Data Scientist

Summary

The Data Scientist position is responsible for identifying and implementing the methods, processes, algorithms, tools, and systems to extract, analyze, and organize structured and unstructured data related to performance and management of Agricultural and Marketing Services (AMS) grants and agreements.

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Duties

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• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Analyze structured and unstructured project and financial data from AMS grants and agreements to evaluate portfolio and program performance, project effectiveness, mission alignment, and risks.
• Develop and apply computational algorithms, statistical methods, and data preparation techniques to clean, merge, standardize, and transform large multi source datasets.
• Develop and utilize data visualization tools to translate factual information and analysis into insights, findings, and summary syntheses for non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with program teams - and the Director or designee to develop and implement data requirements, methodologies, and plans supporting summary reporting, program evaluation, information integrity, and management direction.
• Provide technical advice on pilot initiatives, new technologies, and data science applications; participate on cross-functional teams supporting development, implementation, and modernization efforts.
• Lead or support data validation studies, process reviews, and system assessments to evaluate for potential program or systems vulnerabilities and improve program operations.
• Serve as a partnering resource to Branch Chiefs and Lead Grants Management Specialists.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at
• In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the incumbent will be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: Mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position.

OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown in the paragraph above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

In addition to the basic requirement applicants must also possess:

FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Developed automated pipelines for data extraction from internal databases or publicly available data sources to combine data for statistical analysis, construction of new databases, and construction of data products that create spatial layers for additional analyses.
• Developed visualizations using such tools as PowerBI or Tableau related to financial assistance and/or grant project data to communicate results to executives and non-technical stakeholders
• Analyzed structured and unstructured datasets related to grant or cooperative agreement management to assess program performance and related Federal financial assistance outcomes.
• Cleaned, merged, and reviewed large datasets using programming languages such as Python, SQL, R, or Java Script (full stack) to develop and deploy analytical models and validate data accuracy.
• Collaborated regularly with multidisciplinary teams and leadership to define data requirements, analytical methods, or program evaluation approaches.

Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required if:

• This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.
• This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Additional information

• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be well qualified, which means having knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies that exceed the minimum qualification requirements for this position. CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100 to receive selection priority.
• First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
• Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
• Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

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.

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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.