Research Psychologist

This vacancy is for a GS-0180-13, Research Psychologist located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, CG R and D CENTER SUPPORT DIVISION. Duty location will be determined upon selection.

This position DOES have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail.

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here

You will serve as a/an Research Psychologist and be responsible for serving as a Research Psychologist providing support in the execution of the Coast Guard’s research project portfolio. Responsibilities include serving as a Project Manager on assigned projects and as the subject matter expert on a variety of technology projects and studies that require human system design, human factors analysis, cognitive psychology, and tasks that require experimental design with human subject involvement.

Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include:

• Proposing, planning, coordinating, and conducting broad research studies in human factors and cognitive psychology related to human interactions.
• .Developing innovative assessments and tools for use in multiple areas of human resources (occupational studies, competency models, skills gap assessments, simulations, and adverse impact studies).
• Formulates and conducts a systematic multi-year research program on a problem area of considerable scope and complexity.
• Conducts analytical studies and experiments in support of workforce planning and/or organizational initiatives.
• Developing valid and reliable data collection methods using both experimental based observations and subjective instruments.
• Writing detailed reports describing the research projects objectives, protocols, analysis and results. Prepares articles for referred journals. Reviews reports of other scientists and contract personnel for quality, accuracy, professional standards, and compliance with regulations and style manuals.
• Conducting research studies on a wide range of human traits to help in the process of designing Coast Guard machines or systems that people can use properly, safely, and comfortably.
• Providing expert consultation in cognitive psychology psychophysics, human cognitive performance, and statistical analysis and maintains extensive liaison relative to areas of specialization.

Basic Requirements: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience or substitution of education for experience or combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:

EDUCATION: major or equivalent in psychology

To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

Specialized experience must include the following:

1. Conducting independent research (e.g., hypothesis development, research design, data collection, statistical analysis of data, or report writing) in relevant areas of the behavioral and social sciences (e.g., personnel, training, leader development, human resources, and human relations).
2. Developing, testing, and/or reviewing survey instruments for relevancy of question sets to insure comprehensiveness, technical validity, and reliability
3. Preparing appropriate technical reports, papers, articles, book chapters, and briefings.
4. Developing valid and reliable data collection methods using both experimental based observations and subjective instruments.
5. Supporting the design and implementation of a variety of experiments that involve human subjects or considerations for the purposes of evaluating mission performance improvement including the introduction of technology applications.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

NOTE: Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.