Data Scientist

Summary

This vacancy is being filled via the Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for a Data Scientist position in the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Data Scientist, 1560-12/13, FPL GS-13 positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Duties

• Conducts research and statistical analysis on available data, as directed, and presents findings in suitable formats. Alters instructions, methodologies, and/or guidelines, as directed.
• Participates in the development of new user interfaces and supports adapting tools for displaying scientific information; implements common Management data standards and metadata schema for discoverability and interoperability of data, as directed.
• Performs advanced queries using database and analytical tools (e.g. SQL Server) and programming languages (e.g. Python, R, and Java) to analyze data and develop data-analytical visualizations.
• Defines data requirements and integration of enabling technologies to collect, extract, engineer, and transform data from traditional and nontraditional sources.
• Provides data science expertise to a wide range of highly complex initiatives and projects focused on the development of cutting-edge tools and resources to easily access, store, analyze, and exchange complex, high-quality data.

Qualifications

Minimum Education Requirement: A. 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 B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown in paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience. AND Specialized Experience: For the GS-12, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: participating in research and statistical analysis on available data and evaluates the effectiveness of statistical programs/applications; alters instructions, methodologies, and/or guidelines as necessary to achieve program objectives; develops improved program material and documentation; develops or presents training to internal or external audiences on data science topics; participates in the analysis of management information requirements to develop program or administrative reporting systems including the systems specifications, data gathering and analytical techniques, and systems evaluation methodology; and performs queries using various types of database and analytical tools (e.g., SQL Server). Specialized Experience: For the GS-13, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes participating in the planning, design, development, and implementation of data science techniques and methods; using data analytics to develop data structures, validate data sources, and evaluate data management tools; developing/querying analytical tools and data systems such as Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and SQL systems; and applying Big Data processing languages, computation algorithms including High Performance Computing (HPC), and programming languages (such as Python, R, C#, Java) to develop analytical pipelines, visualizations, and solutions. Applicants must demonstrate and provide evidence in at least 3 of the above areas to be qualified. Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level. 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire. This position is announced under a government-wide DHA for Data Scientist positions in the 1560 series. Under this DHA, applicants are required to meet minimum qualification requirements at the grade level(s) of interest. Veteran's Preference, Schedule A, and other methods of consideration DO NOT APPLY under DHA regulations. Online Assessment: Applicants must complete the online USA Hire Competency Based Assessments measuring critical general competencies required to perform the job. Examples used in the assessment may include general situations not directly related to this position. The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. CTAP and ICTAP candidates: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website, The Employee's Guide to Career Transition. We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process. Do NOT include the following types of information in your application if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position: Social Security Number (SSN) Date of Birth (DOB) Photos of yourself Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process. You may preview the questionnaire for this vacancy: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13089224. Other Information

This announcement is issued under the Direct-Hire authority. Consistent with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) and OPM regulations (5 CFR 337 Subpart B) on Direct-Hire: All candidates who meet all the qualification and other eligibility requirements may be referred for consideration. Competitive examining rules providing for rating and ranking and veterans' preference do not apply. Appointments made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Civil Service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b)). Individuals who have received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment, otherwise known as a buyout, must repay that incentive if they are reemployed by the Federal Government within five years of separation. 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. The Department of Commerce also provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.