Data Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • Washington, DC

26d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at the VHA National Center for Organization Development: VHA NCOD; Organizational Code: 106C. This position is assigned to the Research Business Line within VHA NCOD. The major duties include leading and conducting complex organizational, health-science, and data-science research using advanced statistical, psychometric, predictive, machine-learning, and artificial-intelligence methods to evaluate workplace dynamics, customer feedback, program performance, and organizational outcomes. The role involves designing, developing, and implementing data acquisition, management, standardization, quality-control, benchmarking, and reporting processes for large and complex datasets, including procedures for data storage, retrieval, classification, coding, security, privacy, and dissemination. The Data Scientist will use the statistical program R and R markdown to create automated analytical workflows, dashboards, interactive reports, visualizations, and user-focused applications that transform organizational and survey data into actionable information for VA leaders, program offices, and other stakeholders. Additionally, the position requires providing expert scientific, methodological, and technical consultation on research design, survey development, program evaluation, organizational assessment, strategic communication, statistical modeling, and the interpretation of quantitative and qualitative findings. The role also involves applying advanced programming, data mining, predictive analytics, machine learning, natural language processing, and emerging technologies to identify trends, generate projections, evaluate program effectiveness, and develop data-driven organizational solutions and recommendations. The Data Scientist will advise senior leadership, mentor or guide junior staff, coordinate with multidisciplinary stakeholders, and communicate research findings through briefings, reports, publications, presentations, and professional meetings at the local, national, and international levels.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period.
• Applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/15/2026.
• Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.
• Basic Education Requirement: Degree in 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 above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.
• Specialized Experience: 1 year of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
• Specialized experience includes: Leads and conducts complex organizational, health-science, and data-science research using advanced statistical, psychometric, predictive, machine-learning, and artificial-intelligence methods to evaluate workplace dynamics, customer feedback, program performance, and organizational outcomes. Designs, develops, and implements data acquisition, management, standardization, quality-control, benchmarking, and reporting processes for large and complex datasets, including procedures for data storage, retrieval, classification, coding, security, privacy, and dissemination. Uses the statistical program R and R markdown to create automated analytical workflows, dashboards, interactive reports, visualizations, and user-focused applications that transform organizational and survey data into actionable information for VA leaders, program offices, and other stakeholders. Provides expert scientific, methodological, and technical consultation on research design, survey development, program evaluation, organizational assessment, strategic communication, statistical modeling, and the interpretation of quantitative and qualitative findings. Applies advanced programming, data mining, predictive analytics, machine learning, natural language processing, and emerging technologies to identify trends, generate projections, evaluate program effectiveness, and develop data-driven organizational solutions and recommendations. Advises senior leadership, mentors or guides junior staff, coordinates with multidisciplinary stakeholders, and communicates research findings through briefings, reports, publications, presentations, and professional meetings at the local, national, and international levels.
• Experience designing and serving as a lead researcher on scientific studies of organizational issues (i.e. studies using scientific models, organizational data, and statistical methods).
• Experience applying scientific methods of health science and organization development (i.e. knows how to evaluate properties of organizational data, do statistical data analyses using specialized software, and interpret the results using scientific models).
• A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Leads and conducts complex organizational, health-science, and data-science research using advanced statistical, psychometric, predictive, machine-learning, and artificial-intelligence methods to evaluate workplace dynamics, customer feedback, program performance, and organizational outcomes.
• Designs, develops, and implements data acquisition, management, standardization, quality-control, benchmarking, and reporting processes for large and complex datasets, including procedures for data storage, retrieval, classification, coding, security, privacy, and dissemination.
• Uses the statistical program R and R markdown to create automated analytical workflows, dashboards, interactive reports, visualizations, and user-focused applications that transform organizational and survey data into actionable information for VA leaders, program offices, and other stakeholders.
• Provides expert scientific, methodological, and technical consultation on research design, survey development, program evaluation, organizational assessment, strategic communication, statistical modeling, and the interpretation of quantitative and qualitative findings.
• Applies advanced programming, data mining, predictive analytics, machine learning, natural language processing, and emerging technologies to identify trends, generate projections, evaluate program effectiveness, and develop data-driven organizational solutions and recommendations.
• Advises senior leadership, mentors or guides junior staff, coordinates with multidisciplinary stakeholders, and communicates research findings through briefings, reports, publications, presentations, and professional meetings at the local, national, and international levels.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level