survey methods, policies, and standards to ensure BLS survey programs meet the highest quality standards. Oversees and participates in major research projects on complex survey methods problems, applying advanced statistical and behavioral science theory to develop improved design methods. Directs and conducts research to improve survey instruments, data collection procedures, and user-friendly computer systems, often through investigation in unexplored areas. Serves as principal advisor on questionnaire design, data collection methods, human-centered design, non-sampling error, and bias analysis across BLS programs. Mentors statistics and behavioral science researchers by providing guidance on advanced research topics and presenting seminars or short courses to BLS staff. Establishes and maintains professional relationships with BLS staff and outside experts to facilitate collaboration on survey methods research.
Education
This position has a Positive Education Requirement. Applicants must have one of the following: Psychology Series - 0180 A. Degree: major or equivalent in psychology. Mathematical Statistics Series - 1529 A. Degree: that included 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, of which at least 12 semester hours were in mathematics and 6 semester hours were in statistics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- at least 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, including at least 12 hours in mathematics and 6 hours in statistics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Statistics Series - 1530 A. Degree: that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology, etc. Credit toward meeting statistical course requirements should be given for courses in which 50 percent of the course content appears to be statistical methods, e.g., courses that included studies in research methods in psychology or economics such as tests and measurements or business cycles, or courses in methods of processing mass statistical data such as tabulating methods or electronic data processing. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance. If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. 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: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)
How you will be evaluated
Your application will be evaluated based on your 2-page resume and how well it demonstrates the required qualifications. Your resume must clearly substantiate the MTQs; if it does not, your application will be deemed ineligible. In addition to meeting the MTQs, you will be assessed on the following key competencies: Technical Skill Problem Solving Innovation Strategic Thinking Research The information you provide on your resume may be verified by a review of your work experience, employment start/end dates/hours worked, and/or education, by checking references, and through other means (ex. interview). The Division of Executive Resources (DER) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the vacancy questions. If not, DER may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume. Your evaluation may also include a review by a Human Resources Specialist or panel and may include other assessments (ex. interview, panel review, written test, writing sample, etc.)