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Data Scientist

Department of Transportation
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary (OST), Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy (OST-F). The position provides data analytic support and data expertise to support improvement of decision making, optimization of various programs, and generating
efficiencies to reduce risks. The incumbent serves as a technical resource for data science, operations research, master data management, data analytics and/or visualization activities.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/15/2024 to 11/29/2024
Salary
$90,310 to - $191,900 per year

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule

Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This is a Bargaining unit position represented by AFGE local 3313/1133
Announcement number
OST.DH-2025-0003
Control number
819370400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Duties

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The Data Scientist:

  • Assists in developing graphics and presentations on statistical analysis and data analytics tailored to
    specific audiences.
  • Gather data as required to populate and analyze business metrics.
  • Provides expert advice about problems of data quality and completeness and works to develop statistically sound solutions to statistical problems (e.g., non-random missing data).
  • Provides expert statistical support for both policy development and program management initiatives and advises other principal offices within ED on the collection and use of data.
  • Uses a broad range of operations research analyses and data science tools to support professional and scientific analyst work requiring the design, development, and adaptation of mathematical, statistical, econometric, and other scientific methods and techniques to provide advice and insight about the probable effects of alternative courses of action.

The ideal candidate will have professional experience and graduate level academic credentials in supply chain management. Professional experience should include work related to supply planning, procurement, inventory management, shipping and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate should also have proficiency with modern data science and data visualization tools, namely SQL, Python, R, Power BI and Tableau. Proficiency in other geospatial technologies and general project management would also be very valuable.

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 will be used to fill this position

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel.  A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework.  The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
  • POSITION SENSITIVITY AND RISK: Varies by position and will be based on the position to which appointed.
  • SECURITY CLEARANCE: Varies by position.  If applicable, you must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance of the position to which appointed.

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 assisting in developing graphics and presentations on statistical analysis and data analytics tailored to specific audiences;
  • Experience supporting the development of white papers, briefings, reports, and other products required by leadership.


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 gathering data as required to populate and analyze supply chain projects;
  • Experience supporting data science, operations research, data analytics or visualization activities whose output will improve policy, programs, or supply chain operations

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 leading and managing data-driven supply chain projects. Designing solutions for problems of data quality and completeness and works to develop statistically sound solutions to data science problems;
  • Experience providing expert analytical support for both policy development and program management initiatives and advises teams on the collection and use of supply chain data.


You cannot qualify on education at the GS-13 level; you must have experience.

To qualify for the GS-14 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13 it must include:

  • Experience leading and managing data-driven supply chain projects. Designing solutions for problems of data quality and completeness and works to develop statistically sound solutions to data science problems;
  • Experience providing expert analytical support for both policy development and program management initiatives and advises teams on the collection and use of supply chain data.
  • Experience completing data-driven projects requiring advanced data science methods and explains the results of analysis to nontechnical
    audiences; Experience documenting the analysis, including applying guidelines for coding documentation.


You cannot qualify on education at the GS-14 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:

  1. 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.
  2. Database Management Systems - Knowledge of the uses of database management systems and software to control the organization, storage, retrieval, security, and integrity of data.
  3. Research - Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results.


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

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

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

Education

Basic Requirements:

  1. 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

  2. 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. Code § 9202(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 

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.

How you will be evaluated

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

For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational requirements.  Applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.

Applicants will not be rated or ranked.  Veteran’s Preference does NOT apply.

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.  WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.  All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume.  If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.

Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. 


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