Social Scientist

Duties

WHAT IS THE TS - TAXPAYER SERVICES DIVISION?

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

Vacancies will be filled in the following specialty areas: Taxpayer Services, Operation Support.

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level:

• Develops social economic and social psychology studies, using social science methods, to identify behavioral segments and profiles of taxpayer behavior.

• Performs a wide variety of duties involving social economics and social psychology to determine conclusions.

• Assumes technical responsibility for various phases of initiation, formulation, planning, execution, and control of major social psychology and social economic 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.

• Develops, analyzes, and presents social science information statistically, recognizing and adopting new techniques to fit the needs of research projects and prepares comprehensive reports necessary for the successful completion of assignments.

• Applies social economic and social psychology methods to tax administration research, including tax compliance. Such methods include social marketing, social norms marketing, anthropological marketing, and metaphor marketing.

This position has career progression. If you are selected at a grade level lower than the full working level, you may be non-competitively promoted as your career progresses. For example, you may be hired as a GS-05, but if the position has career progression to GS-11, then you may move from a GS-05 to a GS-11 in as little as three years.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National and provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. (Birth certificate showing birth in the U.S; Unexpired U.S. Passport; Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization; or Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen (Form FS-240))

• Undergo a review of prior performance/conduct and an income tax verification. Refer to "Get Your Tax Record" at http://www.irs.gov/(https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript) to check the status of your account, balance owed, payment history, make a payment, or review answers to tax questions. If you are not in compliance, you will be determined unsuitable for employment with IRS.

• This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information regarding your rights refer to Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights

• FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement

• FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).

• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.

• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. These documents must be unexpired original or certified copies.

• The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Treasury and its bureaus from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Treasury by email at, FairChanceAct@treasury.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: Treasury.gov/fairchanceact.

Qualifications

Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or 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/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:

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR ALL GRADES/IOR (Individual Occupational Requirement): To be minimally qualified for this position at any grade level you must met the basic requirements.

• You must have a degree at an accredited college or university in 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 meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

BASIC REQUIREMENT - GS-05: To be minimally qualified for this position at the GS-05 level you must meet one of the following basic requirements:

• A bachelor's degree at an accredited college or university in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position, OR
• 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
• 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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE - GS-07: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience includes:

• Experience that demonstrates the use of standard methods and principles of social economics and social psychology and their application to tax return statistics, and related research projects.

• Experience using basic social economic and social psychology research and study design and administration processes from the formulation of concepts through specification and analysis of output to the presentation of conclusions.

• Experience assisting with reporting on social science projects, data and findings and assisting with creating presentation graphics displaying social science data and findings.

• Experience using basic standard statistical principles and practices sufficient to perform developmental assignments.

• Experience using basic computer programming languages and statistical software packages.

OR

EDUCATION: You may qualify based on education as follows:

• One (1) year of graduate level education at an accredited college or university in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position, OR
• Superior Academic Achievement may be met by having a Bachelor's degree, with one of the following:
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses or those completed in the last two years of study, or a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all courses in your major field of study or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of study,
• or rank in the upper one third of your class in the college, university,
• or major subdivision, or membership in a national honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.

OR

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE - GS-09: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience includes:

• Experience demonstrating the use of standard methods and principles of social economics and social psychology and their application to tax return statistics and related research projects.

• Experience using basic social economic and social psychology research and study design and administration processes from the planning and formulation of concepts through specification and analysis of output to the presentation of conclusions and control of the studies.

• Experience using basic standard statistical principles and practices sufficient to perform developmental assignments.

• Experience should include assisting in performing social psychology, and social economics research, and interpreting pertinent information and transforming research into statistical and tax literature for data and social psychology research methodology.

• Experience entering social science data into databases; assisting with statistical analysis of social science or business data;

• Experience using basic computer programming languages and statistical software packages.

OR

EDUCATION: You may qualify based on education as follows:

• A master's or equivalent graduate degree in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position,
• OR Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE - GS-11: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience includes:

• Experience demonstrating the use of practical technical methods and principles of social psychology and social economics in order to apply these methods, principles, and applications to research projects.

• Experience applying scientific methods, some methods include:

• structured and unstructured interviewing techniques, focus groups, social surveys, social psychological studies, behavioral analyses, ethnographic designs, and participant observation.

• Experience using statistical principles and practices on social psychology and social economic research procedures and techniques to research, develop, analyze and report results (orally and / or in writing) on social science or business assessments.

• Experience using computer programming languages and statistical software packages to provide research products and develop tables and graphical materials.

• Experience resolving a variety of conventional problems, questions, or situations and assistance in providing research conclusions.

OR

EDUCATION: You may qualify based on education as follows:

• A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position,
• OR Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions.

Qualifications for GS-0101-12 continues on Additional Information.

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

Education

For positions with an education requirement, or 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: 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 for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.

Additional information

• Subject to a 1-year probationary period (unless already completed).

• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.

• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Additional jobs may be filled.

• The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the minimum locality pay up to maximum locality pay for all duty locations listed. The range will be adjusted for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

• This is a bargaining unit position.

• Tour of Duty:

• Day Shift: Monday

• Friday: Start and stop times between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

• Alternative work schedule, staggered work hours or telework may be available.

• In the event that a building is closed due to rent management, new hires may be placed in a local commuting location.

• Relocation expenses

• No.

• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.

• Telework Eligible Positions: Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework. Employees must meet and sustain IRS telework eligibility requirements (e.g., reporting at least twice a pay period to your assigned Post of Duty (POD)) and supervisor's approval to participate in the IRS Telework Program. Employees must also be within a 200-mile radius of their official assigned post-of-duty (POD) while in a telework status. As a reminder

• If you are selected for a position, you are responsible for reporting to your designated POD (location) on the negotiated start date or as directed by management.

Qualifications for GS-0101-12 continues.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE - GS-12: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience includes:

• Demonstrating the use of professional methods and principles of social economic and social psychology to apply current application to tax return statistics and related research projects.

• Experience gathering factual information to recognize and evaluate significant and numerous factors, solve limited complex problems within the assigned area, draw rational social economic statistical conclusions and prepare comprehensive reports.

• Experience using social economic and social psychology research and study design and administration processes from the formulation of concepts through specification and analysis of output to the presentation of conclusions.

• In addition, your experience must demonstrate technical responsibility for various phases of initiation, formulation, planning, execution, and control of major social science studies or continuous projects.

• Experience 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 limited complex social science problems or errors.

• Experience applying social science methods to tax administration research, including tax compliance. Some methods include social marketing, social norms marketing, anthropological marketing, and metaphor marketing.

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