Hi, everyone! Welcome to the second installment of W&GC. Below are the jobs I found this week for people with advanced degrees in the humanities and social sciences.
Remember that you can comment below if you’ve got a question. You can also forward the e-mail to someone (a grad student in your department, the VAP who just finished teaching this semester and doesn’t have a job for the fall . . .) who might find it useful. And please comment below if you have something to contribute.
Exciting news! The first installment of Extra Cheese will be Monday, June 14.
Education Research Scientist • Institute of Education Sciences (DOE) • deadline September 1, 2021 (selections may be made after June 18, 2021)
These are term appointments: starting at 3 years, with a possible 3-year extension. This might be a good posting for someone who wants to keep a path open to academia.
Responsibilities
The incumbent serves as an Education Research Scientist in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), U.S Department of Education. Incumbents will engage in one or more of the following: (1) develop plans for agency support of education research, evaluation, and statistics; (2) oversee research, evaluation, and statistics activities and programs carried out or funded by the agency; (3) conduct scientific reviews of research, evaluation, and statistics plans and products; (4) analyze data and synthesize information from education research and related areas; (5) prepare written products to convey research-based knowledge and information to a variety of audiences; (6) conduct evaluations of agency activities; (7) engage in dissemination and outreach activities, such as publishing scholarly work and attending scientific conferences; (8) monitor research grants or manage the scientific peer review of research grant competitions; and (9) consult with, or advise staff.
Qualifications
EDUCATION RESEARCH SCIENTIST: requires demonstration of strong research skills and knowledge in an area of specialization in the education sciences. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Education Research Scientist must have several years leading and carrying out research projects in education-related scientific fields (e.g., cognitive, developmental, educational, or social psychology, economics, education, statistics, postsecondary education); substantive expertise in one or more education-related scientific fields; experience independently designing and implementing high-quality research in the education sciences; knowledge of and experience using multiple methodological and statistical approaches to answer research questions in the education sciences; experience publishing findings from high-quality research related to the education sciences in scientific peer-reviewed journals and reviewing for such journals.
The posting has a very light questionnaire, which suggests to me that an existing research profile is the most important element for this job. So, if you’re applying, make sure you hit every qualification listed above. (But do check the post for other relevant information!)
Policy Analyst • Office of Investment Security (Treasury) • deadline June 29, 2021 (this post has been open for 1 year)
I don’t know if this posting gets re-listed yearly - if it does, look for a fresh posting in July! Some postings with yearlong application windows have information about when applications get evaluated, but this one does not. So the uncertainty is about the same as it is for a tt search. 🙃
You can be selected for this position at GS-9 to GS-11. Both grades have experience and education qualifications.
The following are the duties of this position at the GS-11. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.
Serves as an expert advisor on the full range of complex policy issues related to the Office’s mission by supporting senior Treasury officials and management in all work related to the Office’s CFIUS and open investment functions including coordination of the interagency process, analysis of transactions, policy development, and engagement with foreign partners and allies.
Conducts in-depth analysis and providing recommendations in certain cases concerning: the authority of CFIUS to review the transaction, the national security risks posed by the transaction, or the options available to mitigate national security risks posed by the transaction. . . .
Engages with foreign partners and allies to support investment review regimes and facilitate coordinated action with respect to trends in investments and technology developments that could pose risks to the national security of the United States and allied and partner countries.
The questionnaire here is also very light, so I’d focus on the responsibilities and qualifications sections when crafting a resumé.
Government Information Specialist • Student Privacy Policy Office, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development (DOE) • deadline June 24, 2021, but it closes at 100 applicants, so get going
The SPPO leads the Department’s efforts to protect privacy. It provides leadership, oversight, and coordination to ensure Department and field compliance with several federal privacy laws and regulations.
As a Government Information Specialist, GS-0306-11, you will be responsible for:
• Coordinates with internal stakeholders, such as information system owners, information system security officers, the Office of the General Counsel, and other individuals in the Department’s privacy program, to process and track Privacy Threshold Analyses, Privacy Impact Assessments, System of Records Notices, and Computer Matching Agreements and Notices.
• Develops standard operating procedures, processes, and guidance to implement and administer the Department’s privacy program.
• Assists SPPO staff in responding to privacy-related inquiries. Prepares well-documented reports of findings for use by higher level specialists or supervisor.
• Provides technical assistance to a wide variety of customers, program managers, information system owners, information system security officers, and officials at other agencies with regard to the requirements of the agency’s privacy program.
• Research privacy issues, analyzes information, and reports findings to the Personnel Security Team, in order to support development of privacy policies, processes, best practices, and/or guidance.
You can qualify based on education (a PhD/3-years of graduate education leading to a terminal degree) and experience:
Specialized Experience for the GS-11
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-09 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:
1. Experience in applying analytical and evaluative methods in updating of new procedures and approaches to identify/resolve significant issues.
2. Experience developing written policies, procedures, guidelines, or templates to help explain requirements to a diverse audience of stakeholders.
