Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Applied Research and Methods (ARM), Center for Statistics and Data Analysis (CSDA). The CSDA contributes to the quality of GAO's work by providing assistance with data using descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics and statistical methods. To learn more about ARM and its Centers, please visit us on the web at: ARM

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Responsibilities

The Center for Statistics and Data Analysis is seeking an experienced professional to serve as a Senior Mathematical Statistician or Statistician to provide consultative services and support to mission teams on the selection and implementation of appropriate statistical methodologies for engagements in accordance with GAO and professional standards. Duties involve, but are not limited to, the following:

• Participating in aspects of design, researchable question development, data collection and analysis, message development, and report writing with respect to sampling, statistical, and analytical issues, and ensures the quality and value of the final product.
• Developing and/or applying methods based on statistical theory to implement statistical modeling techniques, such as multivariate and regression analyses, or complex sample design, selection and analysis.
• Conducting complex statistical analyses using various statistical software, such as SAS, Stata, and R; interpreting and presenting statistical results, and advising staff on statistical matters.
• Preparing and reviewing technical documentation related to statistical analysis, interpretation of statistical results, sample design, or sample estimates in a manner appropriate for the audience.
• Advising on how data should be collected for engagements. Selects, refines, organizes, and presents factual information and analysis in support of engagement objectives. In collaboration with engagement team members, decides on scope, form, content, and depth of analysis. Develops sample designs for probability and non-probability samples, performs sample selection, and produces estimates from sample data derived from probability samples.
• Contributing to primary data collection. Evaluates and analyzes data to determine relevance and reliability. As required, performs indexing and referencing tasks to support sample designs, estimates, and statistical analyses.
• Developing findings and recommendations and preparing GAO products that provide factual and analytical information in a clear, balanced manner that meets the needs of congressional clients. Performs statistical analyses, interprets and presents statistical results, assists team members to identify how data from samples and statistical analyses support findings and recommendations, and advises staff on matters relating to statistical issues, data analysis, and evidence.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
NA

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or national.
• You must be suitable for federal employment.
• You will be required to submit a financial disclosure statement.
• Completion of a probationary period is required.
• Registrated for Selective Service, if appicable.

You must possess the education and specialized experience as described to be determined basically qualified for this position.

All requirements must be met before the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

In addition to the education requirement, you must have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower band or level equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal Service, or comparable private or public sector experience which has equipped you with the skills and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as practical and theoretical experience performing multivariate modeling, sampling, estimation, and other statistical analysis independently, to meet overall objectives.

You must meet all qualifications requirements BEFORE the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. Documentation to verify your education MUST be submitted with your application in order to be considered.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MATHEMATICAL STATISTICIAN SERIES 1529:

A. Degree: that included 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, of which at least 12 semester hours were in mathematics and 6 semester hours were in statistics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience - at least 24 semester hours of mathematics and statistics, including at least 12 hours in mathematics and 6 hours in statistics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Education:

Courses acceptable toward meeting the mathematics course requirement of paragraphs A or B above must have included at least four of the following: differential calculus, integral calculus, advanced calculus, theory of equations, vector analysis, advanced algebra, linear algebra, mathematical logic, differential equations, or any other advanced course in mathematics for which one of these was a prerequisite. Courses in mathematical statistics or probability theory with a prerequisite of elementary calculus or more advanced courses will be accepted toward meeting the mathematics requirements, with the provision that the same course cannot be counted toward both the mathematics and the statistics requirement.

Evaluation of Experience:

The experience offered in combination with educational courses to meet the requirements in paragraph B above should include evidence of statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying known statistical techniques to data such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.

Without other indications of statistical experience, work required in the processing of numerical or quantified information by other than statistical methods is not considered appropriate qualifying experience. Examples of such nonqualifying work include statistical clerical work; statistical drafting; calculation of totals, averages, percentages, or other arithmetic summations; preparation of simple tables or charts; or verification of data by simple comparison or proofreading.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MATHEMATICAL STATISTICIAN SERIES 1530:

A. 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

B. Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in A 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.

Additional information

This is a bargaining unit position.

Based on the staffing needs, additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

Selectee will be required to file a Financial Disclosure Statement. (if applicable)

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid for by the GAO.

Males born after 12/31/59 and at least 18 years of age must be registered with the Selective Service System. Visit SSS .

Selectees will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. At the time of appointment, selectees will be required to update the OF-306.

Selectees will be subject to a determination of suitability for Federal employment.

GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodation@gao.gov.

GAO's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

GAO is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service. Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the GAO require completion of a probationary period.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

If you meet the qualification requirements stated, you will be further rated based on your responses to the assessment questions. Please make sure that your responses to the assessment questions are supported in your resume.

Please follow all instructions carefully. If you provide incomplete answers, fail to provide a narrative response to any assessment question(s) that requires further explanation, or if your response to an assessment question is "see resume", your rating may be affected or you may be determined ineligible.

All applicants will be rated based on their responses to the assessment questions, in conjunction with the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's):

• Knowledge of advanced statistical techniques, theories and practices relevant to analyses using a variety of modeling methods including multivariate, regression, hierarchical linear models, factor analysis, time series, spatial analyses, or complex sample design and estimation.
• Skill in using statistical software such as SAS, Stata, or R to perform complex statistical analysis.
• Skill in developing and applying appropriate statistical analyses such as least squares, maximum likelihood, Bayesian modeling, estimation, and computing methods; predictive modeling; logistic or other generalized linear models, and robust regression.
• Skill in developing and applying appropriate statistical methodologies for developing complex survey sample designs or other multivariate statistical analyses.
• Skill in selecting, organizing, and presenting appropriate information in a concise and balanced manner and to communicate such information to target audiences.
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively as part of a team.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Resume: Must be created using the USAJOBS resume builder and show relevant work experience.

- SF-50: Current and former federal employees eligible for reinstatement must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that indicates Federal status, grade, tenure and type of service.

- Transcripts: If you are using your education to qualify (even partially), you must submit a copy of your transcripts. Foreign Education: If you are submitting a transcript from a non-US educational institution, applicants must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials, commonly called a credential evaluation service.

- Veteran Hiring Authority Eligibles: VEOA and 30% Disabled Veterans must submit adequate proof of active service in the Armed Forces including Member 4 copy of your DD-214, which indicates character of service. To claim 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15 and a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs verifying the percentage of your disability and preference in hiring. To claim 5-Point veterans' preference, you must submit a Member 4 copy of the DD - 214 or if you are currently active duty: an official statement of service from your command.

- Disability: If you are applying under the Schedule A hiring Authority for individuals with disabilities you must submit proof disability.

If you fail to submit any of the documentation listed above your application will be considered incomplete, and will result in loss of consideration.

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.