Data Scientist

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens ICTAP/CTAP Military Spouses 30% Disabled Veterans

his position is in Office of the Chief Data Officer (OCDO), Office of Innovation (INN), Office of Technology & Innovation (OTI), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The incumbent will serve as a Data Scientist, responsible for utilizing scientific methodologies, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract insights from structured and unstructured data and to provide guidance for data-driven decision making.in support of OIG investigations, audits, and inspections. Typical assignments for GS-7 include:

• Extracting data from internal/external data sources and provided files using prescribed tools, scripts, or step-by-step procedures; performing basic cleaning tasks; and loading into approved environments.
• Calculating basic descriptive statistics (e.g., counts, totals, averages, percentages) using spreadsheets or standard software functions and running predefined statistical routines or notebook templates.
• Creating simple charts, graphs, and tables (e.g., bar charts, line charts, pie charts) in tools such as Excel or introductory business intelligence tools using prepared data.
• Running existing scripts (e.g., Python, R, Perl, VBScript) to import, transform, or export data according to written instructions.

Typical assignments for GS-9 include:

• Extracting, cleaning, transforming, and organizing data from internal and external data sources using established tools, scripts, and queries.
• Applying descriptive statistics (e.g., counts, means, medians, standard deviations), simple inferential techniques (e.g., t-tests, chi-square tests) or standard libraries or built-in functions (e.g. regression, classification, clustering) to answer defined questions.
• Building and updating dashboards, reports, and visualizations in tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms using prepared or team-approved data models.
• Automating routine manual tasks (e.g., parsing large data files, merging files, recurring data quality checks, scheduled refreshes) to improve efficiency and reduce errors.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position
• You must successfully pass a background investigation
• You must be able to obtain Secret security clearance
• Selective Service registration required
• Completion of one-year probationary period may be required.
• Submission of Performance Appraisal is mandatory

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications GS-07: Must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Applying basic statistical analyses to make informed projections, data driven decisions, and recommendations based on findings.
• Writing and modifying scripts with open-source language such as R or Python to apply quantitative techniques (e.g., descriptive and inferential statistics, sampling, experimental design, parametric and non- parametric tests of difference, ordinary least squares regression, general line) with close supervision or detailed instructions.
• Creating or updating logical data models to deliver integrated data to end users for use in a variety of analytical software tools, including but not limited to graphical link analysis software, statistical analysis, geospatial software, visualization software, and natural language processing software.
• Assisting in preparing written reports, data summaries, or presentation materials that describe analytical approaches and results for non-technical staff.

Minimum Qualifications GS-09: Must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Applying basic statistical analyses to make informed projections, data driven decisions, and recommendations based on findings.
• Writing and modifying scripts

  with

  open source language such as R or Python to apply quantitative techniques (e.g., descriptive and inferential statistics, sampling, experimental design, parametric and non- parametric tests of difference, ordinary least squares regression, general line) under supervision or with detailed guidance.
• Creating or updating logical data models to deliver integrated data to end users for use in a variety of analytical software tools, including but not limited to graphical link analysis software, statistical analysis, geospatial software, visualization software, and natural language processing software.
• Assisting in the preparation of written reports, data summaries, or presentation materials that describe analytical approaches and results for non-technical staff.

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 experience.

The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date 08/26/2026of this announcement.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Your experience, education, and training will be rated using a job questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:

• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Teamwork

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

1. Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13021596.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position IS considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length.

1. Your resume NOTE: For what to include in the resume, click on the link.
2. Your responses to the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13021596
3. Are you a current or former federal employee? Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held; your current promotion potential; proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, with-in grade/range increases and accessions.
4. Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) or a list of coursework with hours completed. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
5. Are you a veteran? Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 or other (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) and/or documentation of service connected disability. If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. View more veterans' information.
6. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit a copy of your:
- Agency notice,
- Most recent performance rating, and
- Most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
7. Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
- Position title
- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee)
- Agency
- Beginning and ending dates of appointment
8. Are you a Military Spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty relocating or spouse of a disabled or deceased member of the Armed Forces? Submit the following:
- Documentation Verifying Marriage (i.e. Marriage Certificate)
- A copy of your Spouse's Active Military Orders; and
- DD-214 (member 4 copy), "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing all dates of service, as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) or Statement of Service/Proof of Service (in lieu of a DD-214) from your command or local Personnel Support Detachment (PSD).

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