Data Scientist

Join the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) at the National Center for Organization Development (VHA NCOD) in Washington, DC (onsite). In this Data Scientist role, you will help lead research that connects organizational, health-science, and data-science methods to real workplace and program outcomes. You will design analytics workflows and partner with stakeholders to deliver findings that can inform VA leaders and program offices.

Salary range: USD 89,508 to 138,370 per year.

Work schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Telework: available. Compressed/Flexible: yes. Remote: not remote; you must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and conduct complex organizational, health-science, and data-science research using advanced statistical, psychometric, predictive, machine-learning, and artificial-intelligence approaches to evaluate workplace dynamics, customer feedback, program performance, and organizational outcomes.
• Design and implement data acquisition, management, standardization, quality control, benchmarking, and reporting processes for large and complex datasets, including procedures for storage, retrieval, classification, coding, security, privacy, and dissemination.
• Use R and R markdown to build automated analytical workflows, dashboards, interactive reports, visualizations, and user-focused applications that convert organizational and survey data into actionable insights.
• Provide expert consultation across research design, survey development, program evaluation, organizational assessment, strategic communication, statistical modeling, and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative findings.
• Apply advanced programming, data mining, predictive analytics, machine learning, natural language processing, and emerging technologies to identify trends, produce projections, evaluate program effectiveness, and develop recommendations.
• Advise senior leadership and mentor or guide junior staff. Coordinate with multidisciplinary stakeholders and communicate results through briefings, reports, publications, presentations, and professional meetings at local, national, and international levels.

Required Qualifications

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen to apply.
• Selective Service: Registration required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Background/Security: Subject to background and security investigation.
• Experience: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation.
• Education (no substitutions at this grade level): Degree in Mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science (or directly related field) at least at the baccalaureate level, OR a combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) plus additional education or appropriate experience (transcripts required).
• Education accreditation: Only degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
• Closing date: Qualifications must be met by 10/15/2026.
• Time-In-Grade: Required for current Federal employees holding a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks (example given: 52 weeks at the GS-11 for a GS-12 position).

Additional Requirements

• Selected applicants must complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Serve a 1-year probationary period or a 2-year trial period; fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
• Employment will be terminated after the probationary/trial period unless certification is received in writing that continued employment advances the public interest.

Technologies

• R, R markdown
• Machine learning, Artificial intelligence
• Predictive analytics
• Natural language processing

How You’ll Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed. In describing experience, be clear and specific, since assumptions will not be made. Narrative responses are not required at this time, but additional job-related information may be requested if referred for consideration. Resume and supporting documentation will be verified, and pre-employment reference checks may be performed.

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter (accepted, may be required if applicable)
• DD-214 / Statement of Service (accepted, may be required if applicable)
• Disability Letter (Schedule A) (accepted, may be required if applicable)
• Disability Letter (VA) (accepted, may be required if applicable)
• License (accepted, may be required if applicable)
• Professional Certification (accepted, may be required if applicable)
• Transcript (accepted, may be required if applicable)
• SF-50 / Notification of Personnel Action (accepted, may be required if applicable)
• SF-15 (accepted, may be required if applicable)
• Separation Notice (RIF) (accepted, may be required if applicable)

Veterans’ preference: Eligible Veterans should claim preference (5pt, 10pt, or Sole Survivor Preference) in the questionnaire and provide documentation as required, including a legible copy of DD214(s). Disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference must submit SF-15 with required proof.