Social Scientist Program Manager

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC) is seeking qualified applicants to fill a Social Scientist (GS-0101-13/14) position to serve as a Program Manager for SC’s initiatives to broaden participation and advance inclusive excellence within its extramural research programs and DOE national laboratories.

The Social Scientist will serve as an expert advisor and program manager in areas concerning behavioral and/or social science research and evidence-based best practices for promoting and supporting broadening participation in scientific fields and creating inclusive research environments and for understanding and addressing barriers to participation by individuals from groups underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

The DOE Office of Science mission is to deliver scientific discoveries and major scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. The Office of Science is the Nation's largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences, supporting research and training of thousands of individuals at over 300 academic institutions and across the DOE National Laboratories.

Stewardship and promotion of diverse and inclusive workplaces that value and celebrate a diversity of people, ideas, cultures, and educational backgrounds is foundational to delivering on the SC mission. SC manages over $8 billion in annual funding for competitive extramural research at colleges and universities, DOE National Laboratories and scientific facilities. Critical to the success of these initiatives is the understanding, incorporation, and evaluation of evidence-based practices for broadening participation and advancing inclusive excellence in the context of managing and executing scientific research programs.

The duties of this position include:

Designing, organizing, and implementing analyses of the quality and effectiveness of policies, practices, and procedures within SC's business practices aimed at promoting diverse participation in competitive research awards and scientific facilities and promoting professional, inclusive environments at funded institutions, and identify opportunities for improvement. Utilizing appropriate social science research methodologies to conduct assessments of the outcomes and impacts of SC programs and practices on advancing SC's goals for broadening participation in scientific research. Providing creative insights to identify opportunities and new approaches for SC to promote diverse participation and inclusive environments in competitive fundamental research programs, scientific facilities, and STEM workforce training and engagement. Assessing new concepts, ideas, and trends in social science research and evaluation methodologies, including data science, for appropriateness in application to SC research portfolio management and SC oversight and evaluation of SC DOE National Laboratory strategies and practices for promoting workplace diversity and inclusive workplace cultures. Guiding and managing interactions and collaborations with interdisciplinary science teams and working groups internal and external to the organization. Leading internal and external technical workshops and seminar series to advance the application and adoption of evidence-based practices for broadening participation advancing inclusive excellence in scientific program management and laboratory programs. This position focuses on supporting initiatives related to SC's competitive, extramural basic research programs and the institutions where SC-funded work is carried out; this position does not focus on the management of equal opportunity employe (EEO) policies within the Federal workforce.

More information about the DOE Office of Science (SC) can be found at:  https://science.osti.gov . Current SC efforts to advance diverse participation and inclusive excellence in SC’s extramural research programs and facilities can be found at: https://science.osti.gov/SW-DEI/Advancing-DEI-for-the-SC-Mission.

How to Apply:

This announcement is posted on USAJOBS and is open to all U.S. citizens. Interested persons should submit their application in response to the following USAJOBS announcement:

Social Scientist

Announcement number:  24-SC-00918-12477307-DE

Pay Plan/Series/Grade: GS-0101-13/14

Location: Germantown, MD – telework eligible

Opening Date: 9/9/2024

Closing Date: 9/18/2024

Who can apply: Open to the public

Apply at USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/807433100  

Only applications submitted by the deadline, Wednesday, September 18, 2024, will be considered for this position.

You must submit your application, including a resume and other required documents identified in the announcement, through USAJOBS to be considered for this position. Your application should describe how your experience demonstrates that you meet the requirements for a GS-13 or GS-14 position and should show that you possess the knowledge and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Including a cover letter with your application is strongly encouraged.

If there are questions regarding the position, please contact Dr. Julie Carruthers, julie.carruthers@science.doe.gov.