Data.gov - Open Data Specialist

Solutions is hiring for GS-15 - Open Data Specialist. This page contains information related to the role as well as a link to submit your application. Check out Join TTS Hiring Process to learn more about the application process. Please note we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis so we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible for consideration.

Location: Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Virtual (100% Remote)

Salary Range: The base salary range for this position is: GS-15 Step 1 - $109,366 to GS-15 Step 10 $142,180

The base salary range does not include any adjustment for locality. Your locality will be determined by where you live since most of our positions are remote. If the position isn’t remote, then your locality will be determined by the location of the office where the position is based.

You can find more information about this in the compensation and benefits section on our site.

For specific details on locality pay, please visit OPM’s Salaries & Wages page or for a salary calculator OPM’s 2020 General Schedule (GS) Salary Calculator.

Please note the maximum salary available for the GS pay system is $170,800

Note: You may not be eligible for the maximum salary as it is locality dependent. Please refer to the maximum pay for your locality.

Who May Apply: All United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Islands).

Role Summary:

Open Data Specialist - GS-15

The Federal Government collects and maintains data that affect everyone’s lives. In the last decade, the government has put substantial effort into making that data open by default, so that it can be used to inform decisions on topics such as national health, education, and transportation; fuel new and existing businesses; and support academic research. The government has made substantial progress towards opening its data through statutes and policies such as the OPEN Government Data Act and the Federal Data Strategy.

Data.gov is the central catalog of federal data and a focus of this effort. Data.gov is seeking an Open Data Specialist to elevate these efforts and serve as a leader in the federal community, working with federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget to head initiatives to collect and publish data standards, develop a repository of tools and guidance (resources.data.gov), and expand the reach of open data through stakeholder engagement and by communicating its impact to the growing federal open data community. The Open Data Specialist will also guide the efforts to modernize Data.gov’s systems and ensure that sharing data happens securely and in accordance with information security requirements.

The Open Data Specialist will serve the Data.gov program, which is part of the Data and Analytics Portfolio of the Office of Solutions, Technology Transformation Services, Federal Acquisition Service, in the U.S. General Services Administration. This position will be the lead on a number of government- wide open data efforts including expanding the reach and impact of Data.gov and direct high profile data initiatives under the OPEN Government Data Act and the Federal Data Strategy. The Open Data Specialist will coordinate with federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget, and serve as a subject matter expert on data issues. The Open Data Specialist will also provide advice and guidance on the information security aspects of modernizing Data.gov systems and products.

Key Objectives

Key objective #1: You will lead the work with federal agencies to expand their efforts on open data and adopting data standards.

• Lead applicable actions under the OPEN Government Data Act and Federal Data Strategy including updating federal metadata standards, coordinating on data standards, and building a repository of open data tools and guidance
• Serve as subject matter expert in working with federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget
• Serve as the lead on a number of high profile efforts on federal data, in coordination with federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget
• Lead projects under the OPEN Government Data Act and Federal Data Strategy
• Coordinate efforts to update metadata schemas applicable to federal datasets while leveraging existing industry standards
• Lead on collecting and publishing data standards
• Work with OMB and Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) to develop resources.data.gov

Key objective #2: You will expand the impact of Data.gov.

• Work with federal agencies and their Chief Data Officers to add new agencies and datasets to Data.gov
• Work with agencies to expand the reach and impact of their datasets
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement with data users to improve discoverability and usability
• Expand the impact of agency datasets by increasing the visibility and usage of Data.gov
• Research usage of federal data in research and business to communicate this impact

Key objective #3: You will apply your skills to open data implementation efforts and provide advice and guidance on information security.

• Serve as IT Security advisor on data.gov modernization efforts
• Provide guidance on information security considerations of improvements to the Data.gov site.
• Identify opportunities and find solutions to information security issues affecting Data.gov products and services
• Understand modern software development tools and practices including front end and back end development, database management, web APIs, and agile development.

Basic Information

Location: Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Virtual (100% Remote)

Salary Range: Base salary GS-15 - $109,366 to $142,180

If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected. Total compensation may include locality pay based on the individual’s duty location. For more salary information including locality pay details, please visit OPM’s Salaries & Wages page.

Who May Apply: All United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Islands) and applicants must not be GSA employees or contractors

Job announcement number: tbd

Opening and closing period for this job application: TBD EDT to TBD EDT

Job Title: IT Specialist

Series & Grade: 2210 - 15

Promotion Potential: GS-15

Number of vacancies: 1 (Additional vacancies may be filled from this announcement as needed)

Supervisory status: NO

Travel requirement: Occasional travel may be required up to 10%-20% per year

Security clearance: Public trust. Background investigation required.

Work Schedule: Full time

Appointment Type: Excepted Service: Not to exceed 24 months (2 years); may be extended for an additional 2 years for a maximum of 4 years total.

