Data Scientist

Summary This position is located in the Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA) Office of Performance Analysis and Integrity (PA&I), organizationally aligned under the VBA Chief of Staff. The Evaluation Analysis team's mission is to elevate VBA's evidence-based decision-making via analytical insights, capacity building, transparency, collaboration, and best practices. To learn more about the type of work that the PA&I Evaluation Analysis team does, please visit https://www.evaluation.gov/ Learn more about this agency Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job. Selectees are subject to a background/suitability investigation. Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. A probationary period may be required for employees and supervisors. A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Qualifications NOTE: This series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for education and/or work experience. The Office of Personnel Management's (OPM's) Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) and/or group qualification standards covering white collar occupations in the Federal competitive service can be found: Here To qualify for this position, applicants must meet BOTH the Basic Requirements and Specialized Experience by the closing date of this announcement 12/09/2024. 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. Specialized Experience: To qualify at the GS-14 grade level: In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR), applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-13) in the federal service. Specialized experience is work experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: (1) conducting and leading statistically driven quantitative evaluation analyses in R or Python; (2) developing policies that guide the development, integration, or implementation of a department's evaluation program; and (3) developing methods to improve the effectiveness of program evaluation. There is no educational substitution for the specialized experience at the GS-14 level. Note: 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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience you document, to include volunteer experience. Education There is no substitution education for the specialized experience at the GS-14 level. For the IOR only: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Only education or a degree recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from an accredited college, university, school, or institution may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education: Here If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript(s) in order to receive credit for that education: Here Applications submitted without the required supporting documents will not be accepted. An unofficial transcript; statement from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation is acceptable at the time of application. Education submitted must be appropriately accredited by an accredited body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at: http://www.ed.gov/ Additional information This is not a Remote Position. Work Schedule: Regular office hours, Monday -Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Alternate work Schedules may be available. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary in nature, involving some walking, standing, sitting, bending, and carrying of light items, such as paper, books, and computer printouts. Promotion Potential: This position is being recruited at the full performance level of GS-14. VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility may be discussed during the interview process. Telework is subject to approval by individual supervisors and managers, is considered a privilege not a right, is subject to approval based on performance and other varying factors, and is not guaranteed. Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf Read more 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. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits 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.