The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent office within the Department of Agriculture whose mission is to promote excellence, integrity, and accountability throughout the USDA. The OIG conducts investigations, audits, and inspections in order to enhance effectiveness and efficiency and to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and mismanagement in USDA programs and operations.
This position will serve as the Assistant Inspector General for Data Sciences (AIG/DS) and is responsible for policies, directing, and supervising highly complex program activities critical to the OIG’s accomplishment of its mission/program operations, and will oversee all data science activities relating to Departmental programs and operations as delegated by the Inspector General (IG) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG). These activities are worldwide in scope and are essential to and for the effective management of the Department of Agriculture .
Summary
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent office within the Department of Agriculture whose mission is to promote excellence, integrity, and accountability throughout the USDA. The OIG conducts investigations, audits, and inspections in order to enhance effectiveness and efficiency and to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and mismanagement in USDA programs and operations.
This position will serve as the Assistant Inspector General for Data Sciences (AIG/DS) and is responsible for policies, directing, and supervising highly complex program activities critical to the OIG’s accomplishment of its mission/program operations, and will oversee all data science activities relating to Departmental programs and operations as delegated by the Inspector General (IG) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG). These activities are worldwide in scope and are essential to and for the effective management of the Department of Agriculture .
As the Assistant Inspector General for Data Sciences, you will perform the following functions:
Direct, manage, and administer a staff engaged in the development, coordination, conduct, and oversight of predictive analytics, statistical sampling, modeling, computer matching, continuous monitoring, data mining, and data warehousing results designed to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness or prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in USDA’s programs and operations.
Serve as a member of the IG’s decision and policy-making staff, plan, direct, and coordinate the implementation and execution of approved policies, programs, and activities of the OIG, and share responsibility for the accomplishment of the OIG mission as a consultant and adviser to the IG and DIG.
Make workload determinations, prepare justifications, and recommend priorities for long-range planning, the annual budget, and the annual program to provide appropriate examinations of programs and operations of the Department and its principal components.
Identify budget and financial requirements, and provide oversight of budgetary expenditures.
Provide overall executive direction and coordination to the Office of Data Sciences (ODS) staff in conducting Department-wide statistical operations and activities.
Through subordinate staff, develop, direct, and supervise an ongoing data science program that is comprehensive, effective, and responsive to the interests and needs of the IG, the DIG, the Secretary of USDA, agency heads, and the Congress to ensure integrity of the Department’s programs and personnel and/or the administration of its affairs.
Reviews existing and proposed legislation and regulations and advises the IG and senior OIG staff on the impact that the laws and initiatives have on program activities and on the administration of specific operations related to the prevention of fraud and abuse or mismanagement initiatives and operations.
Prepares summaries of findings and activities to be used in preparation of the IG's Semiannual Report to Congress (SARC) and the Secretary.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Public Financial Disclosure Required (OGE Form 278)
US Citizenship is required.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Public Financial Disclosure Required (OGE Form 278)
A one (1) year SES probationary period MAY be required.
A background investigation MAY be required.
Must submit a narrative statement for ECQs and Technical Qualifications.
Eligibility for this position will be based on meeting the basic education requirements (if applicable) above and clear and comprehensive indication that the applicant has had experience of the scope and quality sufficient to carry out the duties and assignments of the position. Applicants must meet the basic education requirements and possess the essential skills, knowledge, and abilities listed in the Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications paragraphs above.
If you are newly hired, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" system. Federal law requires the use of E-VERIFY to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. Under this system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.
Qualifications
Eligibility for this position will be based on meeting the basic education requirements below and clear and comprehensive indication that the applicant has had experience of the scope and quality sufficient to carry out the duties and assignments of the position. Applicants must meet the basic education requirements and possess the essential skills, knowledge, and abilities listed in the Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications paragraphs below.
EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): Applicants will be evaluated in the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) listed below which are broadly applicable to SES positions throughout the Federal Government.
All competitive applicants must submit a narrative statement covering each of the ECQs.
Narratives should be limited to no more than a total of 10 pages for the ECQs. OPM Candidate Development Program (CDP) graduates, current career SES members or former career SES members who are eligible for reinstatement to a career-reserved position need not submit an ECQ statement.
