Summary

You will serve as a Data Scientist with responsibility for data management including but not limited to data storage, cleaning and curation of data, creation of data pipelines, automation of data flows, and data analytics encompassing operational and organizational analysis.

Duties

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Provides data-driven solutions to complex challenges by developing processes to transform raw structured or unstructured data into useful, actionable information for critical mission systems.
• Design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines using commercial cloud, open source, and/or custom software solutions to process large datasets.
• Establish data quality checks and procedures to ensure accuracy and consistency of data.
• Develop and implement data governance practices to regulate data access, usage, and security within the organization.
• Collaborate with teams to understand data needs, translate technical concepts, and ensure projects meet business goals.
• Translates the results of analysis into clear, actionable communications that equip Agency decision makers to make informed, data-driven decisions about programmatic and administrative functions.

Requirements

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.
• Prior to an official offer, selectee will be required to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) acknowledging/accepting that geographic mobility is a condition of employment. Failure to sign the MOU will result in withdrawal of the job offer.
• 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:

1. 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
2. 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.

FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Assisting in the development of automated pipelines for data extraction from databases or publicly available sources to support statistical analysis, construction of datasets, and creation of data products-including spatial layers-for further analytical use.
• Contributing to the development of software packages or interactive data visualizations, such as dashboards or analytic tools, that enable users to explore and interpret data across multiple subsets.
• Regularly using programming languages applied in data science activities, such as statistical analysis (e.g., C++, Python, or R), software or web application development (e.g., JavaScript or HTML), database management (e.g., SQL), and/or cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Assisting with the development or implementation of statistical models relevant to ecological systems or disease surveillance, which may include contributing to research articles, prototypes, or internal analytical products.
• Supporting research or software development projects, including helping communicate technical information to non-technical users, collaborating with teammates, and participating in iterative development with end-users.

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

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 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 software packages and interactive data visualizations including interactive dashboards and analytic tools that help users visualize their data in different subsets.
• Regular use of programming languages in multiple data science areas: statistical data analysis (e.g., C++, python, or R), software or web application development (e.g., JavaScript or HTML), database management (e.g., SQL), and/or of cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Developed statistical models of ecological systems, especially of disease surveillance data, as evidenced through authorship on research articles or software.
• Led research or software development projects, including communicating technical information, both orally and in writing to non-technical end-users and building effective developer/end-user relationships for collaborative development.

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.
• Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
• Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
• Current AMS employees selected for this position will remain in their current USDA office location / official duty station of record, except National Capital Region. Selectees in the National Capital Region may require additional conversations.
• Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

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.

Benefits

Help

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.