Summary This position is a Social Scientist, GS- 0101-12 working for the R9-Natural Resources Program Center. This is a not-to-exceed one (1) year temporary promotion assignment. This temporary promotion may be extended without further competition; however, it may not exceed a total of five (5) years. This temporary promotion may be made permanent without further competition. Responsibilities As a Social Scientist your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Provide social science technical support to efforts addressing complex wildlife or other natural resource conservation issues with both social and ecological drivers. This technical assistance supports and directly impacts the planning, design, delivery, and evaluation of natural resource management efforts and policy development. Provide technical guidance on socio-ecological problem framing, situation analysis, stakeholder identification and assessment, and systematic planning for regional or Program priorities. Participate in the development of systematic approaches to evaluation and provides advice and guidance to the field staff and/or managers to ensure consistency and ability to use data for national-level reporting. Develop tools and resources for practitioners focused on integrating social science into natural resource planning and management such as frequently asked questions (FAQs) and targeted social science guidance that can be used across the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Work in partnership with practitioners in the program to apply social science theories and methods so that practitioners can identify the social and economic aspects of their work. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Only experience and education obtained by 09/16/2024 will be considered. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement 0101 Series: Degree: A degree in behavioral or social science; or related discipline appropriate to the position such as psychology, social ecology, sociology, or anthropology. 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 Experience: 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. -AND- Minimum Qualification [GS-12] One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized Experience may include: 1) applied conservation social science disciplines to improve natural resource management practices and processes. (e.g. the application of human values, attitudes and behaviors; stakeholder or community engagement; socio-demographics, conflict resolution; or strategic communications); 2) applied evaluation principles or methods to monitor and evaluate conservation or engagement strategies or programs; 3) collaborated with natural resource practitioners to increase awareness and impact of social science to address complex natural resource issues, engage communities, or build partnerships; 4) communicated social science to natural resource practitioners including presentations and briefings to practitioners and decision-makers; 5) led interdisciplinary teams to integrate social science to address complex natural resource management issues, engage communities, or build partnerships. Education: There is no substitution for education at this grade level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii. Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv. Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements Education PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. 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. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov) Additional Information PCS INFORMATION: No PCS entitlements authorized Telework: This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. Temporary Promotion: This is a not-to-exceed one (1) year temporary promotion assignment. This temporary promotion may be extended without further competition; however, it may not exceed a total of five (5) years. At the expiration of this assignment, at management's discretion, or whenever your services are no longer needed, you will be returned to your position or to a position of equivalent pay and grade within your agency of record. This temporary promotion may be made permanent without further competition. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/" Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process. Cost of Living Allowance (Alaska, Hawaii, PR): In addition to the yearly salary, this position is entitled to a cost-of-living allowance (COLA) as determined by https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates .This allowance is subject to annual review, adjustment, and rate decrease. Duty Station Information: If selected you may be placed at a regional office, field office, current duty station, or other DOI owned or leased worksite at the discretion of management. Additional questions regarding placement should be reserved for the interview process. Locality tables may be found at: 2024 General Schedule (GS) Pay Tables