Job Summary

This is a Schedule A position under 5 CFR 213.3102(r) to hire unique technical skills to develop innovative digital tools and services in the Excepted Services, US Digital Service 18F Fellowship Program. The 18F office is charged with developing innovative digital tools and services and uses lean startup and agile development principles to collaborate with other agencies to fix technical problems, build products, and improve how government serves the public through technology.

As an Innovation Specialist, the team member serves the government and makes an impact on a massive scale. The position requires that fellows perform work of an exceptional degree of difficulty across a wide range of topics at the convergence of technology, policy, and delivery. The incumbent leverages their experience deploying high quality, user centric platforms and services to lead major initiatives, consult on systems and policy proposal, and provide technical, policy, and programmatic guidance to government.

This position is located within the General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Technology Transformation Service (TTS).

GSA has been repeatedly named as one of the ‘Best Places to Work’ in the federal government. You will have access to many benefits including:

• Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
• Life insurance coverage with several options
• Sick leave and vacation time, including 10 paid holidays per year
• Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
• Flexible work schedules and telework
• Transit and child care subsidies
• Training and development
• Flexible spending accounts
• Long-term care insurance
• Training and development

Key Requirements

1. You must be a U.S. Citizen or National (residents of American Samoa and Swains Islands)
2. Suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation
3. You may be required to serve a trial period
4. Direct Deposit of salary check to financial organization required
5. Register with Selective Service, if you are required by https://www.sss.gov/Registration-Info/Who-Registration

Employment Requirements

• Serve a one year trial period, if required
• Undergo and pass a background investigation. You must be granted this clearance before you can start the job
• Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this
• Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment
• Complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position

Duties

Typical duties for the fellow include but are not limited to: Conceiving/recommending projects/studies to advance the state of the art in the specialty area; applying forward­ thinking design and development principles to product or services development, delivery and program management, such as lean startup, user­centered design, and agile development; Analyzing and scoping the technical and policy requirements needed to implement complex digital solutions; Assessing the state of digital services provided by the Federal Government, and working to align strategies and practice; conferring with key government/private officials and top experts in the field, representing the agency at technical symposia and/or conferences; Developing authoritative papers/reports; developing and leading adoption of government­wide standards for digital services, leading to their adoption across citizen and business­facing government services; Demonstrating thought leadership and contributing best practices in a variety of technologies and principles; Contributing to a talent strategy that includes recruiting innovators and entrepreneurs to participate in solving complex and esoteric challenges.

Evaluation

We will use a method called Category Rating to assess your application.

Here’s how it will work:

You will be scored based on a review of your application materials, measuring your possession of each of the following competencies

• Software Engineering Technical Experience: Deliver technical solutions and products using software engineering technology
• Software Engineering Practices: Deliver innovative technical solutions and products using established engineering best practices
• Communication: Communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, particularly in consulting scenarios, to establish a shared vision and understanding of a project’s technical implementation, objectives and goals
• Technical Strategy: Advising on technical strategy, agile development, software tools, and technical architecture
• TTS Core Values Alignment: Working with integrity, transparency and resiliency in civic minded or high impact environment

If found to be eligible and at least minimally qualified for the position, your score will be used to place you in a category (Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified).

If your resume does not support your possession of the competencies listed above, we may lower your score, which could place you in a lower category.

Within each category, veterans will receive selection priority over non-veterans if supported by appropriate documentation.

Qualifications

All applications will be reviewed by a panel of subject matter experts against a scoring rubric created for this role. In order to properly be able to evaluate your previous experience, we recommend being as detailed as possible in your resume and following our general guidance on creating federal style resume.

To qualify for this role, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is:

1. Extensive experience in government open data efforts, data management, data and metadata standards, data usage and impact, and related policy issues

2. Expertise in coordinating government-wide initiatives and implementing federal policies

3. Demonstrated skill and experience in directing efforts to deliver improvements in website design and performance

4. Knowledge and experience in information technology security requirements applicable to federal government websites and applying skills to secure operations of federal websites

Qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, so failure to provide this information may result in disqualification.

For each job on your resume, provide:

• the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year or “present”)
• number of hours per week you worked (if part time)

Next Steps

After the closing date/deadline:

1. ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Applicant eligibility and qualifications are reviewed.
2. REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: Eligible/Qualified applicants are referred to management for review and possible interview.
3. SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If a selection is made, a Tentative Offer is extended to the selectee and suitability and/or security background investigation is conducted.
4. FINAL JOB OFFER: A final job offer is made (typically within 40 days after the closing date/deadline for applications).
5. FINAL COMMUNICATION TO APPLICANTS: Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status. You may check your status by logging into USAJOBS. Go to My USAJOBS and then to Applications.