Federal

Data Scientist (Branch Chief)

Food Safety and Inspection Service ยท Department of Agriculture
๐Ÿ“ Fort Collins, Colorado GS-14 $126,797 - $182,316/yr
Posted: Feb 27, 2026 Deadline: Mar 12, 2026 (Closed days left)

About This Position

This position is located within the Office of Planning, Analysis, and Risk Management (OPARM). OPARM is the FSIS centralized analytics group and tasked with integrating and analyzing relational data. The program also provides data visualization and analytics services to support FSIS decision-making, policy development, risk management, and strategic planning.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and education, as defined below. For the GS-14 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that demonstrates all of the following: Using Python or R in support of data analytics projects. Leading a team or cross-functional group to accomplish a significant project or initiative.

This includes setting goals, coordinating tasks, evaluating work products, and providing technical advice and guidance on items such as analytical coding or methodologies, statistical analysis, or visualization development. Developing oral and written presentations and communicating complex and technical analyses to inform, influence, and persuade a variety of audiences. And at least 1 of the following 2: Creating and maintaining automated data pipelines to support data ingestion, transformation, and delivery.

Creating and maintaining interactive dashboards or reports. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Major Duties

Responsible for the overall direction and accomplishment of Branch analytical assignments and functions.

Develops, exhibits, and applies clear understanding of Branch analytical output and associated data.

Assign work to Branch members, ensures the development of project plans with necessary and realistic milestones and deliverables.

Assists in the development of performance standards and uses them to fairly evaluate the performance of subordinate employees.

Holds employees accountable for accurate and timely completion of tasks.

Identifies training needs, resolves complaints and grievances fairly at the lowest possible level.

Utilizes a variety of languages and tools (e.g., R, Python, SQL) to build data pipelines to pull together information from different source systems.

Coordinates with staff and members of other organizational areas to understand project requirements and facilitate improved customer service.

Collaborates with specialists in diverse fields to fulfill operational data and analytical needs.

Provides directions to subordinates on appropriate coding and statistical techniques to solve specific problems.

Education

Statistics Series 1530 Basic Requirements: Degree that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology, etc. Credit toward meeting statistical course requirements should be given for courses in which 50 percent of the course content appears to be statistical methods, e.g., courses that included studies in research methods in psychology or economics such as tests and measurements or business cycles, or courses in methods of processing mass statistical data such as tabulating methods or electronic data processing.

OR

Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in the paragraph above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.

Click here for more information on this series: OPM Statistics Series 1530 Computer Science Series 1550 Basic Requirements Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

Click here for more information on this series: OPM Computer Science Series 1550 Data Science Series 1560 Basic Requirements 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 the paragraph above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

Click here for more information on this series: OPM Data Science Series 1560

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your application, including the assessment questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet the qualification requirements and to determine if your resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions.

Your resume must clearly support your responses to the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Analytical Programming Data Management Interpersonal Skills Manages Human Resources Oral Communication Planning and Evaluating Problem Solving

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. When Food Safety and Inspection Service completes its hiring, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with additional federal agencies.

You will have an opportunity to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.

Additional Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section.

When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of their own.

To see more information visit CHCO Council. This announcement may be used to fill additional like vacancies should any occur in the announced duty location(s). If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter.

Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin.

You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged.

We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system prior to its closing.

Resumes must not exceed two pages. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this. Alternative Methods for Applying: If you are unable to apply using the internet, please fax your request for an application package along with your name and mailing address to HR: 1-833-840-9220 To begin, click "Apply" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.

Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX).

Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable. Please ensure your resume does not exceed two pages. Applicants who submit a resume that exceeds two pages will be removed from consideration.

Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration. Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.

Your application may be disqualified if you include any of the information listed here: What should I leave out of my resume? Education: You must submit a copy of all relevant college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty.

Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards.

There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

If claiming Veterans' Preference, you must submit a DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty, you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veterans' Preference must be verified prior to appointment.

Without this documentation, you will not receive Veterans' Preference, and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted. If claiming 10-point Veterans' Preference, you must provide the DD-214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required.

Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference visit FedsHireVets. Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Data Scientist (Branch Chief) position at Food Safety and Inspection Service?
The salary range for this position is $126,797 - $182,316/yr. This is a GS-14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Data Scientist (Branch Chief) job located?
This position is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and education, as defined below. For the GS-14 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that demonstrates all of the following: Using Python or R in su...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 12, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-14 mean?
GS-14 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.