Fwd: USGS Water is Hiring for Data Scientists
Alison Appling
Note the short application window (March 15-19), informational webinars March 12th and 15th, and the links to blog posts on navigating the confusing process of applying for federal jobs.
Please reach out to Jordan Read (he/him) at jr...@usgs.gov with any of your questions.
Want to be a data scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey? We’ll be hiring for several data scientist, machine learning specialist, and product manager positions soon.
Apply online at USA Jobs, accepting applications March 15-19th.
Details about the jobs and application process are in our blog post about Spring 2021 Hiring.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Transparency
The federal hiring process is complex, but we don’t want that to be the reason you don’t apply. We are committed to inclusive hiring practices that build a healthy workplace where diversity is our strength and everyone has the support they need to succeed. That starts right now, with us lifting the veil on the confusing process of applying for federal jobs. We especially encourage you to apply if you are BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, have a disability, or are of any marginalized identity. Please read below for details on how the application process works, and follow us on Twitter at USGS_DataSci for updates.
About Us
The USGS Water Mission Area has the goal of improving prediction of the nation’s water availability and water quality, as well as managing all the modeling and data challenges that go along with this kind of massive effort. Read more about what we’re up to on our blog post about USGS Water Data Science in 2021 by Data Science Branch Chief Jordan Read (who is also the hiring manager for several of these positions).
The Positions
This will be a cluster hire, which means that several positions will be opening across the Data Science Branch, the Analysis and Prediction Branch, and the Web Communications Branch. The exact details for each position are yet to be finalized, but they’ll be posted on USA Jobs (and we’ll post them on the USGS_DataSci Twitter account) as soon as they are public. But generally, the positions will be:
- Data Scientist (a few located at the National Water Center in Tuscaloosa, AL, plus a few remote)
- Machine Learning Specialists (a few at the NWC, a few remote)
- Water Information Product Manager (remote)
Pay – Salary bands are started at the Nation-wide GS Base Pay Scale and then adjusted for location. To find what salary band you’d be looking at, search “GS 2021 Salary Table + {{ Your location }}” and look at Grades 11 and 12. The “steps” in each grade are intermediate performance-based pay increases between grades.
Benefits – All federal positions come with health and life insurance, 5% retirement match, 10 federal holidays, 13 sick days + 13 vacation days per year, paid parental leave, and accrual of federal service to count towards a pension..
Common Snags in the Application Process
The job closed before you applied – Please plan ahead, ask questions now, and prepare your application materials!
Your application package is missing documents - Please double check before submitting, and frequently log back in to your USA Jobs account to see if HR has flagged any missing documents.
Your specialized experience wasn’t clear to HR – Be explicit about how your skills and experience qualify you for the job, even if you have nontraditional experiences. Don’t be afraid to elaborate as much as you need to. And don’t be modest! This is where a lot of great candidates get blocked, and we want you to make it through.
Questions?
Please reach out to Jordan Read (jr...@usgs.gov, he/him), Tweet at us at @USGS_DataSci, or attend one of our informational webinars.
- Informational Session 1: March 12th at 1pm EST on MS Teams. Join at: bit.ly/3uWjqt9
- Informational Session 2: March 15th at 1:30pm EST on MS Teams.
Join at:
bit.ly/3kLVsfz