Summary This position is located in the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Alaska Region (AK), Alaska Environmental Science and Services Integration Center (AESSIC), with one vacancy in Bethel, Alaska. This position is also announced under vacancy number NWS-AR-24-12554052 ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both. Responsibilities As a Social Scientist, you will perform the following duties: Provide direct support and subject matter knowledge on the advancement and understanding of risk communication and risk behavior related to extreme weather and integrate social science into the mission and priorities of the National Weather Service. Collect and analyze data and makes recommendations on streamlining and making communication with the public accessible and actionable. Research and develop delivery of data, models, and decision support tools in the creation of more effective watch and warning products, preparation of interpretative reports, and advice and consultation on social sciences matters to governmental officials and the private sector. The duties described are at the full performance level of the GS-12 grade; the duties at the GS-09 & GS-11 are developmental leading to the GS-12 level. For further details on the duties, responsibilities, and expectations for this position, please contact Nicole Kinsman, Deputy Regional Director, Alaska Region - National Weather Service at nicole.kinsman@noaa.gov. Requirements Conditions of Employment A one year probationary period may be required. Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized. This position is in the bargaining unit. This position is covered by NWSEO 1538. Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. Qualifications Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy 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 in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements: Degree: 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 Education: 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- SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the GS-09: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicant must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting in social, behavioral, or economic science analyses or studies that promote and measure an organization's ability to serve communities. OR EDUCATION: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Master's degree or Master's or equivalent graduate degree in Behavioral or Social Science, or other related discipline appropriate to the position. OR COMBINATION: A combination of education and professional experience. Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination of education and experience. To qualify for the GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicant must possess One full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Planning social, behavioral, or economic science analyses or studies that promote and measure an organization's ability to serve communities; and Assisting in communicating results from social, behavioral, or economic science analyses. OR EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Behavioral or Social Science, or other related discipline appropriate to the position. OR COMBINATION: A combination of education and professional experience. Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: Only education in excess of two years is qualifying at this level. To qualify for the GS-12 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicant must possess One full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Conducting social, behavioral, or economic science analyses or studies that promote and measure an organization's ability to serve communities; and Communicating results from social, behavioral, or economic science analyses. Education Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken. Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty. Additional Information CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice). A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. The Department of the Commerce (DOC) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.