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Data Scientist

Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
OFFICE OF PLANNING, ANALYSIS & RISK MANAGEMENT

Summary

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual are available.
This position is in the FSIS Office of Planning, Analysis and Risk Management (OPARM), which leads FSIS efforts related to data analysis and advanced analytics.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted this week · Apply by 06/30/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 30, 2026
Location
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—As determined by the agency policy. FSIS does not currently authorize telework.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$74,678 - $116,362 per year

Salary will be determined based on location selected for. Range shown represents the Rest of the U.S. locality pay table.

Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Promotion potential
12
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
FSIS-26-MDH-12988486-DW
Control number
873950900

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. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Duties

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  • Analyze, interpret, review, and ensure integrity of data.
  • Collaborate with subject matter experts and team members.
  • Conduct trend analysis.
  • Develop algorithms.
  • Develop analytical methods used in decision-making process.
  • Document data science requirements.
  • Generate business metrics.
  • Interpret data science requirements.
  • Make strategic recommendations.
  • Perform computer programming and data cleaning.
  • Present recommendations to management based on current analytics.
  • Provide recommendations for process improvements.
  • Utilize diverse analytical approaches.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
  • Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds for disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
  • If you are selected, you may need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and education, as defined below.

FOR GS-11 CONSIDERATION:
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems. This specialized experience must include all the following:

  • Writing computer programs and algorithms using software/programming languages such as, but not limited to Python, R, SAS, and SQL.
  • Cleaning/transforming data to address issues such as missing values, outliers, duplicates, functional dependencies, etc.
  • Independently extracting and transforming data from relational databases using Python, R, SAS, or SQL. You must show specific examples of your experience and describe the systems you have utilized.
  • Reviewing software coding for accuracy. Your resume should show specific examples of using Python, R, SAS, or SQL.
  • Developing visualizations that combine data from multiple sources using tools such as Python, R, Qlik, Tableau, or Power BI.

To substitute education for experience, you must meet at least one of the individual occupational requirements identified in the education section of the announcement.
AND
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
OR
Combination of Experience and Education: You must have an appropriate combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that you possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed in the job announcement (1 year of specialized experience); then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate education in excess of 2 years (36 semester hours) may be used to qualify.

FOR GS-12 CONSIDERATION:
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems. This specialized experience must include all the following:
  • Writing computer programs and algorithms using software/programming languages such as, but not limited to Python, R, SAS, and SQL.
  • Cleaning/transforming data to address issues such as missing values, outliers, duplicates, functional dependencies, etc.
  • Independently extracting and transforming data from relational databases using Python, R, SAS, or SQL. You must show specific examples of your experience and describe the systems you have utilized.
  • Reviewing software coding for accuracy. Your resume should show specific examples of using Python, R, SAS, or SQL.
  • Developing visualizations that combine data from multiple sources using tools such as Python, R, Qlik, Tableau, or Power BI.
  • Designing and implementing plans to accomplish analytic or computer programming projects.
  • Leading data analysis projects to capture and implement data requirements and business rules.
Education is not substitutable at the GS-12 grade level. Applicants must show 52 weeks specialized experience and the required education shown below in the education section.

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.

Click here for more information on this series: OPM Data Science Series 1560

Education

Basic Requirements:
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 A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

Click here for more information on this series: OPM Data Science Series 1560

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 80 out of a possible 100.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information please visit: PSLF Program.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Final rating will be determined by your score on the USAHire assessment. In order to be eligible for referral, you must score a 70 or higher on that assessment.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Mathematical/Statistical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Maintain Information
  • Analytical Programming
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Attention to Detail
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity / Honesty
  • Learning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
  • Decision Making
  • Reasoning
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) your resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

NOTE: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to and including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12988486

Food Safety and Inspection Service

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry and processed eggs. USDA is a great place to start or continue your career.

For more information on USDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service, visit FSIS.

Agency contact information

Doug Welder
Phone
612-852-7713
Email
douglas.welder@usda.gov
Address
Food Safety and Inspection Service
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
US

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