Summary
This position is for a Supervisory Social Scientist within the Office of Data Analytics (JD), Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The incumbent will serve as a senior program manager and first-line supervisor, leading a team of economists, statisticians, and data scientists in the execution of complex, short- and long-term analytical projects.
Duties
The Supervisory Research Scientist is responsible for the strategic management and oversight of the team's project portfolio, from initial concept development to the delivery of final reports and analytical tools. This role requires a leader with a strong background in a quantitative social science field (e.g., economics, political science, sociology, public policy) and demonstrated experience managing the full lifecycle of complex research or evaluation projects. The incumbent will not only manage projects but also provide intellectual leadership, guiding the team in framing research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies, and interpreting findings. They will act as the primary interface between the technical team and its customers, including investigators, auditors, and OIG operational support. The primary aim of the role is in translating mission needs into actionable project plans and communicating complex analytical results in clear, compelling terms. Key responsibilities include: Project and Portfolio Management: Oversee a portfolio of concurrent analytical projects, ensuring they are properly scoped, staffed, and executed to meet deadlines and quality standards. Implement and manage project management systems to track progress, identify risks, and allocate resources effectively. Methodological Oversight: Provide expert guidance on research design, quantitative analysis, and causal inference. Review and approve analytical plans to ensure they are methodologically sound, statistically robust, and aligned with project objectives. Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Serve as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, translating their requirements into technical specifications that are both decision-relevant and methodologically sound. Presenting analytical findings and their limitations to non-technical audiences, including senior leadership. Team Leadership and Supervision: As a first-line supervisor, manage a team of quantitative experts, including assigning work, evaluating performance, mentoring staff, and fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment. Contract and Resource Management: Serve as COR for contracts supporting the team's mission, manage budget formulation and execution, and coordinate staff professional development. Contribute to the OIG's strategic planning, identify high-value opportunities for new analytical work and ensure compliance with data privacy, security and use requirements.
Education
Basic Education Requirement Degree: Mathematics, statistics, or actuarial science. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position which may also include data science, economics or other related degrees. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study as shown in paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience. Transcripts Verifying Basic Education Requirement - You must submit unofficial or official transcripts verifying you meet the Basic Education Requirement. Ensure that the degree awarded and confer date are clearly stated on the transcript(s). You must provide documentation or proof that your degree(s) is from a school accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, or that your education meets the other provisions outlined in the OPM Operating Manual. If you completed your education outside of the U.S., you must provide proof its equivalent to accredited U.S. education programs. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. Learn more about education and training requirements. The link (s) below contain a list of accredited organizations that specialize in interpreting of foreign education credentials: Members – NACES https://naces.org/members/ Credential Evaluation Services - AICE - Association of International Credential Evaluators. Inc. https://aice-eval.org/members/
How you will be evaluated
All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases to determine how you move forward in the hiring process. Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. GS- 15 Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents). Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible. Federal employees must meet Time-In-Grade (TIG) requirements for merit promotion consideration. TIG is the 52-week requirement Federal employees in competitive service, General Schedule (GS) positions at GS-5 and above must serve before they are eligible for promotion to the next grade level. TIG requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Supporting documents may either be uploaded or faxed to 571-258-4052. The requested information MUST be received by fax within 48 hours prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement (not including Saturdays, Sundays or government holidays). NOTE: If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change or you may be removed from employment consideration. Applicants who fail to submit all the required documentation listed below, in addition to their resumes, will be considered ineligible for further consideration for this announcement. You may preview questions for this vacancy.