Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Government-wide Direct Hire Authority.

• Assist senior Data Scientists and support the Chief Data Scientist (CDS) and Chief Data Officer (CDO) in developing, defining, and driving the CFTC’s data strategy to advance the exploration and deployment of AI, ML, and enterprise analytics for improved or novel outcomes across traditional and emerging market segments.
• Assist in identifying and developing data-driven solutions for complex business challenges to expand the agency’s data analytics and computational research capabilities.
•Collect, clean, and analyze large datasets from multiple sources for data quality, accuracy, and integrity.
•Conduct exploratory data analysis on large, complex datasets containing structured and unstructured data to identify novel trends, patterns, relationships, and anomalies.
•Utilize modern tools and computational skills to interpret, connect, predict and make discoveries in complex data and deliver recommendations for business and analytic decisions.
•Develop predictive models that use advanced statistical and machine learning methods to strengthen the CFTC’s surveillance capabilities and achieve CFTC policy
goals, including data-driven rules generation, market monitoring, examinations and surveillance. Assist in the development of AI and ML models for risk scoring and predictive measures to identify candidates for further investigation using structured (especially tabular), and unstructured data.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship
• Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered for Selective Service
• Background/Security Investigation
• May be required to serve a probationary period

The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies (KSA's).

• Computational Analytics and Technology Evaluation
• Data Infrastructure and Mining
• Data Science Governance and Strategy
• Strategic Data Science Advisory and Systems Development

Qualifications

BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To be considered for this position, you must have either:

1. Degree: Mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position. The degree mut 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.

In addition to meeting the specialized experience below you must meet the basic requirement above to qualify for this position.

Specialized experience for this position includes:
CT-13: To qualify for the CT-13 level you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS/CT-12 level).  Specialized experience is defined that through which one has gained experience:

1. Experience leading data science projects and providing technical guidance. AND
2. Experience in advanced statistical models, machine learning, big data technologies, and cloud-based analytics platforms. AND
3. Experience mentoring staff and presenting complex findings to senior management. AND
4. Experience designing and implementing automated data science workflows and pipelines.

How you will be evaluated

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

This vacancy is being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Government-wide Direct Hire Authority for Data Science Series 1560. Traditional rating and ranking procedures do not apply to this vacancy.  All applicants who meet the specialized experience will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration.  Veteran's Preference does not apply to the direct hire recruitment procedures.

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.

You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:

• Resume showing all relevant and related experience (two pages max). If selected, your resume will be used to determine your initial pay setting decision;
• Cover Letter (optional);
• Performance appraisal (optional);

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veteran preference, you should indicate the type of veteran preference you are claiming on your resume. In order to verify your veteran preference entitlement, please submit a copy of your veteran's documentation including a DD-214 (member 4 copy preferred, however, the documentation provided must contain dates and character of service); official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.  In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the natural mother of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, “Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference,” and the other required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim. Although veteran preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under “How You Will Be Evaluated,” veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified. 

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): The ICTAP provides eligible displaced federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.  To be well qualified, you must score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at:
http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.ICTAP

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): Provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the CFTC with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If CFTC has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must rate equivalent to the Well Qualified or better category using established rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.

ICTAP/CTAP Candidates MUST submit:
1. A copy of their agency reduction-in-force notice;
2. A copy of your most recent Performance Rating;
3. A copy of your most recent SF-50 noting current or last position held, the grade level, and the duty location; and
4. A copy of your notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local
commuting area or documentation showing you were separated as a result of RIF or declining a directed reassignment or
transfer of function outside the local commuting area.

Next steps