National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

Data Analyst - Full Performance Level

Open until November 11, 2024 - Chantilly, VA - Full Time

WE ARE THE NRO

For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at NRO.gov.

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO
 

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen
  • You must be 18 years of age or older
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
  • You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
  • You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Where You Will Work 

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent office reporting to the Director, National Reconnaissance Office (DNRO) and Congress. The Inspector General (IG) is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The OIG is responsible for conducting audits, inspections, investigations, and special reviews related to NRO programs and operations; providing leadership with recommendations to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness; preventing and detecting fraud, waste and abuse in NRO programs and operations; and providing a means to keep the DNRO and the Congress fully and currently informed of issues concerning fraud and other serious problems, abuses and deficiencies in NRO's programs or operations.

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Office of Inspector General (OIG) Analytics Division seeks a highly motivated self-starter with an established record of high performance to join its analytics team in Chantilly, Virginia. Responsibilities will primarily involve work related to identifying the methods, processes, algorithms, tools, and systems to extract and interpret findings from varied structured and unstructured data sets related to the data science lifecycle. Work also involves the development of algorithms and/or tools to support data manipulation and processing as well as the use of data visualization techniques to articulate findings. The primary requirements of the work are applying professional knowledge of computer science and mathematical and statistical theories, techniques and methods to gather, analyze, design and construct new processes for analysis, interpret, and/or report quantitative information, trends, relationships and correlations among or within data sets.

Within the NRO OIG, the primary purpose for the use of data science is to provide decision makers with sound, scientific, and quantitative information as a basis for making decisions. Work consists of a variety of assignments involving many different and unrelated analytic processes and methods. As a team member, the position is responsible for conducting data quality reviews, performing data modeling and descriptive analytics, and creating advanced visualizations to support ongoing audits, inspections, investigations, and special reviews to facilitate data-driven decisions, and/or for the identification of potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement at the NRO. Work efforts require the use of scientific computing, programming, and mathematics and may include design work as well.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Full Performance level (GG-11/12), Data Scientists, occupational series 1560. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

This is a full-time position that is open from October 28, 2024 to November 11, 2024. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on November 11, 2024.

Who May Apply
 
  • This position is open to the public.
  • Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
  • Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
  • The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
  • This position may not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing 
 
  • The Analytics Division provides research, analysis, and visualization support to ongoing audits, inspections, and investigations. The team conducts data projects to evaluate the reliability of information and identify potential fraud. The team also integrates analytics into key OIG processes to facilitate data-driven decisions. Other roles in the analytics division include a data science lead, data scientists, and system administrators. OIG data analysts must be collaborative team players. OIG data analysts receive data product requests from customers within the OIG, produce reports and visualizations, escalate tool requests to data scientists, request support from system administrators, and manage information flows between the analytics division and customers.  
  • OIG data analysts are responsible for conducting data quality reviews, performing data modeling and descriptive analytics, and creating visualizations to support ongoing audits, inspections, investigations, and special reviews to facilitate data-driven decisions, and/or for the identification of potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement at the NRO. Work efforts require the use of state of the art knowledge discovery techniques, scientific computing, programming, and mathematics and may include design work as well.
  • OIG data analysts are the front-line interface between the analytics division with the rest of the OIG divisions and have a responsibility to represent the division with the highest level of discretion and professionalism. This demands a high level of customer service, great communication skills, the ability to identify customer needs at the source, research skills, solution identification and generation, fast product delivery, escalation of problematic themes to the lead data scientist, and attention to detail in addition to data analytics technical skills.  

What You Need 
 
  • 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 a 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.
  • Demonstrated experience as a data analyst or business data analyst.
  • Significant experience transforming qualitative information into quantitative data.
  • Significant experience utilizing simple and complex data mining, data cleansing and statistical analysis to solve data questions and visualization issues.
  • Significant experience cleaning and managing data.
  • Significant experience identifying existing data gaps and providing associated recommendations for enhancing data collection and architecture.
  • Significant experience collaborating with cross-organizational subject matter experts to implement recommendations.
  • Significant experience identifying solutions to data questions and visualization issues, facilitating the creation and capture of data by non-data experts and providing solutions without complicating the data creation process.

Highly Desired 
 
  • Working knowledge of NRO missions, programs, and management processes.
  • Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas: data analytics, business intelligence, computer programming or data engineering.
  • Demonstrated experience in descriptive data modeling and advanced visualization creating using software such as Tableau, Python, or D3.
  • Experience with relational databases such as SQL.
  • Experience with unstructured and semi-structured data sources.
  • Bachelor’s Degree or advanced certification from an accredited university in data science, computer science, information technology, or related disciplines and 4-5 years of progressively responsible experience. 
  • Master’s Degree or advanced certifications from an accredited university in data science, computer science, information technology, or other related disciplines and 3-4 years of progressively responsible experience. 
  • Comprehensive knowledge of Intelligence Community laws, principles, and practices.

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume. 

Other Information
 
  • Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
  • Travel Statement: MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
  • Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
  • Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 24 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.
  • Geographic Mobility Agreement: MAY be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
  • Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
  • Emergency Essential: Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location

Chantilly, VA, 20151

Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).

Salary


This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security’s (OUSD(I&S)).  Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay. Otherwise, Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale. For more information on STEM pay, visit https://dcips.defense.gov/Human-Resources/Compensation/

2024 STEM salary range:

GG-11: $102,477 – $133,216. 

GG-12: $114,639 – $149,026. 

**This position is a Full Performance level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current federal government employees for this position. To qualify for the position, federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG – 11/12 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.

Hiring Incentives

The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period

All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans’ Preference

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans’ Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:
  • An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
  • An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
  • An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.


You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to [email protected].

Privacy Act Notice

Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974 

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