Data Scientist

This position is located within the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS), Strategy & Policy (S&P) unit. The incumbent is responsible for providing data-driven products and solutions to complex challenges associated with the analysis, interpretation, and visualization of large and varied structured and unstructured data sets supporting various VS surveillance/monitoring programs, adverse animal health events, and emergency response.

Major duties

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Analyzes a variety of data sources to provide data-driven insights to the organization to streamline Federal program evaluation and oversight, including efforts to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.
• Consults with stakeholders and customers as necessary to identify the appropriate data, methodology, and design.
• Collects, organizes, and interprets multi-contextual data to evaluate program performance, policy effectiveness, program impacts and constraints, and mission alignment.
• Creates data visualizations and dashboards to support data interpretation, use, and sharing.
• Collaborates with VS program teams and Center Directors or designee to develop pans, procedures, and methodologies for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Provides professional leadership in developing policies, standards, and operating procedures pertaining to data collection and analyses.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. BASIC REQUIREMENT: 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 1 above, plus additional education or appropriate experience. FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience developing and maintaining complex datasets. Works with data management tools such as data dictionaries, data warehousing, data mining, data archiving, data disposal, and data standardization processes. Works with large data sets to include collecting, exploring, cleaning, transforming, and analyzing large amounts of data to discover underlying patterns and trends. Implements processes for developing written technical and operational support documentation. (Example may include: Developing project plans, data management plans, entity relationship diagrams, project charters, process flow diagrams, governance, project schedules. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.