ICF is a mission-driven company dedicated to making the world a better place, focusing on improving lives through passionate and inclusive culture. We are seeking an On-Call Research Scientist for our Health, People, and Human Services Group, specifically within the Workforce Innovations and Poverty Solutions (WIPS) Team. This team provides strategic support to human services and workforce development agencies, enhancing economic mobility for families across the U.S. The ideal candidate will have robust research and evaluation experience, particularly in quantitative methods, and a strong ability to translate findings into actionable insights. This remote, part-time position offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects designed to support vulnerable populations.

Submitting Your Application

The first step is to submit a compelling application that reflects your technical skills and interest in joining ICF Olson as a Research Scientist. Whether you were contacted by an ICF recruiter or have taken the initiative yourself, carefully review the job description and tailor your CV according to the prerequisites.

Tailoring your CV may include identifying specific keywords that the hiring manager might use to filter resumes and crafting a targeted cover letter. Furthermore, don’t forget to highlight relevant skills and mention your work experiences.

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your CV happens to be among the shortlisted few, a recruiter from the ICF Talent Acquisition Team will make contact and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral questions may also be a part of the screening process.

In some cases, the ICF research scientist hiring manager stays present during the screening round to answer your queries about the role and the company itself. They may also indulge in surface-level technical and behavioral discussions.

The whole recruiter call should take about 30 minutes.

Technical Virtual Interview

Successfully navigating the recruiter round will present you with an invitation for the technical screening round. Technical screening for the ICF research scientist role usually is conducted through virtual means, including video conference and screen sharing. Questions in this 1-hour long interview stage may revolve around research design, evidence reviews, and statistical analysis.

In the case of research scientist roles, you might encounter questions on randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental designs, interrupted time series, and non-experimental designs. Apart from these, your proficiency in data collection tools like SPSS or Stata might also be assessed during the round.

Depending on the seniority of the position, case studies and similar real-scenario problems may also be assigned.

Onsite Interview Rounds

Followed by a second recruiter call outlining the next stage, you’ll be invited to attend the onsite interview loop. Multiple interview rounds, varying with the role, will be conducted during your day either virtually or at an ICF office. Your technical prowess, including your ability to translate research into policy recommendations, will be evaluated against the finalists throughout these interviews.

If you were assigned take-home exercises, a presentation round may also await you during the onsite interview for the research scientist role at ICF.

Quick Tips For ICF Olson Research Scientist Interviews

A few tips for acing your ICF Olson interview include:

• Understand ICF’s Mission: ICF is a mission-driven company that works on solving challenges affecting vulnerable populations. Understanding and aligning with their core values like diversity and inclusion can give you the upper hand.
• Be Detail-Oriented: For research roles, ICF places great importance on methodological expertise. Be prepared to elaborate on your experience with various research designs and evidence review techniques.
• Showcase Communication Skills: You will be required to translate complex research data into actionable insights and communicate them effectively to different audiences. Practice explaining your research in a clear, concise manner.

Typically, interviews at Icf Olson vary by role and team, but commonly Research Scientist interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

• Write a function digit_accumulator to sum every digit in a floating-point number represented as a string. You are given a string that represents some floating-point number. Write a function, digit_accumulator, that returns the sum of every digit in the string.

Example:

Input: python s = "123.0045" Output: ```python def digit_accumulator(s) -> 15

Since 1 + 2 + 3 + 0 + 0 + 4 + 5 = 15 ```

• How would you set up an A/B test to optimize button color and position for higher click-through rates? A team wants to A/B test multiple changes in a sign-up funnel. For example, they want to see if changing a button from red to blue and/or from the top of the page to the bottom will increase click-through rates. How would you set up this test?

• How would you verify that a user is actually a high school student attending the school represented by their sticker? Instagram is releasing a new feature for high schoolers that allows users to identify their school and receive an associated sticker for their profile. How would you verify that a user is genuinely a high school student attending the school they claim?

• What is the probability that a red marble was pulled from Bucket #1? You have two buckets with different distributions of red and black marbles. Your friend pulls a red marble from one of the buckets. Calculate the probability that it was pulled from Bucket #1.

• What is the probability that two red marbles were pulled from Bucket #1? Your friend puts the red marble back and then draws two marbles sequentially, both of which are red. Calculate the probability that both red marbles were pulled from Bucket #1.

• What are time series models and why are they needed over simpler regression models? Explain what time series models are and discuss why they are necessary when simpler regression models are available.

• How would you determine if the difference between this month and the previous month is significant? You have a time series dataset grouped monthly for the past five years. Describe how you would find out if the difference between this month and the previous month is statistically significant.

• How would you analyze noisy and volatile asset price data to ensure accuracy? You are analyzing the price of a particular asset over time in a noisy and volatile dataset. Explain how you would analyze this data to ensure there are no discrepancies.

• - How would you analyze noisy and volatile asset price data to ensure accuracy? You are working at a global trading company analyzing the price of a particular asset over time. The dataset is noisy, volatile, and not guaranteed to be completely accurate. How would you analyze this data to ensure there aren't any discrepancies?

What is the average salary for a Research Scientist at Icf Olson?

Q: What is the mission of ICF Olson?

ICF Olson is a mission-driven company focused on improving the lives of others and making the world a better place. We are committed to diversity and inclusion, hiring individuals from various backgrounds to build a culture that encourages and embraces differences.

Q: What does the Research Scientist position entail at ICF Olson?

The Research Scientist position involves rigorous technical assistance, training, and research support for human services and workforce development programs across the United States. You will be designing, implementing, and assessing various research methodologies, including randomized controlled trials, and translating research into practice through written materials and presentations.

Q: What qualifications are required for the Research Scientist position?

The basic qualifications include an M.A. in economics, statistics, public policy, social work, or a related field, with a minimum of 3 years of evaluation and research experience. Preferred qualifications include a Ph.D. in a related field and experience with large quantitative analyses.

Q: How does ICF Olson support its employees' professional growth?

ICF Olson believes in collaboration, mutual respect, and open communication, providing opportunities for growth and development. Employees are encouraged to share their expertise, work in inclusive teams, and collaborate to achieve personal and professional goals.

Q: What is the working environment like at ICF Olson?

Working at ICF Olson means being part of a compassionate, innovative, and intellectually stimulating environment. We prioritize meaningful work and provide employees the latitude to pursue their passions while solving the leading issues of our day.

ICF Olson is a mission-driven company committed to making the world a better place through diverse and inclusive practices. By joining ICF as a Research Scientist, you'll have the opportunity to work on impactful projects that improve conditions for America's most vulnerable populations and support Indigenous communities. With a role that allows for both professional growth and meaningful contribution, this is your chance to bring your expertise in research, evaluation, and technical assistance to a team dedicated to fostering economic mobility and victim service assistance. Dive into the interview preparation with confidence by exploring our comprehensive ICF Olson Interview Guide, where you'll find sample questions and insights tailored to the Research Scientist position. At Interview Query, we provide you with the essential tools and guidance to ace your interviews and secure your role at ICF Olson. Good luck with your interview!