Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Logo
Position Title
Data Scientist
Agency
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Announcement Number
FRTIB-23-AS-035-12024790 Opens in new window
Open Period
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 to Friday, July 28, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2.

Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions and you:

  • have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more OR
  • retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more

If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. Please also provide the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

(limit characters)
3.

Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who has been issued orders for a permanent change of station (PCS)?

If yes, confirm that you are indicated on the PCS orders; and you

  • have been married to the military member on or prior to the date of your spouse's PCS orders
  • are relocating with your spouse to the new duty location AND
  • have not previously been appointed using this authority under these orders.

-OR- 

Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating at the time of retirement of 100 percent or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

-OR-

Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status? For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

(limit characters)
4.

Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position?

If yes, confirm:

  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
  • your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy AND
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of CTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50. For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.
(limit characters)
5.

Were you employed overseas as an Appropriated Fund employee AND did you

  • complete 52 weeks of creditable overseas service in an appropriated fund position(s) as a family member during the time you accompanied a sponsor officially assigned to an overseas area
  • receive a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating AND
  • return to the United States to resume residence less than 3 years ago? 
(limit characters)
6. Are you currently employed as a civilian employee in the competitive service in the agency hiring for this position?
If eligible, submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status with the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.
Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2) and
Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1).
(limit characters)
7.

Have you completed three years of substantially continuous service immediately before separation from an unlimited, career-type Foreign Service appointment that meets a requirement for career tenure?

-OR-

Have you had service that began with a non-temporary Foreign Service appointment counting towards the 3-year service requirement for career tenure and have been separated within the past 30 days from the career-type appointment in the Foreign Service? 

(limit characters)
8.

Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?

If yes, confirm:

  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
  • your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy AND 
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of ICTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50. For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center
(limit characters)
9. Interchange Agreement - Are you a current excepted service employee of a Federal agency that has a current, unexpired interchange agreement with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for which you meet eligibility for appointment in the competitive service (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=InterchangeAgreementsWithOtherMeritSystems)? The agencies are:

Tennessee Valley Authority; or
Nuclear Regulatory Commission; or
Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs; or
Department of Defense (The Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System) Agreement; or
Nonappropriated Fund (NAF) employees of the Department of Defense; or
Federal Aviation Administration; or
Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration; or
AmeriCorps (Corporation for National and Community Service); or
Other Agency currently under an Interchange agreement with OPM

A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action must be submitted and you must meet the eligibility requirements of your agency's agreement and those outlined in the link above.
(limit characters)
10. Are you a current Federal employee in the competitive service in tenure group 1 or 2 or former Federal employee of the competitive service who was in tenure group 1 upon separation or tenure group 2, if the separation occurred less than 3 years ago and you hold or held a position that is below the full performance level of the position being advertised? (Your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, must reflect career or career-conditional status indicated by tenure group 1 or 2 AND reflect that your position occupied is "1," indicating competitive service. If you are a former Federal employee, your final (separation) SF-50 must indicate the same).

 
(limit characters)
11. Are you a current Federal employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service and has held a permanent (not time limited) position in the competitive service at the same grade or higher full performance level as the position being announced? (Your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, must reflect career or career-conditional status indicated by tenure group 1 or 2 AND reflect that your position occupied is "1," indicating competitive service).

 
(limit characters)
12. Are you a former Federal employee who held a career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service that was permanent (not time limited) and at the same grade or higher full performance level as the position being announced? (Your separation/final SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, must reflect career or career-conditional status indicated by tenure group 1 or 2 AND reflect that your position occupied is "1," indicating competitive service. If your tenure group was 2, your separation must have been within the last 3 years).
 
(limit characters)
13. Are you a current federal employee of an agency who operates under an appointing authority outside of 5 CFR, as listed at  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=InterchangeAgreementsWithOtherMeritSystems?  You must submit a copy of your current SF-50 or PS-50. The employee listed below may be considered for noncompetitive hire:
•           Postal Career Service Employee
•           Postal Rate Commission Employee
•           Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee
•           Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee
 
(limit characters)
14.

