Summary This incumbent serves as a Business Analyst within the Analytics Center of Excellence (COE), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The Business Analyst drives modernization by transforming complex data and business needs into actionable insights and requirements. Through AI/ML innovation, cloud-native tools, and cross-functional collaboration, this role strengthens CPSC's analytical ecosystem and empowers data-driven decisions that protect consumers from product-related risks. Responsibilities The position is officially titled Management and Program Analyst (Artificial Intelligence). The working/organizational title of this position is Business Analyst. The Business Analyst improves how CPSC operates by understanding business needs, analyzing data, and translating those needs into clear requirements for a variety of solutions (e.g., technology, automation, business process re-engineering, training, etc.). This position is responsible for establishing the requirements for complex technical initiatives that support the CPSC's mission and enterprise modernization goals. The Business Analyst collaborates with stakeholders to define a project's scope, technical and functional requirements, and success criteria. The Business Analyst will: Meet with stakeholders to learn goals, pain points, and current processes. Lead requirements gathering specifically for Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML)-enabled products, including model objectives, training data needs, performance thresholds, evaluation metrics, and human-in-the-loop requirements. This includes developing user stories, acceptance criteria, and process mapping. Develop functional and non-functional requirements for systems incorporating machine learning, natural language processing, or predictive analytics. Partner with data engineers, data scientists, IT specialists, and program managers to define data ingestion, labeling, feature engineering, and data quality requirements that support ML model development. Analyze data suitability for algorithmic use and identify data biases, gaps, or limitations. Support solution design: Work with product, engineering, and business partners to ensure proposed solutions will solve the problem. Participate in model documentation, reproducibility reviews, model cards, and versioning under agency AI governance processes. Ensure AI/ML solutions align with EO 14110 (Safe, Secure, Trustworthy AI), OMB M-24-10, GAO's AI Accountability Framework, and CPSC's data governance policies. Implement human-centered and values-driven AI design, incorporating transparency and responsible use principles. Facilitates stakeholder alignment through regular briefings, status updates, and decision-support materials. Prepares and presents project reports, risk assessments, and performance dashboards to ensure transparency and accountability. Monitor deployed AI/ML solutions for performance drift, data pipeline failures, bias reemergence, or security vulnerabilities. Assess organizational readiness for AI integration and lead stakeholder engagement to ensure alignment with mission needs. Identify business process changes required for safe and effective AI deployment, including training needs and change-management considerations. Perform additional duties as assigned in support of the CPSC's mission and operational objectives. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must be a U.S. Citizen. This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the employment offer may be withdrawn. If you are a male born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information. Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service. The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. Depending on your status, this position may require serving a 1-year probationary period. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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 CPSC; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the CPSC 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. Qualifications All applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: GS-12: 1) Experience gathering requirements and documenting business processes to identify opportunities for AI to streamline operations; 2) supporting AI/ML or data-driven projects through data analysis, pipeline design, or education; 3) collaborating with technical and non-technical staff to define data needs; 4) preparing project materials such as Concept of Operations, acquisition documentation, reports or briefings; and 5) contributing to testing, change management, or rollout activities for new AI or ML systems and tools. GS-13: 1) Experience leading requirements gathering and developing functional and non-functional system requirements for AI/ML solutions; 2) managing programs to evaluate agentic AI solutions; 3) producing test data and analyzing data suitability to determine biases or gaps; 4) ensuring AI/ML solutions comply with federal AI policies; 5) applying project management principles to technology initiatives; and 6) monitoring AI/ML solution performance and recommending improvements to support organizational readiness, training, and change management for AI integration. Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). 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. Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position by the closing date of this announcement. Education This position does not have a mandatory education requirement. There is no substitution for specialized experience at this grade level. Additional Information CPSC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire CompetencyBased Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA 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 RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information). Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized. All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking references and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement. A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. As a condition of employment, the selectee must reside in the local commuting area of the duty station listed in this announcement. Proof of residence may be required. Must meet the criteria requirement for the pre-employment waiver and/or a favorable suitability determination within a reasonable period of time, otherwise the employment offer may be withdrawn. CPSC headquarters employees (Bethesda, MD) will be relocating to 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC. This position will transition to the new location upon completion of the move. The transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Applicants should be aware that acceptance of this position includes the requirement to report to the new location once the relocation is finalized.
