Data Scientist

DutiesSummary
Who May Be Considered:
• U.S. Citizens
• Status Candidates
• Veterans
• Land Management Eligibles under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
• View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.


Responsibilities

Joining the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) means being part of the team focused on securing the Nation's physical and cyber infrastructure against threats to public health and safety, economy, and national security. Within CISA, the Infrastructure Security Division focuses on protecting critical infrastructure from all hazards by managing risk and enhancing resilience through collaboration with the critical infrastructure community, which includes private sector owners, operators, and employees; State, local, tribal, and territorial officials; and other Federal agencies.

Visit www.cisa.gov to learn more about CISA and how you can be part of the team to Defend Today; Secure Tomorrow.

In this position, you will serve as Data Scientist. Typical work assignments include:

• Providing expert consultation to office, agency, and departmental leadership regarding homeland security risk and cyber and infrastructure threats and incidents.
• Conceptualizing systems and reduce them to them most effective, simplified, and manageable representation and treatment advance state-of-the-art theories beyond established parameters.
• Performing assessments and conduct/direct in-depth studies and develop new hypotheses in support of homeland security.
• Assessing the reliability and interdependencies of various integrated cyber/physical infrastructures assets, systems, and/or functions.
• Developing academic papers or other enduring documents on issues such as cyber-physical infrastructure interdependencies, cascading consequences of events impacting infrastructure, and infrastructure dependencies and interdependencies.
• Performing analysis of critical infrastructure, including their interdependencies, vulnerabilities, consequences, and other complexities.
Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for up 5 nights per month this position.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

15

• Job family (Series)

  1501 General Mathematics And Statistics

• Requirements

  RequirementsConditions of Employment
  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation.
  • Selective Service registration required.
  • You must be able to obtain and hold a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
  • New employees must serve a one year probationary period.
  • You must submit to a drug test and receive a negative test result prior to appointment to this position. After appointment, you may be subject to periodic random drug testing.
  • Relocation expenses are not authorized. Other recruitment incentives may be authorized.
  • This position has been designated excluded from bargaining unit representation under the national security provision of 5 U.S.C. § 7112(B)(6).
  • All employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/ Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments.
  • Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
  • This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. § 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).
  • Interviews may be required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration. The interview process may consist of a in-person or phone panel interview.
  QualificationsTo qualify for this position you must meet the below Basic Requirement and Specialized Experience:
  
  Basic Requirement:
  Have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in mathematics, statistics, or actuarial science. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position.
  -OR-
  
  Have a combination of education and experience. This includes courses equivalent to a major field of study as shown in paragraph above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.
  
  Specialized Experience:
  You qualify for the GS-14 grade level (starting salary $122,530.00) if you possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level performing the following duties:
  • Conducting mathematical or statistical analysis using modeling, simulation, and data analysis tools;
  • Analyzing and identifying cyber/physical infrastructure threats and risks;
  • Recommending new or revised analytic requirements, procedures, and products to achieve program goals; and
  • Reporting on identified issues impacting infrastructure security and resilience.
  
  
  
  You qualify for the GS-15 grade level (starting salary $144,128.00) if you possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-14 grade level performing the following duties:
  • Conducting mathematical or statistical analysis using modeling, simulation, and data analysis tools;
  • Advising on the best method to analyze and identify cyber/physical infrastructure threats and risks;
  • Developing new or revised analytic requirements, procedures, and products to achieve program goals;
  • Developing papers on identified issues impacting infrastructure security and resilience; and
  • Leading analytic studies identifying cyber/physical infrastructure threats and risks.
  
  National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.
  
  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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
  
  Qualifications Must Be Met
  The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
  
  NOTE: Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire, the qualification and time-in-grade requirements. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating.
  
  Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
  
  NOTE: Current and former employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include appointment, reassignment, with-in grade/range increase and promotion actions). Please note: Pay adjustments and awards do not include the length of time in your current position, therefore, they are NOT acceptable. If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment.
  
  You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including Time-in-Grade, by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification AND time-in-grade claims will be subject to verification.Education

  Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) or a list of coursework with hours completed. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.

  Additional information

  Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.
  
  Merit promotion and/or non-competitive referral lists may be issued based on the needs of the agency.
  
  More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
  
  Appointments are subject to the availability of funds.
  
  DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select Benefits. Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.
  
  If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
  
  E-Verify
  DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
  
  Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, persons with disabilities, and those covered under the Interchange Agreement possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the documentation that is required, click on the links in Who May Be Considered section or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
  
  If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
  
  Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online if at all possible. Applying online, through your USAJOBS account, will expedite the application process and allow you to check your application status as well as verify the documentation submitted with your application. If you utilize the Alternate Application method, your USAJOBS account will not display this application and you will not receive status updates.

  
  How You Will Be Evaluated

  You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

  Applicants will be evaluated on their resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:
  

  • Advising
  • Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
  • Mathematical Reasoning
  
  
  Category Rating Procedures: If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:
  • Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
  • Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
  • Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
  Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is considered scientific/professional. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on www.fedshirevets.gov
  
  Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are best qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.
  
  Candidate who apply under Noncompetitive and Special Hiring Authorities procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume, supporting documentation submitted and their responses to the assessment questionnaire.
  
  If you are determined qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10943446
  
  Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not I/CTAP eligible. View information about I/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under I/CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.
  
  Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance

  Sensitive Compartmented Information

  Drug test required

  Yes

  Position sensitivity and risk

  Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk

  Trust determination process

  Suitability/Fitness

• Required Documents

  Required Documents

  To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

  • Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed
  • Your responses to the job questionnaire
  • Your Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) to show proof of time-in-grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include appointment, reassignment, with-in grade/range increase and promotion actions)
  • Your college transcripts
  • If your application is rated as well-qualified (score 85 or above) and you are claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Program (I/CTAP)? Submit:
  • a copy of your agency notice,
  • a copy of your most recent performance rating, and
  • a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
  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.

• Benefits

  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. Learn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  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.

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• Family of overseas employees

  Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is, or was, working overseas.

• Federal employees - Competitive service

  Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Individuals with disabilities
• Land & base management

  Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.

• Military spouses
• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
• Special authorities

  Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.

• The public

  U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

• Veterans

U.S. Citizens and Status Candidates (this includes Merit Promotion, Status Candidates, Former Overseas Employees, CTAP, ICTAP, VRA, VEOA, 30% or More Disabled, EVHO, Schedule A, Military Spouses, Americorps, Peace Corps, Vista, Interchange Agreement Eligibles, Land Management, and National Guard).