Data Scientist

Summary

As a Data Scientist trainee, this position supports HR data analytics, reporting, and data governance initiatives across GSA. The role assists with collecting, analyzing, and visualizing HR data to support operational and strategic decision-making. Location of position: This position is located within the GSA, Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM), and may be filled in Raleigh, NC or Chicago, IL. We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Duties

• This Notice is issued under the Expedited Hiring Authority for College Graduates which allows federal agencies to use strategic recruiting to hire college graduates into professional and administrative positions. THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT WILL CLOSE WHEN WE HAVE RECIEVED 150 APPLICATIONS WHICH MAY BE SOONER THAN THE CLOSING DATE. LEARN MORE A few key facts about this notice: Recent Graduates: If you completed a qualifying degree within the previous two years, you may apply. If you are a veteran who was prevented from applying during the 2-year period due to your military service, you may apply if your degree was completed within the last 6 years. Enrolled students: If you will complete your degree requirements within 30 DAYS of the closing date of the announcement, you may apply. This is an entry-level developmental position that provides training and hands-on experience supporting data science functions across the data lifecycle. The role assists senior data science staff with the collecting, managing, modeling, analyzing and visualizating HR related data to support reporting, and operational decision-making. As a Data Scientist, you will: Duties at the GS-7 level Provide support to the Lead Data Scientist and the Chief of the Product Service Center. Facilitate entry level HR data assignments. Gather and review data and perform entry level work to ensure accuracy, quality, reliability, and readiness for analysis. Assist with supporting automated and manual processes to maintain HR data pipelines, integration workflows, and data systems to ensure data accuracy and consistency. Assist higher-graded staff in developing non-complex datasets and applying standard validation procedures. Gather data and participates in discussions with the Lead Data Scientist and team members, as appropriate. Supports IT teams to ensure data accuracy and alignment with organizational requirements. Create spreadsheets and performs non-complex data management activities to support understanding of data sources, limitations, and applications. Assist in creating non-complex data science solutions and products that provide actionable insights to support organizational goals. Gather information to support the development, testing, and refinement of dashboards, visualizations, and analytical tools. Collaborate with the Product Support Center team to assist in providing input in determining best practices, assist with processes, troubleshoot enhancements, and support work and related activities to ensure effectiveness in all Center processes and activities. Duties at the GS-9 level Perform HR data preparation, validation, and data management activities. Assist in querying and extracting data from HR systems using SQL or other analytical tools. Supports the cleaning, organizing, and validation of datasets to ensure accuracy and consistency. Provide analytical support in developing data products, reports, charts, dashboards, and visualizations using analytical tools and established reporting methods. Applies statistical concepts to summarize data and identify trends or patterns. Apply statistical concepts to summarize data and identify trends or patterns in support of reporting and analytical activities. Support testing and validation of reports and dashboards to ensure accuracy, consistency, and usability of analytical products for HR programs and operations. Collaborate with team members and stakeholders to support data management activities, reporting processes, and knowledge-sharing efforts related to data science activities.

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide: the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year) number of hours per week you worked (if part time). If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume. The GS-7 salary range starts at $52,693 per year. The GS-9 salary range starts at $64,453. Locality pay will be determined upon selection. If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected. This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. BASIC REQUIREMENT for Data Scientist positions: 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 above, plus additional education or appropriate experience. To qualify at the GS-7 level: In addition to the Basic Requirements above, all candidates must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience: Collecting, reviewing, or working with data to ensure accuracy and reliability; Perforning basic data analysis (e.g., identifying trends, patterns, or discrepancies) using established methods; Creating or working with spreadsheets, datasets, or reports; and Using computer programs or tools (e.g., spreadsheets, databases, or data visualization tools) to organize, analyze, or present data. OR Education: One full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). OR Combination of Education & Specialized Experience: A combination of graduate level education and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position. Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) at the baccalaureate level is fully qualifying at the GS-7 level. To claim SAA, submit documentation of one of the following: 1. Class standing -- You must be in the upper third of your graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. 2. Grade-point average (rounded to one decimal point) of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in your major field completed during your final 2 years of the curriculum. 3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. To qualify at the GS-9 level: In addition to the Basic Requirements above, all candidates must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience: Performing data preparation, validation, analysis, and data management activities; Retrieving, organizing, and analyzing data from automated systems or databases; Developing reports, dashboards, charts or data visualizations using analytical tools or software (e.g., SQL, Excel, Tableau, Power BI, Python, or similar tools); and Reviewing datasets and reports to support data accuracy and consistency. OR Education: Master's (or equivalent graduate degree) or have completed 2 years of progressively higher graduate education leading to a Master's or equivalent degree. OR COMBINATION: Combination of graduate education and specialized experience that when combined fulfills the requirements.

