Interested in this Data Scientist role at US Office of Governmentwide Policy?
Apply Now →About This Role
Summary
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As a Data Scientist, you will serve as a subject matter expert and advisor in the highly technical and specialized area of data science.
Location of position: The Office of Governmentwide Policy (OGP)/The Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES)
OES works with groups across GSA to help identify opportunities for learning, designs and implements evaluations, and assists in applying evidence.
We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.
Learn more about this agency
This job is open to
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### The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
### Clarification from the agency
This public notice is issued under Direct Hire Authority (DHA) to recruit talent to occupations for which there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need. This means that we can hire any qualified candidate from this notice or any other source. About this DHA notice: \-Current civil service employees will receive new appointments if selected under this DHA. \-For information on DHA, please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy\-data\-oversight/hiring\-information/direct\-hire\-authority/
Duties
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- Assesses data sources to determine the type of data available and how data imports can be made into other systems to reduce or eliminate manual reporting requirements.
- Using exceptional knowledge of representative models, determines the adequacy of input data and ensures integrity and pertinence of output data.
- Translate complex concepts, findings, and limitations into concise, plain language.
- Closely tie findings and conclusions into the agency mission, original problem statement and team objectives.
- Research and design presentations and interpretations of analytical outputs tailored to specific audiences, including the use of interactivity and narrative storytelling where appropriate.
- Work with teams to develop data products and definitions.
- Use appropriate analytic and statistical software to programmatically prepare data for analysis and clean imperfect data.
- Collaborate with teammates, customers, and stakeholders in a reproducible and organized manner.
- Produce expert technical guidance and recommendations for achieving the agency’s objectives.
Requirements
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### Conditions of employment
- US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
- Meet all eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date.
- Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959
If selected, you must meet the following conditions:
- Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non\-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service..
- Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level).
- Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e\-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
- Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
### Qualifications
To evaluate your qualifications, your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet the specialized experience described below. Your resume must not exceed two pages. To ensure your qualifications can be fully evaluated, we recommend including the following information:
- Name, address, telephone number, email address;
- Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);
- Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement.
- Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts.
Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.
If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.
The GS\-13 salary range starts at $108,173 per year. Locality pay will be determined upon selection.
If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.
To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS\-12 level or higher in the Federal service.
This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR DATA SCIENTISTS:
- 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 1 above, plus additional education or appropriate experience
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS\-12 grade level of the Federal service as defined. Specialized experience is experience:
- Executing and managing program evaluation projects from design through implementation, data analysis, and reporting, utilizing systematic data collection to measure efficiency and effectiveness.
- Adapting project designs and evaluation projects as necessary for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), qualitative studies, and other types of evaluations.
- Managing, merging, cleaning, and standardizing extensive structured and unstructured datasets at both enterprise and program levels to develop and produce derived metrics.
- Utilizing scripting languages to gather and prepare data, and performing sophisticated statistical analyses using tools such as R or Stata.
- Developing comprehensive result summaries and evaluation presentations based on detailed data findings.
### Education
Note: 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
Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.
If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage.
Relocation\-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.
On a case\-by\-case basis, the following incentives may be approved:
- Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government
Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.
We don’t accept applications or application materials submitted with Government\-paid postage.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.
You will have access to many benefits including:
- Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
- Life insurance coverage with several options
- Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
- Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
- Transit and child care subsidies
- Flexible spending accounts
- Long\-term care insurance
- Training and development
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.
How you will be evaluated
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You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated against the basic qualifications which includes any specialized experience and/or education requirements (if applicable). Qualified candidates will be considered in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Direct Hire Guidelines. Applications will not be rated or ranked. Veterans’ Preference is not applicable to the direct hire recruitment procedures. Failure to submit a complete application or missing required supporting documentation may result in you not being considered for the position. Falsification of your background, education, and/or experience is grounds for non\-selection or dismissal if hired.
SME Resume Review:
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will evaluate your resume to determine your qualifications for this position using a pass/fail process.
ICTAP/CTAP Candidates: The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF\-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found “well\-qualified" for this vacancy. In addition to meeting the basic qualifications stated in the qualification section of this announcement, well qualified is defined as: Experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, demonstrated by meeting at least 3 out of 5 KSA’s listed below:
- Skill in organizing and analyzing large structured/unstructured data using data analytical tools to assess sources, determine data availability, and plan imports into other systems to reduce manual reporting.
- Ability to communicate the results of quantitative data analysis or technical concepts including explaining any limitations of the data findings to a non\-technical audience using verbal, written, and visual methods.
- Skill in applying appropriate evaluation methods to projects, demonstrating proficiency in complex evaluation design and quantitative analysis strategies, including cleaning imperfect data and preparing data for analysis.
- Skill in applying evidence from the social and behavioral sciences to determine appropriate analytic and statistical approaches.
- Ability to collaborate across organizational lines to address data quality challenges and promote improved data management practices within an organization.
Demonstration of these KSA’s must be supported by your resume.
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) may be utilized in the evaluation of qualifications and KSAs.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
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ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.
Resume: Must not exceed two pages. Refer to the Qualifications section for resume requirements.
