Duties

The IRS Internal Recent Graduates Program affords a developmental opportunity to IRS employees, who have graduated within the previous 2 years from a qualifying educational institution or program. In addition, the IRS implemented the new IRS Forward Recent Graduate Program that includes an additional year of formal development, training, networking, project teams, and may include rotational assignments.

Upon successful completion of the program requirements, you will be permanently placed at the grade level within the position's career path, not higher than the full-working level of the position selected, to which you meet qualifications and time-in-grade requirements. If for any reason do not successfully complete the program you will be returned to the previous grade of the same or similar position you previously held within IRS prior to being selected for the Recent Graduates Program. Program requirements include but are not limited to:

• Successful completion of at least 1 to 2 years of continuous service depending on the position;
• Completion of at least 40 hours of interactive training;
• Mentorship;
• Demonstration of successful job performance; and
• Meet the qualification position standards.

If selected, you will be placed in a developmental position as a UX Researcher, GS-09 with promotion potential to GS-12 in one the division(s) listed below:

Online Services

A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level. If this vacancy includes more than one grade and you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to help you grow in this position.

• Define problems, design research studies, conduct qualitative and quantitative research and usability testing, evaluate findings and recommend evidence-based solutions. Track UX research needs and goals and work with site metrics tools to conduct quantitative analysis of user behaviors and investigate ways to improve the end-user interaction with computer programs to increase satisfaction, brand loyalty, and overall use.
• Conduct UX research identifying the probable causes of digital service experience variances. Select and apply the most effective UX methodology and applications and ensure that project and study teams use appropriate UX research and analysis methodologies appropriate to solving UX problems; determining the types of data to be collected, formulating study methodologies, assisting functional activities in the implementation of taxpayer segments and analyzing data.
• Conduct activities associated with running a usability study, such as recruiting and screening participants with or without participant incentive, scheduling sessions, and writing test plans and scripts. Participate in studies, panels, and teams focusing on service-wide policy statements and other written guidelines and recommendations governing the development or modification of user experience designs, prototypes and specifications.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

STANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTIONS (SPD):

PD98883

Visit the IRS SPD Library to access the position descriptions.

• Telework Eligible Positions: Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework. Employees must meet and sustain IRS telework eligibility requirements (e.g., reporting at least twice a pay period to your assigned Post of Duty (POD)) and supervisor's approval to participate in the IRS Telework Program. Employees must also be within a 200-mile radius of their official assigned post-of-duty (POD) while in a telework status. As a reminder - If you are selected for a position, you are responsible for reporting to your designated POD (location) on the negotiated start date or as directed by management.
• All selectees must sign a Participant Agreement.
• A 1-year probationary period is required (unless already completed).
• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.

Qualifications

Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis.- To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

In order to qualify, you must first meet IRS Recent Graduate Program eligibility:

You must have, within the previous 2 years, completed all educational requirements for a qualifying associate, bachelor, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying institution; or intended graduation is no more than 9 months from date of application;

-OR-

Veterans (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108) who, due to a military service obligation, were precluded from applying to a Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period may have their eligibility period extended so that they receive the full 2 years of eligibility. The remaining 2-year eligibility period will begin upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. The veteran's eligibility period may not extend beyond 6 years from the date of completion of all requirements of an academic course of study.

Secondly, you must meet any basic requirements of the position and the experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-09: You must have 1 year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes Experience analyzing, evaluating and planning processes and techniques to research the design, content creation and development strategies for the Web, mobile devices, and other digital taxpayer experiences. Experience using current UX based research solutions to provide improved user experience in navigating websites. Experience using new and emerging UX technologies to make recommendations and to present a consistent branded and user-centric digital experience. Experience Preparing draft reports and other substantive guidelines and materials; Conducting studies using journey mapping, service blueprints, user stories, eco system maps and persona development to help improve customer experience.

OR

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: a Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field of study at an accredited college or university.

OR

2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in a related field of study.

OR

LL.B. or J.D., if related.

AND

MEET TIME IN GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT: You must meet applicable TIG requirements to be considered eligible. To meet TIG for positions above the GS-05 grade level, you must have served at least one year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade (or equivalent) in the normal line of progression for the position you are applying to. Advancement to positions up to GS-05 is permitted if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade held within the preceding 52 weeks.

AND

TIME AFTER COMPETITIVE APPOINTMENT: By the closing date (or if this is an open continuous announcement, by the cut-off date) specified in this job announcement, current civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive referral certificate, known as time after competitive appointment. For this requirement, a competitive appointment is one where you applied to and were appointed from an announcement open to "All US Citizens".

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You MUST submit dated documentation showing completion or intended completion of all educational requirements (e.g. letter from the registrar, unofficial transcripts). An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.

CERTIFICATE: A Certificate program is a post-secondary educational program, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one full- time academic year of study, that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational or business school curriculum.