Data Scientist - DIRECT HIRE

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Office of the Chief Data Officer (OCDO). OCDO develops strategic approaches to leveraging FTA’s data assets, manages FTA’s data governance, builds a strong data culture, manages data as a strategic asset, and uses data to improve mission delivery, operational efficiency, and actionable decision-making data, including via advanced analytic techniques and AI.

Duties

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As a Data Scientist, you will:

• Interact with analysts and internal customers to understand business processes, gather requirements, develop analysis methodologies, and coordinate development of data products.
• Perform analysis of a variety of data sources to provide data-driven insights and recommendations to the organization to streamline processes and improve program operations. Communicate analytical findings to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership.
• Develop, document, and implement statistically reliable methods, strategies, and approaches to ensure valid and reliable information is provided to support management decision-making.
• Conduct tests to measure data quality and compliance with internal policy. Performs data wrangling and develop broadly applicable recommendations to deal with imperfections in data.
• Assist in building the foundation of scientific and technical capabilities within FTA to support ongoing and future data analytics projects. Educate others on technology, tools, and best practices.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience leveraging data to inform business process improvements and operational decision-making. The ideal candidate will contribute to project teams using outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills, performing sophisticated data analysis, and developing data visualizations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Direct Hire Authority/SME will be used to fill this position.

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 the 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 period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 it must include:

• Experience interpreting data sets and applying statistical and analytic methods to discover patterns for guiding decision-making, streamlining operations, or improving programs.
• Experience with Python, R, SQL or other analytical tools to develop analyses, reports, or data products.
• Experience refining business problems into objective, measurable problem statements and translating analysis into clear communications and visualizations to stakeholders in an organization.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include:

• Experience assisting efforts to enhance data governance, management, and data use across an organization, including collaborating and coordinating with other stakeholders in or outside of an organization.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience.

To qualify for the GS-13 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12 it must include:

• Experience directing advanced data science and artificial intelligence initiatives from conception to deployment, including advising on appropriate classification or predictive models, developing machine learning algorithms, and evaluating models that resulted in an implementation in a production environment.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Data Analysis & Analytics - Manipulates and exploits internal and external, structured, and unstructured data sources to accomplish organizational goals.
• Data Management - Knowledge of the principles, procedures, and tools of data management, such as modeling techniques, data backup, data recovery, data dictionaries, data warehousing, data mining, data archiving, data disposal, and data standardization processes.
• Data Visualization and Communications - Utilizes tools, techniques, and software to generate reports or visualizations that convey data analyses, findings, and limitations and translates technical concepts, data findings, uncertainty, or limitations (including potential bias) from data sets into concise, plain language and supporting diagrams and media.
• Service Delivery - Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Seeks to obtain customer feedback through various channels to improve products and services. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.

For all types of consideration, 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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• 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

• 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.

Additional information

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code9202(c) and 5 C.F.R

• 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation

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.

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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.

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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.