3. Experience working across offices or components at an organization to successfully manage workflows.
See also the KSAs, which also feature in the questionnaire (though there are no narrative components in the questionnaire, so your resumé needs to do that work by itself).
Associate Executive Secretariat • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau • deadline June 17, 2021
I don’t see anything about winning the Triple Crown for this posting, so you can rest easy on that front.
Responsibilities
As an Associate Executive Secretariat, you will:
Assist the Executive Secretary in managing interagency coordination of issues that directly affect the Director.
Play a key role in managing the clearance processes for publication of external documents, including speeches, web content, testimony before Congress, press releases, and documents for publication in the Federal Register.
Prepare final drafts of letters, memoranda, white papers, etc., on sensitive/critical matters that communicate the Bureau's and the Director's views, philosophies, or position to external parties.
Collaborate with Executive Secretary staff to recommend and implement programs, controls and systems with the Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary to track and record documents for use by the Director, that require the Director's or Chief of Staff's attention, and for external publication.
. . .
Specialized Experience for CN-51: To qualify at CN-51, you must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next band/grade (CN-40, GS-9 or equivalent) in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as:
Reviewing correspondence or other materials dealing with technical, policy, and/or program issues for accuracy, adherence to policy, organization of material, grammar, spelling, and punctuation; AND
Tracking and communicating information on work products, activities, and progress to ensure issues and/or projects are monitored, and priorities addressed; AND
Facilitating communications with individuals internal and external to your work group.
OR
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.
You’ll be evaluated on the following areas: “Building Inclusive Relationships, Providing Quality Results, and Written Communication.” Check out the questionnaire (no narratives) when crafting your resumé.
Program Specialist • Institute of Museum and Library Services • deadline June 18, 2021
This position is located in the Office of Library Services, Discretionary Programs Section and serves as a Program Specialist. The incumbent will participate in grants management work involving Federal grants and cooperative agreements, and provide grants-related guidance and services to both applicants and awardees.
. . .
At the full performance level, the incumbent will work on various phases of the receipt and processing of library grant applications as well as the monitoring and assessing of awardee performance. If selected for the Program Specialist, you will receive formal and/or on-the-job training as needed.
. . .
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
GS-9: To be eligible at the GS-9 grade level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-07 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as the following: Specialized experience is defined as: (1) knowledge of grants management laws, policies, and procedures (e.g., federal, state, local, private organizations); (2) knowledge of and/or experience with reviewing applications for grants or cooperative agreements, etc.; (3) skill in utilizing a web-based grants management database to process applications and run reports; (4) skill in oral and written communications to provide general assistance and run reports for internal/external stakeholders.
OR
I have a Master's . . . Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position. Qualifying education includes one or a combination of the following fields: Library and Information Science, Business, Education or American Indian Studies.
You can also qualify for a higher grade with a PhD in these fields and/or more experience. See the posting.
All applicants' qualifications will be evaluated on the below-listed competencies, which are required for this position. Please outline experience/ education for these competencies in your resume. The required competencies for this position are as follows:
Computer Skills: . . .
Customer Service: . . .
Grants Management, Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines: . . .
Planning and Evaluating: . . .
And there’s a questionnaire, which they estimate as taking 20 minutes to complete, though I don’t know where that number comes from. There aren’t any narratives.
Program Support Specialist • Department of Transportation • Deadline June 14, 2021 or when they reach 100 applicants
This position is located in Philadelphia, a very nice place to live.
This position will serve as a Program Support Specialist for the FTA Region 3 Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Provide any necessary administrative and office support to the Regional Administrator, Deputy Regional Administrator, Director of Program Management & Oversight, Director of Planning & Program Development, regional staff, as well as the Regional Civil Rights Officer and the Office of Regional Counsel.
. . .
As a Program Support Specialist, you will:
Review publications, regulations, directives, draft orders, Federal building announcements, etc., which may affect the internal operations of the office.
Assist in developing and implementing plans for office compliance with new directives or policies, and supports the management of the Region III office edit card purchases, supplies tracking, and reconciliation efforts to assure the maintenance of the office credit card internal audit scrutiny.
. . .
Maintain a current system of training courses available from a variety of sources, such as OPM, DOT, FTA, state and local agencies, colleges and universities.
Assemble letters, memoranda, and other file materials on the basis of brief oral instructions and present all requested material in a logical and convenient manner. Is responsible for ensuring proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and internal consistency in the finished documents and processing all outgoing correspondence.
. . .
Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.
To qualify for the GS-09 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-07 it must include:
Experience with administrative guidelines, concepts and practices, such as travel management, time and attendance, human resources, records management, operating office equipment, including computer operating systems.
Experience communicating effectively both orally and in writing.
To qualify for the GS-09 on Education alone, you must have:
2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or have been awarded a master's or equivalent graduate degree.
The posting starts to give KSAs, but then doesn’t actually list any- so if you’re interested in this job maybe hunt around a little more. The experience listed probably suggests some options. There might be more information available on the questionnaire, which should also give you hints about language to use in your resumé.
