Summary As a Data Scientist with the US Office of Personnel Management, Healthcare and Insurance, you will develop and apply statistical models, machine learning methods, risk indicators, anomaly detection, automation, and visual analytics to support oversight, program integrity, fraud/risk detection, and data-driven decisions for federal benefits programs. Responsibilities Develops statistical, machine learning, and artificial intelligence models to identify trends, anomalies, risks, and relationships in structured and unstructured data. Applies predictive modeling, classification, regression, clustering, anomaly detection, simulation, optimization, and other quantitative methods. Analyzes program, financial, claims, enrollment, healthcare, insurance, benefits, and operational data to support oversight and program integrity. Develops risk indicators, analytical controls, and data-driven methods to detect improper payments, fraud, waste, abuse, and operational vulnerabilities. Builds automated scripts, reproducible workflows, analytical pipelines, dashboards, and recurring data science products. Uses tools such as Python, R, SAS, SQL, Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms for data extraction, modeling, automation, visualization, and reporting. Communicates methods, assumptions, limitations, findings, risks, and recommendations to program, compliance, legal, investigative, technical, and leadership stakeholders. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation May be required to successfully complete a probationary period Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required You will be required to report to an OPM assigned office. This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit Qualifications Applicants must meet the Basic Requirement for the Data Science Series, 1560: Degree: Mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science, or a 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, or 30 semester hours, in mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science, or a field directly related to the position, plus additional education or appropriate experience. In addition to the basic education requirement above, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service, or equivalent, performing data science work that includes: Developing, testing, implementing, or maintaining statistical models, machine learning methods, risk indicators, or anomaly detection approaches using program, financial, claims, enrollment, healthcare, insurance, benefits, or operational datasets; Applying predictive modeling, classification, regression, clustering, anomaly detection, statistical testing, artificial intelligence, or other quantitative methods to identify risks, outliers, improper payments, fraud, waste, abuse, operational vulnerabilities, or program integrity concerns; Using programming, statistical, query, automation, or visualization tools, such as Python, R, SAS, SQL, Tableau, Power BI, or comparable tools, to build reproducible data workflows, scripts, analytical pipelines, dashboards, reports, or decision-support products; Integrating, cleaning, transforming, validating, or assessing data from multiple sources to support reproducible analysis, model development, risk scoring, reporting, or program oversight; and Communicating data science methods, model assumptions, limitations, findings, risk indicators, or recommended actions to managers, program officials, technical teams, compliance staff, legal staff, investigative staff, or other stakeholders. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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; religious; 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, including volunteer experience. Education This position has a basic education requirement listed under the Qualifications section of this announcement. Additional Information This announcement will be used to fill vacancies through OPM-authorized Direct Hire Authority due to Critical Hiring Need/Severe Shortage of Candidates. Veteran preference and traditional rating/raking of applicants do not apply. For more information on OPM's authorization of Direct Hire Authority, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/ Relocation expenses will not be paid. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM. If you are unable to apply online and would like to request information about the Alternate Application process, please use the contact information at the bottom of this announcement. Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable\Accommodations\for\USA\Hire As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
