Data Scientist

About the role

This position is located in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Center for Program Integrity (CPI), Division of Investigative & Bus Analytics (DIBA).

As a Data Scientist, GS-1560-13, you will serve as a senior advisor as well as lead a cross-functional teams composed of professionals skilled in policy analysis, information technology, data engineering, and project management disciplines, in order to develop data-driven solutions.

What you will do

• Serves as a data advisor within the division, collecting and analyzing specialized data such as website analytics, marketing data, consumer research, demographics, and economic trends.
• Identifies and uses internal and external data sources, manages the full systems development life-cycle (SDLC), and designs features that support data access, integration, and retention.
• Prepares and presents complex technical findings, reports, and recommendations both orally and in writing to diverse audiences, including senior officials and external stakeholders.
• Leads or supports cross-functional teams of federal staff and contractors (policy analysts, IT specialists, data engineers, project managers) to build data-driven solutions for CMS program and business challenges.

Education

Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the qualification requirements, all candidates must have the following educational 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 above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

TRANSCRIPTS are required to verify satisfactory completion of the educational requirement listed above.

Failure to submit a copy of your transcripts at the time of application WILL result in an ineligible rating.

Please see "Required Documents" section below for what documentation is required at the time of application. Click the following link to view the occupational questionnaire: ***

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the results of the online assessments required for this position.

A Subject Matter Expert may assist in the resume review process to help determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The category rating process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category.

Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of professional or scientific positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

Documents you must provide

• The following documents are REQUIRED: 1.
• Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional.
• NOTE: As of September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes that are two pages or less in length.
• Your resume must indicate your citizenship and whether you are registered with the Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
• Your resume must also list your work experience and education (if applicable), including the start and end dates (mm/yyyy) of each employment, along with the number of hours worked per week.
• For work in the Federal service, you must include the series and grade level for the position(s).
• Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s).
• For resume and application tips, visit: *** 2.
• CMS Required Documents (e.g., SF-50, DD-214, SF-15, etc.).
• Required documents may be necessary to be considered for this vacancy announcement.
• Failure to provide the required documentation WILL result in an ineligible rating OR non-consideration.
• Since this position requires specific education, you must submit a transcript attesting to your possession of the required education.
• You may submit an unofficial transcript or a list of college courses completed, indicating course titles, credit hours, and grades received.
• An official transcript is required if you are selected for the position.
• If selected, you must provide an original document before the final job offer may be extended.
• If you do not submit a transcript indicating your possession of the required education, you will not be considered for this position.
• College Transcripts and Foreign Education: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that it is comparable to the education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. For a listing of services that can perform this evaluation, visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services website.
• This list, which may not be all-inclusive, is for informational purposes only and does not imply any endorsement of any specific agency.
• If you are applying for a position for which a state license is issued (e.g., physician, engineer, attorney), possession of a valid and current U.S. professional license by a graduate of a foreign professional school or program is sufficient proof that the foreign education has been determined to be equivalent to the requisite U.S. professional education in that occupational field.
• RPL Eligibility Required Documents: The following documents are required to verify your RPL eligibility: 1) Your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), or equivalent, as stated in the job announcement that shows position occupied (block #34 of your SF-50), tenure, grade and step, salary, and full performance level; 2) Your SF-50 showing Separation - RIF.
• If that is not available yet, then official documentation of your Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a proposed removal/separation notice; AND 3) Your latest performance rating and rating of record (if separate documents) showing your rating score as at least fully successful or equivalent.
• PLEASE NOTE: A complete application package includes the online application, resume, transcripts, and CMS required documents.
• Please carefully review the full job announcement, which includes the "Required Documents" and "How to Apply" sections.
• Failure to submit the online application, resume, transcripts, and CMS required documents will result in your not being considered for employment.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Within 30 business days of the closing date,09/18/2026, you may check your status online by logging into your USAJOBS account (***). We will update your status after each key stage in the application process has been completed.

Additional information

Bargaining Unit Position: Yes, American-Federation of Government Employees, Local 1923 Tour of Duty: Flexible Recruitment Incentive: Not authorized Relocation Incentive: Not authorized Financial Disclosure: Not required Workplace Flexibility at CMS: This position has a regular and recurring reporting requirement to the CMS office listed in this announcement.

CMS offers flexible working arrangements and allows employees the opportunity to participate in alternative work schedules at the manager's discretion. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced federal employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be qualified you must submit the required documentation and be rated well-qualified for this vacancy. Click here for a detailed description of the required supporting documents. A well-qualified applicant is one whose knowledge, skills and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements of the position.

Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at *** For more information on locality and pay scales, please click here: *** GS-13: Woodlawn, MD: $121,785 - $158,322