ECQ 1 – LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
ECQ 2 – LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
ECQ 3 – RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
ECQ 5 – BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS: All applicants must submit narrative statement specifically addressing each of the following Technical Qualifications. Narratives should be limited to no more than two pages per factor. Applicants will be evaluated against each of these factors.
Knowledge of the theory of statistics, forecasting methods, survey methodology, and applied experience in general survey procedures.
Knowledge and ability to lead, manage, direct, and coordinate a diverse and geographically disbursed workforce to measure, accomplish, and improve organizational goals, objectives, performance, and priorities.
Ability to apply a strategic vision to effect the long and short term planning for an organization.
Ability to communicate with individuals or groups from diverse backgrounds in a variety of situations (includes spoken and written communication, negotiating, partnering, interpersonal skills and political savvy).
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 1530 SERIES:
Applicants must have successfully completed one of the following:
A. Degree: that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology, etc. Credit toward meeting statistical course requirements should be given for courses in which 50 percent of the course content appears to be statistical methods, e.g., courses that included studies in research methods in psychology or economics such as tests and measurements or business cycles, or courses in methods of processing mass statistical data such as tabulating methods or electronic data processing.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.
Education
EDUCATION STATEMENT - Individual Occupational Requirement: This position has an education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades) to document that you have met the education requirement. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to beginning employment. Most colleges and universities offer unofficial transcripts online - please check your school website to obtain a copy quickly. All academic degrees or course work must be completed in an educational institution that has obtained accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.edu.gov/ .
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov .
Additional information
OPM Candidate Development Program (CDP) graduates and current Career SES members need only to address the technical qualifications and need not respond to the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).
You will be required to serve a one-year probationary period unless you have previously completed the probationary period.
You will be paid by direct deposit to a financial organization.
Selectee will be required to file an annual financial disclosure statement, form OGE-278.
Some travel of all modes of transportation within Continental United States is required.
An essential element of the SES is mobility across geographic, organizational, and functional lines. Individuals selected for SES positions may be subject to reassignment, which requires you to be mobile. All new appointed Career SES leaders must sign the Reassignment Rights Obligation Agreement as a condition of employment into the SES.
Security Requirement: Critical Sensitive. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.
Veterans' preference does not apply to positions in the Senior Executive Service.
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.
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.
Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of the quality and extent of their accomplishments, experience, and education. An Executive Evaluation Panel will evaluate the resume, the Executive Core Qualifications statement, and the Technical Qualifications statement for each candidate to determine the best qualified candidates for referral to the selecting official.
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.
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.
The following documents are required for your application to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume must include: 1) personal information; 2) education; 3) work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; and title, series and grade if applicable; 4) supervisors phone number, e-mail address for each work period listed, and whether or not we may contact them for reference checks; and 5) other qualifications.
College Transcripts if education is required for meeting basic qualifications and/or used as a substitute for specialized experience. An unofficial copy is sufficient; however, if selected, an official transcript will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. Foreign education must be evaluated by an approved organization. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at http://www.ed.gov. All transcripts must be in English or include English translation.
A narrative statement for your responses to the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs); this is not required for current graduates of an OPM certified SES Candidate Program or current SES members.
A narrative statement for your responses to the Technical Qualifications questions (TQs). This is required for all applicants.
For current or previous Federal employees, please attach a copy of your most recent SF-50 or agency notification of personnel action form that provides current position, grade level, and duty location.
Please provide a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
Graduates of an OPM certified SES Candidate Program must submit a copy of the program graduation/certification document.
Current or former SES members should submit a copy of their most recent Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50, showing status as an SES member.
Incomplete application packages will not be evaluated.
NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded resumes must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOC or DOCX).
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
You are strongly encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application for this position.
You must provide specific examples of your education, experience, training and awards in the manner and order instructed below which are applicable to each: (A) Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and (B) Technical Qualifications (TQs). Responses to the five ECQs and TQs is mandatory. Failure to address the ECQs and TQs will result in your application being disqualified.
The following instructions outline our application process.
You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday). Applying online is highly encouraged. If applying online poses a hardship, please contact our office during business hours well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages with supporting documents must be submitted no later than noon on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact us if you are requesting this.
