Social Science Research Associate Jobs in Washington

Summary
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.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help
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
The agency is currently hiring Applied Social Scientists to specialize in:
o Occupational Analysis
o Personnel Assessment and Selection
o Program Design and Evaluation
Applicants selected for interviews will be requested to provide a 30-minute Job Talk, presented by the candidate, followed by panel questions from agency I/O Psychologists related to the work presented. Job Talks should highlight technical expertise and include a research or applied project (or a dissertation) relevant to Human Capital, Talent Learning or Development area.
**NOTE** The following two narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your qualifications and commitment as an applied social scientist. The hiring manager will review your responses to determine if you are a viable candidate. Please attach in a word document or PDF a response of 200 words or less to each question prior to applying for this position. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. (Please attach it in application).
1. Explain statistical methods you have applied previously to IO Psychology projects, preferably in the Human Capital data environment.
2. Describe your experience presenting technical information to non-technical organizational leadership.
In positions across the Agency, Applied Social Scientists:
o Collaborate with team members across the organization and develop strategic partnerships throughout the Agency to help achieve organizational goals
o 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
o Keep abreast of industry and academic best practices, as well as new research in I/O, talent management, learning, and development and related fields;
o Provide organizational leadership with research-based recommendations, and input on organizational strategy;
o Synthesize complex findings and detailed research into executive summaries and presentations intended for managerial decisions and/or publication
o Create dynamic, user-friendly visualizations of data;
o Provide high quality customer service to clients through superior technical work, consultative skills, and communication
o Lead Human Capital projects through effective project management, external contract support or oversight, milestone tracking and deliverable validation;
o Leverage relevant tools such as MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, statistical software (e.g., R), and data visualization software (e.g., Tableau)
o Present findings to technical and non-technical audiences
o Perform workforce analyses that describe current states, predict future trends, and/or inform business decisions
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment

• All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564.

Qualifications
FULL PERFORMANCE
Entry is with a Master's degree plus 1 year of experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience.
SENIOR
Entry is with a Master's degree plus 4 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 2 years of relevant experience.
Education
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.
Preferred majors:
o Industrial and Organizational Psychology
o Applied Psychology
o Cognitive Psychology
o Social Psychology
o Educational Measurement
o 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 engineering.
Additional information
Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.
Salary Range: $85,447 - $187,093 (Full Performance, Senior) Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position.
Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience.
Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.
Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.