Applied Social Scientist

Job Description Applied Social Scientist - Mid to Experienced Level (Maryland)

Fort George G. Meade Complex, MD
Pay Plan: GG , Grade: 11/1 to 14/10
Open: , Close:

Job Posting: 1261076

As an Applied Social Scientist, you will work with other industrial/organizational (I/O) psychologists, strategic consultants, data scientists, and human capital professionals to oversee and develop initiatives focusing on talent acquisition, development, and retention. Applied Social Scientists use social science research methods to explore and address issues around organizational and program effectiveness. They develop solutions and provide data-informed recommendations to enhance the way NSA does business.

Applied Social Scientists work across the NSA performing one or more of the following functions: pre-employment assessment and selection, development assessment, statistical and qualitative analysis of work, program evaluation, surveys and organizational effectiveness consultation.

• Occupational Analysis
• Personnel Assessment and Selection
• Program Design and Evaluation

• Collaborate with team members across the organization and develop strategic partnerships throughout the Agency to help achieve organizational goals.
• Contribute to the conceptualization, design, analysis, and presentation of applied research (applying appropriate quantitative and qualitative research techniques, data collection strategies, data analysis methods) to inform technical and leadership decisions.
• Keep abreast of industry and academic best practices, as well as new research in I/O, talent management, learning, and development and related fields.
• Provide organizational leadership with research-based recommendations, and input on organizational strategy.
• Synthesize complex findings and detailed research into executive summaries and presentations intended for managerial decisions and/or publication.
• Create dynamic, user-friendly visualizations of data.
• Provide high quality customer service to clients through superior technical work, consultative skills, and communication.
• Lead Human Capital projects through effective project management, external contract support or oversight, milestone tracking and deliverable validation.
• Leverage relevant tools such as MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, statistical software (e.g., R), and data visualization software (e.g., Tableau).
• Present findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Perform workforce analyses that describe current states, predict future trends, and/or inform business decisions.

NSA has numerous excellent opportunities for Applied Social Scientists. NSA's Applied Social Scientists oversee and develop initiatives focusing on talent acquisition, development and retention. They also use social science research methods to explore and address issues around organizational and program effectiveness, develop solutions, and provide data informed recommendations to enhance the way NSA does business.

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. Degree must be in Organizational Development, I-O Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, Educational Psychology, Applied Psychology, Sociology, Economics, or a related degree.

• Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• Applied Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Educational Measurement
• Educational Psychology

Relevant experience must include one year of performing social science research and analysis in an experimental or applied setting. Relevant experience may also include application of social science research for example, development and validation of assessment or selection tools; development and administration of surveys; providing consultation on organizational effectiveness; conducting occupational analysis; designing or evaluating programs; reporting and interpreting data; coaching, consulting, training, or managing in organizational and workforce development;

organizational behavior; human resources; designing workforce development solutions; or human factors…