DATA SCIENTIST
Air Force Elements, U.S. Transportation Command
Posted: February 20, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Office of the Secretary of Defense
Department of Defense
Location
Salary
$186,207 - $228,000
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Management & Supervision jobs →Closes
This job involves leading a team that analyzes data to help top defense officials make smarter decisions about military strategies, budgets, and operations.
The role focuses on improving how the government uses information to run more efficiently while staying true to American values like the Constitution and fair laws.
It's ideal for experienced leaders who are passionate about public service, have a strong background in defense analysis, and can guide diverse teams to tackle complex problems.
The incumbent will serve as Director, Data Analysis Support Hub, Office of the Deputy Director, Analysis and Innovation.
The incumbent serves as a principal advisor to senior Department of War leadership, driving the Department's efforts to enhance data-driven decision making and analytic rigor.
This position is located in the Office of the Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE).
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ), and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES.
Resumes over the 2-page limit will be disqualified. Please see "Required Documents" section below for all resume formatting requirements.
Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s).
If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.
Do NOT submit a separate narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications: TQ 1: Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in leading cross-organizational analytic teams to answer questions or inform decisions on U.S.
Defense postures, policies, resourcing decisions, or operations.
TQ 2: Experience in the concepts and procedures used in a major resource allocation system, such as the Department of War's Planning, Programming, Budgeting, Execution System (PPBES).
EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs.
If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.
There are five ECQs: ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
Sub-Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government: Demonstrates understanding and appreciation of the American system of government, including the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, separation of powers, federalism, and the historical development of the American Nation.
Commitment to the Rule of Law: Upholds the principles of the American Founding, including equality under the law and democratic self-government. Ensures the law is applied fairly and consistently.
Civic-Mindedness: Stays up-to-date on important developments in American government and aligns organizational objectives and practices with presidential and public interests.
Demonstrates a commitment to serve the American people.
ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
Sub-Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility: Strategically manages, allocates and monitors financial resources. Aligns priorities and initiatives to justify budget proposals.
Monitors expenditures, cuts unnecessary costs, and uses cost-benefit analysis to set priorities.
Managing Resources: Manages resources efficiently and effectively based on current and projected organizational goals, skills, budget considerations, and staffing needs.
Leveraging Technology: Explores emerging technology and potential applications. Incorporates technology to enhance efficiency and achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems.
ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
Sub-Competencies: Technical Skill: Possesses the requisite technical knowledge and subject matter expertise to consistently produce timely, high-quality work.
Is considered a strong contributor in his or her domain. Problem Solving: Engages in critical and data-driven thinking when diagnosing root causes and evaluating options.
Identifies and promptly addresses the most pressing, high-priority problems. Agility and Resilience: Anticipates and adapts to change, new ideas, new information, and new conditions.
Is committed to continuous improvement. Deals effectively with pressure and remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity.
ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture.
This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
Sub-Competencies: Accountability: Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, trained, and retained.
Takes swift action to address performance- or conduct-based deficiencies in employees supervised. Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
Developing Others: Recognizes and rewards outstanding achievement in others.
Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
Cultivates a dynamic environment in which employees are not afraid to make mistakes.
Executive Judgement: Makes well-reasoned, timely, and effective decisions and considers short- and long-term implications.
Communicates effectively with stakeholders across all organizational levels, sharing and guarding information where appropriate.
ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.
Sub-Competencies: Operational Mindset: Effectively translates strategies into actionable steps and processes.
Partners effectively with stakeholders to drive adoption and addresses blockers to ensure successful implementation.
Innovation: Applies creativity to improving products and processes, challenges convention, takes measured risks, and considers ways to simplify and remove unnecessary requirements.
Strategic Thinking: Formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization by evaluating conditions, resources, capabilities, constraints, and organizational goals and values.
Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you must attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.
See "Required Documents" section for additional information. Major Duties:
Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Strategic Analysis Leadership: Lead the Department-wide Analysis Working group and strategic analysis development programs.
Direct the creation and application of innovative operational concepts for joint mission and campaign analysis, partnering with Services and Combatant Commands to enhance the analytic rigor of strategic analysis Department-wide.
Analytic Infrastructure Oversight: Oversee DoW's joint strategic analytic infrastructure, including modeling and simulation capabilities, analytic facilities, and computing infrastructure, to ensure it is efficient, current, innovative, and effectively supports strategic decision-making.
Data Management & Governance: Oversee the identification, collection, curation, management, preservation, and dissemination of data supporting strategic analyses, including historical data, projected force capabilities, concepts of operation, enemy force structure, global posture data, and data on allies and partners.
Mission and Campaign -Level Modeling & Simulation Analysis: Provide expert assessment on the design and conduct of leadership-directed mission and campaign analyses that assesses current and projected threats, requirements for U.S.
and allied forces, and measures to improve defense capabilities and resource utilization.
Stakeholder Engagement: Represent the Deputy Director at senior-level meetings, serving as the subject matter expert on DoW strategic analyses, data, and knowledge management, and related resource implications.
Executive Leadership and Resource Management: Provide direct executive leadership and supervision to a staff of operations research analysts and other technical professionals, including selecting candidates, establishing standards, evaluating performance, and initiating or approving disciplinary and performance-based actions.
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