If you are ICTAP/CTAP eligible \- submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF\-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.
Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF\-50\.
College transcripts: If you are using some or all of your college education to meet qualification requirements for this position, you must submit a copy of your college transcript(s). Transcripts MUST show: name of the institution, student's name, course work/degree(s) completed/conferred and dates. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.
For education completed outside the United States, also submit a valid foreign credential evaluation that substantiates possession of the required education.
### If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
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Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application. For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job.
If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device. Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application.
To begin, click the *Apply Online* button on the vacancy announcement.
- Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application.
- Resumes exceeding two pages will not be accepted by USAJOBS and will prevent your application from moving forward in the hiring process. Please see Required Documents for additional details.
- Once you have clicked *Apply for this position now*, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process.
- Click the *Apply To This Vacancy* and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click *Return to USAJobs* or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.
- Note: Review the *REQUIRED DOCUMENTS* section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process).
Need Assistance?
- Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation \- contact [email protected] or 1\-866\-656\-6831 Monday\-Friday 7AM \- 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays
- Specific questions on the position \- contact the HR representative (Monday\-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline
You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions.
Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.
### Agency contact information
Susan Lewis
Phone
202\-316\-9547
Fax
000\-000\-0000
Address
*GSA, Office of Governmentwide Policy*
*Servicing HR Office: Branch D*
*GSA, Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM)*
*1800 F Street, NW*
*Washington, District of Columbia 20405*
*United States*### Next steps
After the closing date/deadline:
- ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Your application will be reviewed for all requirements.
- REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: If you meet all the requirements, you may be referred to management for review and a possible interview.
- SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer and start the suitability and/or security background investigation process.
- FINAL JOB OFFER: Once our security office determines you can come on board, you will be given a final offer, which is typically 40 days after the announcement closes
- FINAL COMMUNICATION: Once the position is filled, we will notify you of your status. You may also check your application status by logging into USAJOBS and clicking “Track this Application” on the Applicant Dashboard.
Thank you for your interest in working for the U.S. General Services Administration!
Overview
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Accepting applications
This job will close when we have received 150 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Location
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Lakewood, CO
Washington, DC
Atlanta, GA
Kansas City, MO
Raleigh, NC
Fort Worth, TX
Tacoma, WA
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—This position is full\-time in the office. In rare instances, situational telework may be approved on a case\-by\-case basis.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$108,173 \- $158,322 per year
If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.
Pay scale \& grade
GS 13
Promotion potential
13
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full\-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel \- May be required for meetings, conferences and trainings.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
- 1560 Data Science Series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
- Credentialing
- Suitability/Fitness
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
M1\-2026\-0004
Control number
879652600
Salary Context
This $108K-$158K range is below the median for Data Scientist roles in our dataset (median: $160K across 258 roles with salary data).
View full Data Scientist salary data →Role Details
About This Role
Data Scientists extract insights and build predictive models from data. In the AI era, many roles now include LLM-powered analytics, automated reporting, and integration with generative AI tools. The role has evolved from 'the person who runs SQL queries' to 'the person who builds AI-powered data products.'
Modern data science roles fall into two camps: analytics-focused (insights, dashboards, experimentation) and ML-focused (building predictive models, recommendation systems, NLP features). The best data scientists can operate in both modes. The AI shift means that even analytics-focused roles now involve building automated insight pipelines using LLMs, going well beyond one-off reports.
Across the 4,317 AI roles we're tracking, Data Scientist positions make up 8% of the market. At US Office of Governmentwide Policy, this role fits into their broader AI and engineering organization.
Data Scientist roles remain in high demand, though the definition keeps shifting. Companies increasingly want candidates who can bridge traditional statistics with modern ML and LLM capabilities. The 'pure insights' data scientist role is consolidating into analytics engineering, while the 'build models' data scientist role is merging with ML engineering.
What the Work Looks Like
A typical week includes: analyzing experiment results for a product feature launch, building a predictive model for customer churn, creating an automated reporting pipeline using LLM-powered summarization, presenting insights to stakeholders, and cleaning data (always cleaning data). The ratio of analysis to engineering varies by company, but expect both.
Data Scientist roles remain in high demand, though the definition keeps shifting. Companies increasingly want candidates who can bridge traditional statistics with modern ML and LLM capabilities. The 'pure insights' data scientist role is consolidating into analytics engineering, while the 'build models' data scientist role is merging with ML engineering.
Skills in Demand for This Role
Python, SQL, and statistical modeling are the foundation. Increasingly, roles want experience with LLMs for data analysis, automated insight generation, and building AI-powered data products. Familiarity with cloud data platforms (Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks) and ML frameworks (scikit-learn, PyTorch) covers most job requirements.
Experimentation design and causal inference are underrated skills that separate strong candidates. Companies care about whether their product changes cause improvements, and can distinguish causation from correlation. A/B testing methodology, Bayesian statistics, and the ability to communicate uncertainty to non-technical stakeholders are high-value skills.
Good postings specify the data stack, the types of problems you'll work on, and the team structure. Look for companies that differentiate between analytics and ML data science. Vague 'data scientist' postings that list every skill under the sun usually mean the company doesn't know what they need.
