Clarification from the agency

The GAO is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service. This position is also being announced under the Agency's Merit Promotion procedures for federal employees and non-competitive appointment eligibles. If you are a current federal employee with status and wish to be considered under merit promotion or non-competitive procedures, you must apply to announcement number GAO-20-ARM-2210-02MP .

The ARM, Center for Statistics and Data Analysis is seeking an experienced professional to serve as an IT Specialist (Data Management) providing consultative services and technical assistance in support of complex engagements related to data analysis.  Specifically, the incumbent:

• Takes the lead role in programming complex code in SAS, Stata, or R and other software packages—including but not limited to SAS Enterprise Guide, SPSS, MapInfo, SQL, Vision Results/DYL, Sudaan, Access, Oracle, Visual Basic, Python--to perform primary data analysis on a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux and mainframe environments.
• Independently designs, normalizes, develops, implements, and maintains custom data bases, (SAS and Stata data sets, R data frames, Access databases, etc.) of varying size and complexity to compile data for analysis. This includes working with large data sets from agencies such as Census (STF/SF files, SIPP, ACS, CPS), SSA (Master Beneficiary Record, Death Master File), IRS, and various other executive branch agencies.
• Analyzes relational database structures and system documentation received from federal agencies to assist in making appropriate data requests.
• Designs, develops, and maintains data management systems that meet current and future agency requirements.
• Develops data architecture for the implementation of statistical data modeling.
• Leads the analysis and definition of data requirements and specifications by assisting teams in developing an analysis plan, which is linked to the engagement’s researchable questions and describes key assumptions, data elements to be analyzed, selection criteria used, and potential analysis to be presented in the product.
• Advises and assists engagement teams in selecting and acquiring data in accordance with GAO standards. Uses electronic testing of data to assess the accuracy and reliability of data to determine appropriate use for GAO reporting, especially in cases where data is complex, inconsistent, or has other challenges. Participates in development of report findings when data analysis is the basis for conclusions.
• Serves as subject-matter expert on how electronic data should be collected for engagements. Selects, refines, organizes, and presents factual information and analysis in support of engagement objectives.  In collaboration with engagement team members, decides on scope, form, content, and depth of analysis.
• Participates in aspects of design, researchable question development, data collection and analysis, message development, and report writing and helps ensure the quality and value of the final product.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Completion of a financial disclosure statement is required.
• Completion of a probationary period is required.
• Must be able to meet/maintain suitability & security requirements.
• Selective Service registration if you are a male born after Dec. 31, 1959.

Qualifications

You must have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower band or level equivalent to the GS-13 in the federal service, or comparable private or public sector experience which has equipped you with the skills and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience designing, developing, implementing, analyzing, and maintaining custom databases using SAS, Stata, or R and other comparable software packages; and demonstrated skill conducting complex analyses of primary and/or secondary data, participating in the development of an analysis plan, and developing data for the implementation of statistical data modeling.

Your experience must be IT related gained in the IT field or through the performance of work where the primary concern is IT; and demonstrate each of the four competencies listed below:

1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
2. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
3. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Your application must clearly demonstrate your possession of the specialized experience and the four competencies listed above.

How you will be evaluated

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

If you meet the qualification requirements stated, you will be further rated based on your responses to the assessment questions and placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans.

Please make sure that your responses to the assessment questions are supported in your resume and follow all instructions carefully. If you provide incomplete answers, fail to provide a narrative response to any assessment question(s) that requires further explanation, or if your response to an assessment question is "see resume”, your rating may be affected or you may be determined ineligible.

All applicants will be rated based on their responses to the assessment questions, in conjunction with the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA’s):

• Knowledge of and skill applying software design principles, methods, and approaches sufficient to design, write, test, debug, and maintain complex SAS, Stata, or R programs that meet unique technical and functional requirements.
• Mastery of data analysis concepts, principles, methods, practices and software, primarily SAS, Stata, R or comparable software (e.g. GRAPH, STAT, and ACCESS; SAS Proc Report, Proc SQL and Proc Tabulate); and/or using base Stata commands and custom macros (.ado programs) to conduct descriptive and statistical analysis and to format output into reports; and/or using R functions from the base and other commonly used packages, functions for vectorized processing such as lapply and mapply, and functions from special purpose packages such as dplyr and ggplot2, to conduct descriptive and statistical analysis on common classes of data and format output into reports.
• Expertise in analytical concepts, principles, and practices related to detailed analysis and documentation to conduct the data collection, review, and analysis processes of engagements.
• Skill in selecting, organizing, and presenting complex information in a concise and balanced manner as well as skill in communicating such information to non-technical and technical target audiences alike.
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively and complete projects in a group setting, particularly across organizational boundaries and with those with less technical backgrounds.
• Skill in applying database management concepts, principles, and methods including physical design, storage capacity, and backup and recovery.