Data Scientist, GS-1560-13, FPL 14, (Direct Hire) Open Continuous
What you'd do
This position is with the Federal Student Aid (FSA), located in Washington, DC. FSA is the Principal Office of the United States Department of Education responsible for awarding billions of dollars in federal student aid funds. Our vision is to be the most trusted and reliable source of student financial aid, information and services in the nation. Our core values include integrity, customer service, excellence, respect, stewardship and teamwork.
Major duties
APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date July 24, 2026. We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application. As a Data Scientist, GS-1560-13, you will be responsible for: Performing analyses and evaluating business requirements and user needs to inform planning and design. Collaborating with subject-matter experts to develop statistical analyses and data analytics using appropriate data sources. Formulating and implementing hypotheses, concepts, and methods to address key challenges within the assigned area. Serving as a technical expert in data science, operations research, master data management, and data analytics or visualization to enhance policy, programs, and operations. Applying a wide range of analytical and scientific methods, including mathematical, statistical, and econometric techniques, to advise on the likely outcomes of various courses of action. Creating presentations and interpretations of statistical analyses and data analytics tailored to specific audiences. Designing interactive dashboards and data stories to encourage exploration of complex issues. Communicating findings and limitations in clear, concise language, aligning conclusions with business needs and the agency's mission. Preparing white papers, briefings, reports, and other required products. Leadership. Identifying and applying advanced statistical and data analytic tools to meet business needs. Trains staff in data analytic techniques. Upholding professional standards, ethics, and best practices in analytics and data communication. Analyzing data trends to support mission goals and providing actionable recommendations. Planning and conducting analytic evaluations to validate findings or test hypotheses.
What you need to qualify
This is an open-continuous announcement with cutoff dates. Applications will be referred based on receipt of application and established cutoff dates as follows: 1st cutoff date: 06/29/2026 2nd cutoff date: 07/10/2026 Last cutoff date: 07/24/2026 Minimum Qualification Requirements You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-13, if you possess the specialize experience. Specialized Experience for the GS-13 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: 1. Experience reviewing and analyzes data trends to supporting mission goals and provided recommendation based on findings. 2. Experience developing plans and training others on assembling, evaluating, analyzing, and visually representing data. 3. Experience using a range of operations research analyses and data science tools to perform advanced professional and scientific analyst work. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement). 1. Knowledge of data modeling, query authoring, and performance tuning with best practes for relational databases. 2. Knowledge of a broad range of data analyses, mathematics, statistical analysis, modeling/simulation, or other scientific concepts. 3. Skill in both oral and written communication to participate in high-level meetings, conferences, or briefings. 4. Skill in judgment, resourcefulness, and originality to foresee the impact of changing technology.
Before you apply
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