Data Scientist - US Department of State

Description

The Data Scientist will support the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration’s Office of International Migration and Repatriation by providing data analysis, visualization, reporting, data management, and analytical decision-support services for the PRM Enterprise System.

PRiMES is a Department of State enterprise platform used to manage project funding, partner information, program data, monitoring activities, financial plans, reporting, and data visualizations. The Data Scientist will help PRM and other Department users analyze programmatic, financial, partner, monitoring, and humanitarian contextual data to support policy decisions and mission execution.

This role will work with stakeholders inside and outside of PRM to identify quantifiable questions, conduct data analysis, create visualizations, support dashboards, maintain data documentation, and communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with Python, R, SQL, data visualization tools, data quality practices, and mission-focused analytics.

Key Responsibilities

Data Analysis and Visualization

• Conduct data analyses and visualizations to identify patterns, trends, relationships, and insights within programmatic, financial, humanitarian, and operational datasets.
• Analyze data to help inform policy decisions, program decisions, partner performance assessments, and mission priorities.
• Translate stakeholder questions into structured analytical approaches and data-driven outputs.
• Use analytical methods to help PRM and other Department users better understand program effectiveness, funding activity, partner reporting, and humanitarian conditions.
• Present findings in a clear, accurate, and actionable manner.

Dashboarding and Business Intelligence Support

• Develop, maintain, and support dashboards, reports, visualizations, and analytical products using tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms.
• Support self-service humanitarian contextual dashboards that provide users with a unified and timely understanding of global conditions affecting populations of concern.
• Help standardize, manage, and visualize programmatic and financial reporting from partners.
• Support dashboard and reporting products that help users evaluate partner performance, identify areas for improvement, and communicate programmatic success.
• Ensure dashboards, reports, charts, and visualizations are accurate, legible, properly formatted, and aligned with user needs.

Data Management and Documentation

• Develop and maintain data management systems, databases, data dictionaries, and supporting documentation.
• Support data quality, data governance, data security, privacy, and accessibility practices.
• Assist with data cleaning, transformation, organization, validation, and documentation.
• Help maintain central data sources used for reporting, analysis, dashboards, and decision support.
• Ensure data products conform with work standards and quality expectations.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Mission Support

• Work collaboratively with stakeholders inside and outside of PRM to identify key quantifiable questions and analytical needs.
• Develop data-driven solutions that support policy, program, and operational decision-making.
• Communicate findings and recommendations to various audiences, including government officials, policymakers, program staff, technical teams, and other stakeholders.
• Explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Support priority analytics needs that arise as part of the Bureau’s or Department’s mission to deliver aid efficiently and effectively.

Modeling and Analytical Methods

• Assist in designing and implementing analytical models and techniques to analyze complex data.
• Support trend analysis, forecasting, performance analysis, and quantitative assessments.
• Apply analytical and problem-solving skills to large and complex datasets.
• Document assumptions, methods, limitations, and findings clearly.
• Identify opportunities to improve recurring analyses, reporting workflows, and dashboard outputs.

Quality and Compliance

• Ensure conformance with work standards and quality requirements.
• Safeguard sensitive, proprietary, and Department information.
• Follow applicable Department of State policies, procedures, security requirements, and privacy requirements.
• Support accurate documentation and traceability of analytical products, data sources, and reporting methods.

Requirements

• Secret clearance required.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant work experience in data science, data analysis, statistical analysis, or related analytical work.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills.
• Experience with Python, R, and SQL.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement analytical models and techniques to analyze large and complex datasets.
• Experience with business intelligence tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar reporting and visualization platforms.
• Knowledge of data management best practices, including data quality and governance.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Experience collaborating across organizations, building consensus, and supporting required system authorization processes.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a suitable security clearance and Department of State badge.