Summary
The GSA Office of Inspector General (OIG) is seeking a highly motivated and qualified Data Scientist for our Cyber and Data Analytics team in the Office of Investigations.
We are currently filling one vacancy that will be located in one of the following locations, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.
Washington, DC
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL
Fort Worth, TX
Kansas City, MO
Lakewood, CO
Philadelphia, PA
Tacoma, WA
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
This public notice is issued under Direct Hire Authority (DHA) to recruit talent to occupations for which there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need. This means that we can hire any qualified candidate from this notice or any other source. About this DHA notice: -Current civil service employees will receive new appointments if selected under this DHA. -For information on DHA, please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/
Duties
As a Data Scientist with the GSA OIG Office of Investigations, you will make use of scientific methodology, processes, algorithms, and systems to collect, analyze, evaluate, and maintain data to yield actionable information; develop data mining and predictive analytics tools to identify indicators of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement; and to support OIG investigations using data analytics, link analysis, and data mining. Some of the responsibilities of this position may include the following duties:
- Providing expert design and development of data models and statistical analyses.
- Developing new and improved concepts, principles, and techniques to advance the body of business and data analytics knowledge within the OIG.
- Collecting and analyzing unstructured and structured data using a variety of methods, including data cleansing, and producing coherent data sets.
- Performing data analyses and applying methods including classical statistics, spatial statistics, optimization, supervised and unsupervised modelling as necessary to complete projects.
- Converting user stories and project requirements to model design, code, and visualizations. Performing data discovery, data mining, analytic modeling, and visualization to provide insights and drive decisions.
- Designing, developing, and deploying data-driven models to solve problems and answer questions using data mining, statistical modeling, analytics, and business intelligence techniques and tools.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the General Services Administration (GSA) is one of the original OIGs established by the Inspector General Act of 1978. The OIGs were created as independent and objective entities within an agency to (a) promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of the agency, and (b) to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in agency programs and operations. The OIGs report to the agency head and Congress through semi-annual and other reports. The GSA OIG operates as an autonomous entity within GSA under a presidentially appointed, Senate confirmed Inspector General who supervises a diverse team of approximately 300 professionals in headquarters' administrative, legal, and operational components and in regional operational offices throughout the country. The GSA OIG is dedicated to protecting the public interest by bringing about positive changes in the performance, accountability, and integrity of GSA programs and operations. Oversight is provided through auditing, inspections and evaluations, and investigations of GSA extensive procurement, real property, and related programs and operations, which primarily support other federal agencies. OIG oversight components report their findings and recommend courses of action to promote efficiency and economy in the GSA’s activities. Applicants are encouraged to review the work and accomplishments of the GSA OIG on our website, https://www.gsaig.gov/.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- US Citizens and National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
- Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
- Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959
If selected, you must meet the following conditions:
- Current or Former Political Appointees: 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 or NonCareer SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
- Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
- Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 5 investigation level).
- Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA OIG employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
- Complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position.
Qualifications
Starting Pay for all locations will be dependent upon the associated GS-Locality Pay Table for that area. If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS DATA SCIENTISTS: All candidates for Data Scientists must meet one of the following basic requirements.
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.
This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY AT THE GS-13 LEVEL:
In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is technical data analytics expertise in working with teams to develop data-driven solutions, products and definitions that address program and business challenges. This experience must include: Gathering and compiling data from a variety of business data systems; Consulting with diverse stakeholders and using analysis tools to design and implement data analyses; Using appropriate analytic and statistical software to programmatically prepare data for analysis and clean imperfect data; Translating data analyses into meaningful, easily understood communications; Conducting observational analyses using software and/or programming languages including R, Python, Microsoft Power BI, and SQL to explore/group data, test hypotheses, predict outcomes, and inform decisions; Developing automated data solutions (including dashboards and visualizations); and Providing input to management for decisions on an organization's enterprise data environment and/or data management practices.
Additional information
Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.
Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.
Current civil service employees will receive new appointments if selected under this Direct Hire Authority.
If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the OIG HR point of contact listed on this vacancy announcement.
In the event that this position cannot be filled by the initial selection, alternate selections may be made from this announcement. Management also has the right to not fill this position or to fill additional vacancies through this announcement as needed.
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.
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.
You will have access to many benefits including:
- Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
- Life insurance coverage with several options
- Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
- Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
- Flexible work schedules
- Transit and child care subsidies
- Flexible spending accounts
- Training and development
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applications will be assessed by Subject Matter Expert (SME) review panel to identify applicants who have the level of proficiency needed for successful job performance in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Direct Hire Guidelines. Following the structured SME review of your resume and application responses, fully qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration.
Veterans' Preference does not apply to the direct hire recruitment procedures.
You may not be considered for the position, if any part of the application is incomplete or missing the required supporting documentation. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or dismissing you if hired.
If you are an Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan eligible or a GSA OIG Career Transition Assistance eligible, you must be considered well qualified to receive priority (ICTAP/CTAP). Well qualified is defined as possession of all specialized knowledge and skills which are critical for successful performance in this position. This will be determined based on the SME review of your resume and application responses.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.
Your resume should not exceed 2 pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying. Your resume must contain the following information:
- Name, address, telephone number, email address;
- Job Titles (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);
- Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement.
- Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts.
Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.
If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.
If you are ICTAP/CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.
Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50.
College transcripts: You must submit a photocopy of your college transcript(s). Transcripts MUST show: name of the institution, student's name, course work/degree(s) completed/conferred and dates. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.
For education completed outside the United States, also submit a valid foreign credential evaluation that substantiates possession of the required education.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application. For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job.
If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device. Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application.
To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement.
- Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application.
- Resumes exceeding two pages will not be accepted by USAJOBS and will prevent your application from moving forward in the hiring process. Please see Required Documents for additional details.
- Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process.
- Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.
- Note: Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process).
Need Assistance?
- Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation - contact fedhirehelp@applygovernment.com or 1-866-656-6831 Monday-Friday 7AM - 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays
- Specific questions on the position - contact the HR representative (Monday-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline
You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions.
Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.
Next steps
After the closing date/deadline:
- ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Your application will be reviewed for all requirements.
- REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: If you meet all the requirements, you may be referred to management for review and a possible interview.
- SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer and start the suitability and/or security background investigation process.
- FINAL JOB OFFER: Once our security office determines you can come on board, you will be given a final offer, which is typically around 45 days after the announcement closes.
- FINAL COMMUNICATION: Once the position is filled, we will notify you of your status. You may also check your application status by logging into USAJOBS and clicking “Track this Application” on the Applicant Dashboard.
Thank you for your interest in working for the GSA Office of Inspector General!