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Data Scientist

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The NIH's mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. We are looking for motivated Data Scientists in multiple locations to help drive the NIH mission.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/05/2024 to 08/23/2024
Salary
$72,553 to - $167,336 per year

Salary displayed is the absolute maximum and minimum allowed. Pay will be set using the appropriate locality upon selection.

Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 13
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Montgomery County, MD
Durham, NC
NIH - US Locations
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy. The Office of Research Facilities (ORF) may pay relocation expenses.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NIH-SR-DH-24-12499723
Control number
802986800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration.

Duties

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If selected for this position as a Data Scientist, GS-1560-11/12/13 your duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Designing and implementing strategies, methodologies, and tools to collect data that is relevant, accurate, and representative of the target population or phenomenon of interest. Preparing the data and ensuring its suitability for the intended use (e.g., storage, analysis, or modeling) by cleaning, wrangling, and formatting the data. Organizing, storing, and maintaining data in a way that optimizes access patterns, security, and accommodates different data types and characteristics.
  • Using computational/statistical techniques for analyzing data. This includes applying the algorithms and methods that underlie artificial intelligence (AI), data mining, machine learning, and statistical inference to gain knowledge or insights, build classifiers and predictors, or infer causality.
  • Representing data and information visually through graphical or interactive means such as charts, graphs, maps, or dashboards. Explaining what the visualized data means considering context, point, implications, and possible ramifications.
  • Developing, implementing, or leading data science initiatives, programs, or strategies while ensuring compliance, managing teams/resources, evaluating proposals, and maintaining reproducible work procedures. Developing, implementing, modifying, or providing recommendations on data visualization, healthcare AI, and other data science tools (e.g., machine learning).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • Position requires Education.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for a Data Scientist, GS-1560-11/12/13 position you must have:
A bachelor's degree, or graduate/higher level degree with a major study in mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science, or a field that is directly related to the position
OR
A combination of education (at least 30 semester hours) and additional appropriate/related experience that is the equivalent to a major in mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or a field directly related to the position.

In addition, in order to qualify for a Data Scientist, GS-1560 at the GS-11 level you must have:

A. One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following types of tasks:

  1. Developing recommendations for the most efficient ways to collect quantitative information;
  2. Creating data cleaning/wrangling scripts to transform data into a suitable format for analysis or storage; analyzing data with programming languages (e.g., R, Python) using statistical methods/techniques (e.g., Logistic Regression, ANOVA) to extract insights/findings; AND
  3. Summarizing data analysis results using data visualization tools to prepare presentations for internal stakeholders or team members.
OR
B. Have 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field;
OR
C. Have a combination of post baccalaureate education above the master's level in a related field, and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
In addition, in order to qualify for a Data Scientist, GS-1560 at the GS-12 level you must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following types of tasks:
  1. Performing data collection, preprocessing, and analysis by applying programming languages (e.g., R, Python), feature engineering, advanced statistical methods/techniques (e.g., MANOVA, Bayesian Analysis), and machine learning/AI tools;
  2. Implementing machine learning/AI tools (e.g., Natural Language Processing, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning) to extract insights from data; AND
  3. Summarizing data analysis results using data visualization tools, programming languages, and software applications (e.g., MATLAB, Tableau) to prepare presentations for external stakeholders.
In addition, in order to qualify for a Data Scientist, GS-1560 at the GS-13 level you must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following types of tasks:
  1. Enhancing data collection, preprocessing, and analysis activities by implementing/adapting programming language codes (e.g., R, Python), feature engineering, advanced statistical methods/techniques (e.g., MANOVA, Bayesian Analysis), and machine learning/AI tools;
  2. Adapting and implementing machine learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques (e.g., Natural Language Processing, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning) to extract insights from unstructured data;
  3. Explaining findings using data visualization tools, programming languages, and software applications (e.g., MATLAB, Tableau); AND
  4. Explaining data science concepts to stakeholders (e.g., researchers, leadership) to build consensus in planning data initiatives (e.g., data collection, preprocessing, analysis, reporting).

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings with the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12499723

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Additional information

  • This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
  • Some positions in this announcement are eligible for remote work. Please select the "NIH US Locations" location when applying if you wish to be considered for remote work. All other location(s) are not eligible for remote work. Remote is a position designation where little to no onsite presence is required (e.g., once or twice annually). You may work anywhere in the U.S., including any of the territories. Worksites outside of the U.S. are prohibited. Your pay is determined by the geographically defined pay locality applicable to your approved worksite (e.g., home residence). Reporting to an NIH location may also be required during the onboarding process. Visit NIH's Remote Work page for more information and requirements.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
  • At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: [telework (work from home on a regular basis or ad hoc basis but reports to the office at least once a week/two days a pay period), compressed schedules, flexible schedules].
  • Newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for prior work experience or active duty uniformed service that otherwise would not be creditable for the purpose of determining his or her annual leave accrual rate. All creditable service must be directly related to the duties of the position being filled and decisions to allow for such credit must be finalized prior to the selectee's entrance on duty. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
  • A current federal government employee may receive a relocation incentive if moving from a different geographic location. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
  • PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should also apply online to this announcement in order to receive consideration.
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Visit our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.
  • Visit our Total Compensation page and this sample for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement, and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.

How you will be evaluated

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

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

The position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by a direct hire authority. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants, including category rating, does not apply to this vacancy. You will be initially evaluated against the basic qualifications only. Qualified applicants will be referred for consideration in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management direct hire guidelines. Veterans' Preference does not apply to positions covered by a direct hire authority.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

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