Writer Editor (Articles Editor) • Office of Publications, National Endowment for the Humanities • deadline June 22, 2021
The Office of Publications provides a wide range of writing, editing, and production of Endowment publications necessary for the accomplishment of the agency's mission.
. . .
As a Writer Editor you will:
Provides advice to the Humanities Editors. Selects content for Humanities magazine, particularly for major packages of articles. Researches and develops topics encompassing all humanities subjects, historical and contemporary scholarship, and consultation with experts in the field.
Assigns articles to freelance writers and commissions scholars and guest writers. Recruits new freelance writers on an ongoing basis. Guides writers through all drafts to completion.
Edits and proofreads all magazine content, from features and editor's note through regular departments. Edits, copyedits, and proofreads galleys, page proofs, and bluelines. . . .
Researches, conducts interviews, and writes articles for the magazine on a regular basis. Writes ongoing departments for the magazine. Writes for other publications as requested.
Ghostwrites articles, performing research and conducting interviews on short deadline as needed. Provides questions and background research to aid the Chairman in interviewing scholars and writers for Humanities magazine. . . .
. . .
Qualified candidates must possess:
1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS- level or equivalent experience.
Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the line of work . . . for example: Experience in conducting research, develop story ideas, conduct journalistic and academic-style research to produce articles, features, and act as a copyeditor and production editor for the magazine and other projects. Proofreading on a variety of paper and digital projects representing the agency. Work with outside writers, carrying out a share of all the editorial and production tasks required for the making of magazines, pamphlets, reports, and other publications.
The KSAs are “oral communication, planning and evaluating, writing” and here is the questionnaire. Note that you can’t qualify through education for this position, you need to demonstrate experience. If you have some kind of public-y academic writing experience, like you write for the Blog of the APA (a name I still find hilarious, good job whoever came up with it) or something, you might want to bring it up here.
Writer Editor • National Endowment for the Humanities • deadline June 22, 2021
Yes, this looks like the same job, but it is not the same job. The brief is less specific, but the grade is higher. As above, you can’t qualify through education.
Responsibilities
As a Writer Editor you will:
Develops and implements communications strategies and messaging for the agency.
Serves as a resource on these policies and practices to writers, editors, and other NEH staff members who contribute content for the agency's websites.
Manages projects from conception to realization and troubleshoots and integrates the work of other specialists into the process.
Serves as the office's expert on digital approaches to publications and outreach. Stays up-to-date on methodologies used by other publications and looks for ways to incorporate them into the work of the office.
Oversees the office's social media outreach and looks for innovative ways to showcase the magazine online.
Ensures that agency publications are high-quality and follow sound editorial guidelines.
Serves as the senior writer/editor in the Office of Publications and as the office's lead writer.
Qualifications
At the GS- 13 level Qualified candidates must possess:
1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS- 12 level or equivalent experience.
Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled . . . for example: Experience in writing and editing content for publication in an effort to promote organization; generate ideas for articles and publications; skills of journalistic and academic-style research; experience overseeing digital and paper-based publication projects.
The KSAs are, once again, “oral communication, planning and evaluation, writing” and you should check out the questionnaire.
Social Science Research Analyst • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services • deadline June 22, 2021
There are a number of other positions with this title advertised at the moment - I will link them below. They all have slightly different projects.
As a Social Science Research Analyst, GS-0101-13, you will develop and use large sets of program data, survey, market research, and statistical methodologies and techniques to conduct studies of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) programs.
. . .
Responsibilities
Develop and conduct quantitative and qualitative program and policy analyses to assess the quality and performance of CMS programs.
Communicate the findings of these analyses and evidence-based recommendations that flow from those findings to audiences in CMS, DHHS, the regulated industry, and other public and private sector sources.
Oversee the development of clearly written and concise issue papers and talking points for senior staff when needed.
Design, analyze, implement, and interpret studies regarding payment and the influence of policy and/or program changes on CMS programs, particularly Medicare Part C and Part D.
. . .
Qualifications
In order to qualify for the GS-13, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include: (1) Developing and utilizing research studies, surveys or statistical analysis of health care providers or plans such as Medicare and Medicaid, or related programs, using SAS or other statistical programs; (2) Interpreting or analyzing data to be included in reports, issues papers, or presentations; (3) Recommending modifications of operational policy or procedures based on data analysis; AND (4) Utilizing complex statistical techniques on large datasets to measure health plan(s) or provider(s) performance.
Education
Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the qualification requirements, all candidates must have the following educational requirements:
Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position
There are some things you can substitute for that education requirement, but that’s the government’s formatting, not mine. Here is the questionnaire.
Other postings in this area include with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (June 23) and the Center for Medicare (June 22). There may be others.
There is also a public notice flyer for a Social Science Research Specialist with DHS, open until September.
Okay, that’s it for me this week! Extra Cheese on Monday.
Madeline