Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S citizens and ICTAP eligibles.

The Office of Data Analytics leverages cutting-edge analytical methods and technologies to detect and/or predict patterns of fraud, waste, and abuse, and evaluate program impact. The office maintains expertise in handling diverse transportation datasets—from financial and operational records to safety data, infrastructure metrics, and regulatory compliance information—transforming raw data into actionable insights that drive OIG's oversight mission.

The incumbent serves as a senior statistician and recognized methodological authority responsible for defining and advancing the statistical standards, methods, and analytical strategies employed across OIG work products. The incumbent designs and directs statistically complex projects, resolves novel methodological questions across multiple projects, and makes authoritative determinations on analytical strategy at a level that establishes precedent for JD's body of work. In collaboration with other senior JD staff, the incumbent serves as the OIG's principal internal authority on statistical methodology, providing definitive consultation to audit teams, investigative staff, and analytical personnel across OIG headquarters and field offices, also representing JD's statistical capabilities to external entities including DOT leadership, legal counsel, the Government Accountability Office, and congressional staff.

Duties are listed at the full performance level; if selected at a lower grade level, assignments will increase in complexity as you progress toward the target grade level.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 P.M. EST on the closing date.
• This position is subject to a background investigation.
• Relocation is not authorized.
• This position requires pre-employment and random drug testing.
• You may be required to serve a one year probationary period.

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for STEM positions in the GS-1530 series. Under this Direct-Hire authority, applicants are required to meet minimum qualification requirements at the grade level(s) of interest. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Qualifications

All documents must be received and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.  Your resume must be well documented with the specialized experience, otherwise you may be deemed ineligible.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the EDUCATION REQUIREMENT AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE qualifications for the grade(s) at which you are requesting consideration. Applicants must meet qualifications, education requirement and time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

For GS-12: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in Federal service performing (obtained in either the public or private sectors) listed below:

• Applying statistical methods, such as probability-based sampling, to support audits, evaluations, or investigations.
• Conducting inferential statistical analyses, such as hypothesis testing, regression analysis, or ANOVA, to identify trends and support findings.
• Managing the data lifecycle for analytical projects, including data cleaning, validation, and transformation, using reproducible workflows in R, Python, or Stata.
• Assessing the quality, validity, and reliability of datasets and documenting any limitations.
• Creating statistical visualizations, reports, and dashboards to communicate complex analytical results to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Serving as a statistical consultant to project teams, providing advice on analytical approaches and the interpretation of results.

OR Education to Qualify at the GS-12: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience to Qualify at the GS-12: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described above. Only a master's or equivalent graduate degree may be used to qualify at this level. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

For GS-13: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service performing (obtained in either the public or private sectors) listed below:

• Leading the design and validation of probability-based sampling frameworks for complex projects, including making and documenting trade-off decisions to ensure conclusions are statistically defensible.
• Developing and applying advanced statistical models (such as generalized linear models or predictive methods) to examine complex data, making independent judgments on model specification and validation.
• Designing reproducible analytical workflows in R or Python that ensure transparency and facilitate peer review for a project team.
• Serving as a statistical consultant on projects, independently advising teams on analytical strategy and interpreting results.
• Mentoring or providing technical direction to junior analysts on statistical methodology and programming best practices.
• Authoring and presenting detailed statistical findings and their limitations to diverse audiences, including senior leadership and external stakeholders.

Education: Education cannot be substituted for experience at the GS-13 grade level.

For GS-14: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service performing (obtained in either the public or private sectors) listed below:

• Serving as the primary statistical authority for an organization's complex projects, making final methodological decisions that set the standard for future work.
• Developing, reviewing, and approving statistical methodologies (such as sampling plans and predictive models) for other senior and junior analysts to ensure they meet office-wide quality and evidentiary standards.
• Directing the technical work of other statisticians, setting methodological expectations, and providing mentorship to develop the analytical capabilities of an office or team.
• Making authoritative, binding judgments on data quality and fitness-for-use that govern the evidentiary basis for findings.
• Developing novel statistical approaches to resolve difficult analytical challenges where standard methods are insufficient.
• Representing an organization as a statistical expert, defending analytical methods and findings to senior leadership, legal counsel, or external stakeholders.

Education: Education cannot be substituted for experience at the GS-14 grade level.

Competencies: Your resume and short answer responses will be evaluated on the following competencies in addition to the specialized experience as stated above:

• Statistical Design and Sampling Designs and implements probability-based sampling strategies and statistical analyses that produce defensible, well-documented results appropriate to the research question and data environment.
• Predictive Modeling and Inference Applies inferential and predictive statistical methods to draw sound conclusions from data, selecting approaches appropriate to the data structure and analytical objective.
• Technical Communication Clearly conveys statistical methods, results, and limitations in an approachable manner to non-statistical audiences through written products, visualizations, and briefings.
• Data Management and Security Ensures responsible handling of data throughout the analytical lifecycle, including quality assessment, documentation, and compliance with federal governance, privacy, and security requirements.
• Stakeholder Collaboration Partners across teams or organizations to align efforts and achieve shared strategic objectives.

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

How you will be evaluated

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

All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases to determine how you move forward in the hiring process.

Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed.

GS -12 Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your responses to the announcement questionnaire and supporting documents. Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.

GS-13 & 14 Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents). Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.

TIG is the 52-week requirement Federal employees in competitive service, General Schedule (GS) positions at GS-5 and above must serve before they are eligible for promotion to the next grade level. TIG requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Supporting documents may either be uploaded or faxed to 571-258-4052. The requested information MUST be received by fax within 48 hours prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement (not including Saturdays, Sundays or government holidays).

NOTE: If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change or you may be removed from employment consideration.

Applicants who fail to submit all the required documentation listed below, in addition to their resumes, will be considered ineligible for further consideration for this announcement.

Resume (required) - Your resume must sufficiently describe how your experience fully meets the specialized experience requirements as stated in this announcement for each grade level(s) you are applying (see "Qualifications" section). **Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your qualifications. Your resume must also support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. We cannot assume you have performed the experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career. Resume must contain all of the following for each experience/position listed: job title, name of employer, beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year format), hours worked per week, detailed description of duties performed, and if a Federal position, series and grade or equivalent. We will not access web pages linked on your resume to determine your qualifications. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information.

For additional information see:

• USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
• USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL -Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation (documented within the last 18 months of employment) and 2) a list of any awards (e.g., superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last three years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is unavailable and indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at a satisfactory or above level.

CTAP/ICTAP - If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 80) and provide all the following documents:  

• your most recent performance appraisal,
• the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
• your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.

Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.

All required documentation must be provided by the closing date of the announcement. 

Next steps