Data Scientist

Summary

This position is located in the Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA), Office of Performance Analysis and Integrity (PA&I), and organizationally aligned under the VBA Chief of Staff. The mission of PA&I's Advanced Analytics Staff is to provide analytical services, statistical analysis, and data products that support VBA's delivery of high-quality, timely benefits and services to Veterans and their families.

Duties

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The data scientist will specialize in data extraction, sample design, and dataset development for analysis by VBA's Quality Assurance teams.

Specific duties include:

1. GS-11:
   
   • Support the development and optimization of data sourcing, preparation, and analytical dataset construction processes and assist in performing data extractions using computer programming without preset specifications to source and prepare data from diverse systems.
   • Assist with statistical analysis, working in established and emerging data science tools such as Toad, SAS, Python, Tableau, and cloud analytics platforms.
   • Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of VBA program operations in meeting business line or higher established goals and objectives, performing analyses of data and disseminating results to assigned project lead or supervisor.
   • Evaluate models and findings of other VBA analysts and contractors in area of specialization to assist assigned project lead or supervisor.
   • Support the creation and refinement of data visualizations, dashboards, and analytical summaries that clearly communicate findings and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
   
   GS-12:
   
   • Design and develop data sourcing, preparation, and analytical dataset construction processes; perform data extractions using computer programming without preset specifications; identify and resolve data quality issues, structural challenges, and non-routine extraction problems; validate data completeness and accuracy; and document methodologies for reproducibility and audit purposes.
   • Work in established and emerging data science tools such as Toad, SAS, Python, Tableau, and cloud analytics platforms, building statistical models in support of VBA operations and developing algorithms or tools to support data manipulation and processing.
   • Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of VBA program operations in meeting business line or higher established goals and objectives, performing analyses of data and disseminating results.
   • Conduct data science projects including problem definition, identification of key variables, development of analytical methodology, development of recommendations, and presentation of results.
   • Create and refine data visualizations, dashboards, statistical reports, and presentations that clearly communicate analytical methodologies, data quality considerations, and findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
   
   GS-13:
   
   • Design, develop, and optimize comprehensive data sourcing, preparation, and analytical dataset construction processes; oversee resolution of complex data quality and structural challenges; establish standards for data validation, documentation, and reproducibility; and ensure systems adequately support current and future analytical needs.
   • Work in established and emerging data science tools such as Toad, SAS, Python, Tableau, and cloud analytics platforms, building statistical models in support of VBA operations and developing algorithms or tools to support data manipulation and processing.
   • Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of VBA program operations in meeting business line or higher established goals and objectives, performing analyses of data and disseminating results.
   • Plan and conduct data science projects with detailed problem definition, identification of key variables, development of analytical methodology, development of recommendations, and presentation of results.
   • Develop data products including dashboards, statistical reports, presentations, and visualizations that communicate analytical findings and support organizational decision-making, ensuring products are tailored to audience technical expertise.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday.

Compressed/Flexible: Available.

Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Data Scientist; GS-1560-11 PD# 39796A, GS-1560-12 PD# 39795A,GS-1560-13 PD# 39794A.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:10/19/2026.

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR):

This position does have an IOR (Individual Occupational Requirement) that must be met in addition to the basic Specialized Experience qualifications. In order to qualify for this position, you must have the education or experience listed below:

Education: 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 paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

AND

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements (unless if in the commuting area and eligible for a non-competitive hiring authority such as Schedule A, VRA, or 30% or more disabled Veterans).

• For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.
• For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level.
• For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. These requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and those applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS-11 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Candidates must have at least one year's professional experience using the SQL computer programming language at the GS-09 level

OR

• Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-09 grade level.
  
  • Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related (You must provide transcripts); OR
  • Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree..

OR

• Combination: The applicant has less than the one year of specialized experience as described in response "A" above, and less than the full amount of graduate education as described in response "B" above. However, when combined, they equal at least 100% of the total requirement. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned. Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate level education can be used in combination with experience to qualify for a GS-11 grade level position. NOTE: Your application must include an official or unofficial copy of graduate level transcripts that demonstrate this information if this response is selected.

GS-12 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Candidates must have at least one year's professional experience using the Python computer programming language.

GS-13 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Candidates must have at least one year's professional experience using both the SQL and Python computer programming languages.

Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information.

Volunteer Experience: 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; religions; 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 experience.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications.

You may submit unofficial transcripts when applying. However, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official transcript or a statement from the institution (e.g., from the registrar, dean, or other appropriate official) or equivalent documentation prior to the start date.

There is no education substitute at the GS-12 or GS-13 levels.

Additional information

This is not a bargaining unit position.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Click here for more information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.