Data Scientist

Summary

The VHA Research Program strives to promote Veteran-centered care to improve patient experience and outcomes across VA healthcare and community settings. This position is vital within the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the facilities where research programs are conducted. Data science provides the link between highly innovative projects and the care that Veterans receive. This position will be in various Research and Development (R&D) program offices within the VHA.

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Duties

This is a bargaining unit position.

Areas of Consideration for all Other Positions:

1st - Facility-wide (including satellites) 2nd - Administration or Staff office posting the vacancy. 3rd - All other Status eligibles.

This position is primarily aligned to the following NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework work roles:

• 000- Not Applicable - Does NOT involve work functions in information technology (IT), cybersecurity, or cyber-related areas.
  
  

For more information about these work roles, where they fit within the larger Cyber Workforce, and how they can support your unique career journey, please visit the Cyber Career Pathways tool on the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies website: https://niccs.us-cert.gov/workforce-development/cyber-career-pathways

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Total Rewards

Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available

Telework: Available

Duty Location Status: Will work from a VA owned or leased space

Position Description Title/PD#: Data Scientist/ PD93309A, PD93310A, and PD93311A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary and does not require any special physical effort.

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-12. At the GS-09 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-12. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.

Major Duties:

• Serves as a Data Analyst with the responsibility for the storage, retrieval and execution of data acquisition requirements and assisting other Agency professionals and contractors in solving complex and far-reaching problems for a wide range of systems, applications, and customers.
• Demonstrates proficiency of diverse data science techniques including data pooling and visualizations and can demonstrate how ensembles of these techniques can be harmonized into user-centric solutions.
• Independently synthesizes findings and turns them into actionable insights. Adheres to applicable style guides. Is responsive to a variety of stakeholders and team members with varying technical skills.
• Provides hands-on support in the transfer of any required data needed for ad-hoc and ongoing analyses.
• Participates in discussions with nontechnical internal customers to understand the problem and identify required data sets and collection mechanisms.
  
  

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
  
  

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• 
  
  United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  
  

and

• 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.
  
  

Grade Determinations:

GS-09: Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level. Specialized Experience is defined as experience using software and/or programming languages, utilize diverse data software, and providing technical expertise aggregating, collating, and analyzing data from databases.

Or

2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

GS-11: Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level. Specialized Experience is defined as providing technical expertise aggregating, collating, and analyzing data from databases, work with senior members in the collecting, optimizing, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating insights from data, and using appropriate analytic and statistical software to programmatically prepare data for analysis.

Or

Master's or equivalent graduate degree.

GS-12: Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level? Specialized Experience is defined as constructing data pipelines using complex tools and techniques to handle data at scale, use of diverse data science techniques to problem solve, translate complex concepts, findings, and limitations into language for various audiences, and collaboratively analyzing data, applying and explaining the statistical and mathematical principles used.

Or

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

References: OPM Qualifications Standard for Data Science Series, 1560

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-12.



Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary and does not require any special physical effort.

Education


IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.



Note: 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. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Help 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Charleston ORD VISN 7

109 Bee Street

Charleston, SC 29401

US