Education

Note: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Requirements

If selected, you must meet the following conditions: Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Register with the Selective Service, if you are a male born after 12/31/1959. Serve a one-year trial period, if required. Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level). Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security's e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.

Key requirements

• US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
• Meet all eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date.
• Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

Evaluations

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), and responses you provide on the application questionnaire. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. You will not be considered for the position if you fail to complete the assessment. You will be assessed on the following competencies: Oral Communication, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail, Self-Management. Additional hurdle assessments, such as narrative responses or other assessments, may be administered to applicants who meet the requirements of the first hurdle. If additional assessments are used, you will be provided with further instructions. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

How to apply

Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application. For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job. If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device. Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application. To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement. Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application. Resumes exceeding two pages will not be accepted by USAJOBS and will prevent your application from moving forward in the hiring process. Please see Required Documents for additional details. Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process. Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job. Note: Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process). Need Assistance? Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation - contact [email protected] or 1-866-656-6831 Monday-Friday 7AM - 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays Specific questions on the position - contact the HR representative (Monday-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions. Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.

What to expect next

After the closing date/deadline: ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Your application will be reviewed for all requirements. REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: If you meet all the requirements, you may be referred to management for review and a possible interview. SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer and start the suitability and/or security background investigation process. FINAL JOB OFFER: Once our security office determines you can come on board, you will be given a final offer, which is typically 40 days after the announcement closes FINAL COMMUNICATION: Once the position is filled, we will notify you of your status. You may also check your application status by logging into USAJOBS and clicking “Track this Application” on the Applicant Dashboard. Thank you for your interest in working for the U.S. General Services Administration!

Required documents

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit. Resume: Your resume should not exceed 2 pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying. Your resume must contain the following information: Name, address, telephone number, email address; Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade); Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement. Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts. Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible. If you are claiming veterans preference: (a) DD-214 that shows your type of discharge, character of service and the dates of your active duty service. (b) If you are claiming 10-point preference or derived preference (spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a deceased or disabled veteran), you must submit documentation that establishes your entitlement in addition to the DD-214: VA disability rating letter or other official documentation (refer to SF-15 for complete list). SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference Note: If sufficient documentation is provided to establish 10-point preference, preference may be granted based on the supporting documentation even if the SF-15 is not submitted. If selected, a completed SF-15 will be required prior to appointment. Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50. College transcripts: If you are using some or all of your college education to meet qualification requirements for this position, you must submit a copy of your college transcript(s). Transcripts MUST show: name of the institution, student's name, course work/degree(s) completed/conferred and dates. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. If you are currently pursuing a graduate degree, but you are claiming Recent Graduate eligibility based on a previous degree, you must also include transcripts. For education completed outside the United States, also submit a valid foreign credential evaluation that substantiates possession of the required education. Superior Academic Achievement: Submit transcripts as described above. If you qualify based on your class rank or honor society membership, submit documentation of it.

Benefits

You will have access to many benefits including: Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans) Life insurance coverage with several options Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan) Transit and child care subsidies Flexible spending accounts Long-term care insurance Training and development

Other information

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches. If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage. If you are selected at a grade lower than the full performance level, you may be promoted up to that grade level without having to re-apply or compete against other applicants. Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility. Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.