Step 1: Create a USAJOBS account (if you do not have one) at www.usajobs.gov. It is recommended that as part of your profile you set up automatic email notification to be informed when the status of your application changes. If you choose not to set up this automatic notification, then you will have to log into your USAJOBS account to check on the status of your application.
Step 2: Create a resume with USAJOBS or upload a resume into your USAJOBS account. Customize your resume to ensure it documents duties and accomplishments you have gained that are directly related to this position in order to verify that qualifications are met. Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire (you may preview the online questionnaire by clicking on the link at the end of the How You Will Be Evaluated section of the job announcement).
Step 3: Click "Apply Online" and follow the prompts to complete the Occupational Questionnaire and attach any additional documents that may be required.
You can update your application or documents anytime while the announcement is open. Log into your USAJOBS account and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application” to continue.
NOTE: Verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system. Once in the Agency's staffing system you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOC or DOCX).
USDA OIG HRMD
1400 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC, 20250
United States
Next steps
You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgement from USAJOBS that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line occupational questionnaire, resume, responses to the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs).
Best Qualified applicants will be forwarded to the Selecting Official to make a selection. Interviews are arranged through the Selecting Official. If your application is not forwarded to the Rating Panel, you will be notified of the outcome of your application.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents are required for your application to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume must include: 1) personal information; 2) education; 3) work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; and title, series and grade if applicable; 4) supervisors phone number, e-mail address for each work period listed, and whether or not we may contact them for reference checks; and 5) other qualifications.
College Transcripts if education is required for meeting basic qualifications and/or used as a substitute for specialized experience. An unofficial copy is sufficient; however, if selected, an official transcript will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. Foreign education must be evaluated by an approved organization. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at http://www.ed.gov. All transcripts must be in English or include English translation.
A narrative statement for your responses to the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs); this is not required for current graduates of an OPM certified SES Candidate Program or current SES members.
A narrative statement for your responses to the Technical Qualifications questions (TQs). This is required for all applicants.
For current or previous Federal employees, please attach a copy of your most recent SF-50 or agency notification of personnel action form that provides current position, grade level, and duty location.
Please provide a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
Graduates of an OPM certified SES Candidate Program must submit a copy of the program graduation/certification document.
Current or former SES members should submit a copy of their most recent Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50, showing status as an SES member.
Incomplete application packages will not be evaluated.
NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded resumes must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOC or DOCX).
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
You are strongly encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application for this position.
You must provide specific examples of your education, experience, training and awards in the manner and order instructed below which are applicable to each: (A) Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and (B) Technical Qualifications (TQs). Responses to the five ECQs and TQs is mandatory. Failure to address the ECQs and TQs will result in your application being disqualified.
The following instructions outline our application process.
You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday). Applying online is highly encouraged. If applying online poses a hardship, please contact our office during business hours well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages with supporting documents must be submitted no later than noon on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact us if you are requesting this.
Step 1: Create a USAJOBS account (if you do not have one) at www.usajobs.gov. It is recommended that as part of your profile you set up automatic email notification to be informed when the status of your application changes. If you choose not to set up this automatic notification, then you will have to log into your USAJOBS account to check on the status of your application.
Step 2: Create a resume with USAJOBS or upload a resume into your USAJOBS account. Customize your resume to ensure it documents duties and accomplishments you have gained that are directly related to this position in order to verify that qualifications are met. Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire (you may preview the online questionnaire by clicking on the link at the end of the How You Will Be Evaluated section of the job announcement).
Step 3: Click "Apply Online" and follow the prompts to complete the Occupational Questionnaire and attach any additional documents that may be required.
You can update your application or documents anytime while the announcement is open. Log into your USAJOBS account and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application” to continue.
NOTE: Verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system. Once in the Agency's staffing system you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOC or DOCX).
USDA OIG HRMD
1400 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC, 20250
United States
Next steps
You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgement from USAJOBS that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line occupational questionnaire, resume, responses to the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs).
Best Qualified applicants will be forwarded to the Selecting Official to make a selection. Interviews are arranged through the Selecting Official. If your application is not forwarded to the Rating Panel, you will be notified of the outcome of your application.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