Compensation Benchmarks
Data Scientist roles pay a median of $192,890 based on 789 positions with disclosed compensation. Mid-level AI roles across all categories have a median of $194,400. This role's midpoint ($133K) sits 31% below the category median. Disclosed range: $108K to $158K.
Across all AI roles, the market median is $215,000. Top-quartile compensation starts at $266,300. The 90th percentile reaches $320,790. For comparison, the highest-paying categories include AI Safety ($287,500) and Research Engineer ($272,100). By seniority level: Entry: $110,000; Mid: $194,400; Senior: $227,400; Director: $274,554; VP: $241,000.
US Office of Governmentwide Policy AI Hiring
US Office of Governmentwide Policy has 1 open AI role right now. They're hiring across Data Scientist. Based in Lakewood, CO, US. Compensation range: $158K - $158K.
Location Context
Across all AI roles, 15% (635 positions) offer remote work, while 3,657 require on-site attendance. Top AI hiring metros: New York (1,650 roles, $220,000 median); San Francisco (1,335 roles, $265,000 median); Los Angeles (708 roles, $214,112 median).
Career Path
Common paths into Data Scientist roles include Data Analyst, Statistician, Quantitative Researcher.
From here, career progression typically leads toward Senior Data Scientist, ML Engineer, AI Product Manager.
Start with statistics and SQL. Build a real analysis project on public data that demonstrates insight generation alongside model building. The market values data scientists who can communicate findings clearly to business stakeholders. If you want to move toward ML engineering, invest in software engineering fundamentals and production deployment skills.
What to Expect in Interviews
Interviews combine statistics, coding, and business acumen. SQL is almost always tested, often with complex joins and window functions. Expect a case study round where you're given a business problem and asked to design an analysis plan. Coding rounds focus on pandas, statistical modeling, and visualization. The strongest differentiator is how well you communicate insights to non-technical stakeholders during presentation rounds.
When evaluating opportunities: Good postings specify the data stack, the types of problems you'll work on, and the team structure. Look for companies that differentiate between analytics and ML data science. Vague 'data scientist' postings that list every skill under the sun usually mean the company doesn't know what they need.
AI Hiring Overview
The AI job market has 4,317 open positions tracked in our dataset. By seniority: 138 entry-level, 2,071 mid-level, 1,655 senior, and 453 leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level). Remote roles make up 15% of the market (635 positions). The remaining 3,657 roles require on-site or hybrid attendance.
The market median for AI roles is $215,000. Top-quartile compensation starts at $266,300. The 90th percentile reaches $320,790. Highest-paying categories: AI Safety ($287,500 median, 34 roles); Research Engineer ($272,100 median, 227 roles); AI Engineering Manager ($244,000 median, 23 roles).
Data Scientist roles remain in high demand, though the definition keeps shifting. Companies increasingly want candidates who can bridge traditional statistics with modern ML and LLM capabilities. The 'pure insights' data scientist role is consolidating into analytics engineering, while the 'build models' data scientist role is merging with ML engineering.
The AI Job Market Today
The AI job market spans 4,317 open positions across 15 role categories. The largest categories by volume: AI/ML Engineer (3,004), Data Scientist (345), AI Software Engineer (309). These three account for the majority of open positions, though smaller categories often have higher per-role compensation because of specialized skill requirements.
The seniority mix tells a story about where AI teams are in their maturity. Entry-level roles (138) are outnumbered by mid-level (2,071) and senior (1,655) positions, reflecting that most companies are past the 'build a team from scratch' phase and need experienced engineers who can ship production systems. Leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level) total 453 positions, representing the bottleneck between technical execution and organizational strategy.
Remote work availability sits at 15% of all AI roles (635 positions), with 3,657 requiring on-site or hybrid attendance. The remote share has stabilized after the post-pandemic correction. Senior and specialized roles (Research Scientist, ML Architect) are more likely to be remote-eligible than entry-level positions, partly because experienced hires have more negotiating power and partly because these roles require less hands-on mentorship.
AI compensation is structured in clear tiers. The market median sits at $215,000. Top-quartile roles start at $266,300, and the 90th percentile reaches $320,790. These figures include base salary with disclosed compensation. Total compensation (including equity, bonuses, and sign-on) runs 20-40% higher at companies that offer those components.
Category matters for compensation. AI Safety roles lead at $287,500 median, while Prompt Engineer roles sit at $145,000. The spread between highest and lowest-paying categories reflects the premium on specialized technical skills versus broader analytical roles.
The most in-demand skills across all AI postings: Python (2,249 postings), Aws (1,224 postings), Azure (938 postings), Rag (915 postings), Gcp (660 postings), Pytorch (640 postings), Prompt Engineering (624 postings), Kubernetes (559 postings). Python dominates, appearing in the vast majority of role descriptions regardless of category. Cloud platform experience (AWS, GCP, Azure) is the second most common requirement. The newer entrants to the top skills list (RAG, vector databases, LLM APIs) reflect the shift from traditional ML toward generative AI applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
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