Supervisory Data Scientist

Full Job Description

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), works within the U. S.

Department of Transportation (DOT) to promote efficiency and effectiveness, and prevent or stop waste, fraud and abuse in departmental programs.

OIG also consults with the Congress about programs in progress and proposed new laws and regulations.

The Inspector General Act of 1978 gives the Office of Inspector General autonomy to do its work without interference.

Candidates must have one (1) year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal service. Non-government experience should be of similar complexity.

Examples of specialized experience includes: Leading data science projects to detect fraud, waste, abuse, or safety risks, and applying machine learning, statistical modeling, and data mining for audits and investigations.

Managing large datasets for analysis and consulting with auditors and investigators to define data needs and retrieve information.

Creating dashboards and visualizations with R or Python for monitoring and analytics, overseeing data projects, including planning and team coordination.

Developing project plans, tracking progress, and translating complex data results for non-technical audiences. Briefing senior leadership on the status and outcomes of analytical initiatives.

Your resume will be evaluated based on the following competencies: Workforce Management: Effectively plans, develops, and deploys people and resources to achieve agency goals.

Stakeholder Communication: Clearly conveys and exchanges information with stakeholders to support alignment and informed decision-making.

Applied Research / Technical Competence: Applies technical knowledge and research methods to solve problems and inform practical solutions related to data analytics.

Data Security / Governance: Ensures responsible, secure, and compliant management of data throughout its lifecycle.

Strategic Collaboration: Partners across teams or organizations to align efforts and achieve shared strategic objectives.

Applicants must meet qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

As the Team Lead for the Data Science and Statistics (DSS) Group, you will personally guide and contribute to projects while leading a team of data experts in supporting investigations, audits, and the broader OIG community.

This position blends deep technical work with strategic project leadership and personnel management to drive data-driven decision-making across the agency.

Major duties include, but not limited to the following: Supervise data scientists and statisticians, handling administrative duties like hiring recommendations, work assignments, performance evaluations, and leave approvals.

Ensure research products are technically accurate, timely, and aligned with organizational priorities.

Set performance plans, conduct appraisals, and support team development through coaching and training. Balance workload, set priorities, and adjust assignments as needed.

Lead project planning and execution for advanced data science initiatives, monitor progress, identify risks, and ensure successful delivery.

Serve as the primary supervisory and technical point of contact for customers regarding analytics capabilities, project scope, and deliverables.

Simplify complex analytical concepts for senior leaders and other stakeholders. Brief management and customers on project status and findings. Prepare and review analytic reports and visualizations.

Lead the team in applying data analytics techniques to solve oversight and investigative problems. Develop high-quality data visualizations and dashboarding tools utilizing RShiny and Python.

Evaluate and recommend emerging analytics tools and methods, particularly in AI, for strategic mission value. Address complex analytical problems with expert solutions.

Review and approve analytical methodologies and products. Mentor staff in novel approaches and software production.

Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and standards related to data privacy, security, and ethical use.

Implement data governance policies and approve data access requests and analytical methods. Identify and mitigate data management risks.

Contribute to internal procedure development for analytics and data handling. Collaborate with CIGIE and external partners on shared analytics projects and working groups.

Represent the organization in interagency forums on data analytics, innovation, and oversight modernization.

Translate complex analytical concepts for senior leaders and stakeholders in clear, mission-relevant language.