Data Scientist

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Fort Collins, CO

16h

About The Position

The incumbent serves as a Data Scientist and IT technical expert, applying scientific and technical findings to policy decisions, operational data management, and analyses. The role organizes, replicates, architects, distributes, and reports on MRP mission data, including geospatial and non-geospatial information. It promotes effective data management and governance practices across MRP and supports cross-organizational data use.

The Data Scientist uses programming languages such as Python, SQL, and R to clean, integrate, and analyze data; processes large unstructured datasets to support queries and enterprise business needs; and provides professional guidance on debugging techniques and best practices. The position conducts statistical analyses and applies data science methods to support data-driven initiatives. It evaluates and executes data needs across the data life cycle, from collection and ingestion through storage, modeling, access, integration, analysis, and decision support. It also creates interactive data visualization tools and designs data flows and systems to develop or improve tools and customer experience.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Individuals born male after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successfully complete a one-year probationary period unless previously served.
• Pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Enroll in Continuous Vetting, as required for USDA employees.
• Meet the time-in-grade requirement, if applicable: current federal employees applying for promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade in the normal line of progression.
• Meet the basic education requirement: a degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science, or a directly related field, with a major appropriate to the position at least at the baccalaureate level; or a combination of 30 semester hours of equivalent coursework and additional education or appropriate experience.
• For the GS-13 level, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level, including planning, developing, and carrying out complex data analysis projects and studies; developing standards for analyzing, testing, and assessing emerging data analytics technologies and methods; originating new and improved data analytics applications and strategies; and providing guidance and recommendations on enterprise data analytics challenges and issues.
• There is no education substitution for the GS-13 specialized experience requirement.
• Provide transcripts when required to establish qualifying coursework or a degree from an accredited school, college, or university.

Responsibilities

• Organize, replicate, architect, distribute, and report on MRP mission data, including geospatial and non-geospatial information.
• Promote effective data management and governance practices across MRP and support cross-organizational data use.
• Use Python, SQL, R, and other programming languages for data cleaning, integration, and analytics.
• Process large unstructured data to support queries and address enterprise business needs.
• Provide professional guidance on debugging techniques and best practices.
• Conduct statistical analyses and apply data science methods to support data-driven initiatives.
• Evaluate and execute data needs throughout the data life cycle, including collection, ingestion, storage, modeling, access, integration, analysis, and decision support.
• Create interactive data visualization tools using technologies such as Tableau, ESRI, R, Python, and Power BI to present analytical results.
• Design data flows and use data systems to create new tools and modify existing tools to improve customer experience.
• Plan, develop, and carry out complex data analysis projects and studies.
• Develop standards for analyzing, testing, and assessing emerging data analytics technologies and methods.
• Originate new and improved data analytics applications and strategies.
• Provide guidance and recommendations regarding enterprise data analytics challenges and issues.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive a comprehensive benefits package; employees and their families have access to a range of benefits. Specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

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