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past twelve months?

-OR-

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past 36 months and is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility due to your military service, status as a full-time student or other experience related to this position?

-OR-

Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who has completed at least 36 months of continuous service and has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?

If yes, submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility.

If you are a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility, please also provide the necessary documentation to support your request.

(limit characters)
15. Are you eligible for appointment under the Excepted Service authority (Schedule A) for Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities or psychiatric disabilities? [5CFR 213.3102(u)] (limit characters)
16.

Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions and you:

  • served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (NOTE: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility) OR
  • are entitled to veterans' preference If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.  
(limit characters)
17.

Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions and you:

  • recently separated (within the past 3 years)
  • are a disabled veteran • served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition OR
  • received an Armed Forces Service Medal If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, provide the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Data Scientist, GS-1560-14 position with the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. We will evaluate your resume and your responses to this Occupation Questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit this questionnaire. (limit characters)
For each task, choose the statement that best describes your experience and/or training as it pertains to the COMPLETE statement. If you are missing experience in some or all of the statement, adjust your response accordingly. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provided in your resume. If we are unable to support your response by your resume, we may mark you as ineligible for the position. (limit characters)
1.

From the description below, please select the one statement that best describes the experience you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a Data Scientist at the GS-13 grade level or equivalent.

(limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
2. Codes with languages such as python or R and uses SQL and other data processing and analytics tools and software to analyze data sets and uses data visualization tools such as MS Power BI, Tableau, MS Excel, and others to generate reports and develop compelling stories that convey statistical or technical information to non-technical audiences.
(limit characters)
3. Serves as a recognized expert and technical authority on analytical, statistical, and programming techniques necessary to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret unique and highly specialized data sets, which allows for the use and analysis of data and analytics for decision-making. (limit characters)
4. Develops reporting protocols and establishes a self-service functionality that Agency staff can utilize as needed.
(limit characters)
5. Provides strategic and technical expert guidance and hands-on support in the transfer and transformation of any required data. (limit characters)
6. Identifies, adapts, and manages changes to products or programs in response to evolving user needs.
(limit characters)
7. Uses your expertise in the development, implementation and oversight of new technologies and techniques related to data science. (limit characters)
8. Ensures compliance with all applicable laws and regulations specific to data including the Privacy Act, Foundations for Evidence-based Policymaking Act and the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act.
(limit characters)
9. Makes recommendations in the modernization and governance of existing services.
(limit characters)
10. Identifies data that are available and relevant, including internal and external data sources, leveraging new automated data collection processes and performing all phases of the systems development life cycle required in the design, development, and implementation of features enabling data access. (limit characters)
11. Uses statistical tools such as mathematics, statistics, performance measurement, and advanced analytics such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing for cloud computing and analyzing data sets.
(limit characters)
12. Uses advanced analytical techniques to develop computational algorithms and statistical methods that find patterns and relationships in large volumes of data and from those patterns develops findings, inferences, conclusions, and recommendations.
(limit characters)
13. Performs periodic benchmarking efforts and recommends potential plan changes to leadership.
(limit characters)
14. Interacts with internal customers and colleagues to understand business processes, gather requirements, develop analysis methodologies, and coordinate ongoing iterative development of data products and analytic processes. (limit characters)
15. Partners with various offices to initiate, prioritize, scope, design, and deliver new reporting applications; and initiates proactive investigations into data issues that impact reporting, analysis, or program execution. (limit characters)
16. Works alongside other data scientists, program subject matter experts, IT specialists, and others to recommend technical and analytical solutions that meet requirements for decision-making. (limit characters)
17. Describe your highest level of experience participating in or leading teams of peers and more junior staff.
(limit characters)
18. Which best indicates your level of experience interacting in the workplace. (limit characters)
19. Which of the following best describes your highest level with service delivery? (limit characters)
20.

As previously explained, your responses to this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents and references you submit.

Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your ratings. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for your non-selection or for your dismissal. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be removed from consideration and will be marked ineligible. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy.

(limit characters)