Data Scientist

Job Summary

The Data Scientist position is located in the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), within the Innovation and Performance Division (IPD). DDOT’s mission is to provide a safe, sustainable, and reliable multimodal transportation system that serves all residents and visitors of the District of Columbia fairly. The IPD guides the agency in using data-driven methods for process improvement, decision-making, and fostering innovation.

Data Scientists in these roles will use a variety of data engineering, analytics, and visualization techniques to monitor transportation asset conditions, support informed decisions, and improve project and program communication. These jobs demand strong technical expertise in Python, Tableau, ESRI ArcGIS, or a combination of them, as well as excellent communication abilities, a robust project management mindset, and a commitment to taking full responsibility for their work.

Duties and Responsibilities

Contributes to data science activities that provide insight into and support priority goals for DDOT by obtaining, merging, reshaping, cleaning, and evaluating the quality of datasets and automating data pulls, manipulations, and other rote activities to enable efficient team and agency operations. Uses descriptive statistics, predictive analytics, machine learning, and other methods to learn about the patterns and relations within a dataset. Uses inferential statistics to learn about the causal relations between variables in a dataset, including randomized field evaluations. Creates intuitive and compelling graphics to visualize and think about data.

Ensures that work product adheres to methodological and open science best practices. Creates data dictionaries, annotated code, and similar materials to ensure the work product is as open and reproducible as possible. Plans and organizes data science assignments with some oversight from supervisor; and informs supervisor of issues or problems encountered. Identifies and works with others to navigate through ambiguity and project challenges. Proactively provides ideas and critical feedback—as well as being open to such constructive dialogue.

Qualifications and Education

Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

or 

Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

or

Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

Preferred experience in data science, engineering, statistics, or a related field.

Experience with Tableau, GIS, Microsoft Office Suite, Python/R, SQL, and interpreting statistical methods strongly preferred. A successful candidate should also have excellent communication skills, including the ability to write briefing memos and reports, deliver presentations, and facilitate effective meetings. An ideal candidate will display strong project management skills and deep expertise with data analysis and visualization. 

Work Environment 

The work is performed in the normal office setting and in the field when investigating and analyzing street conditions. Field work may bring the incumbent to construction sites and in contact with construction materials (soils, concrete, asphalt, steel, etc.). 

Other Significant Facts 

Tour of Duty: Varies 

Pay Plan, Series and Grade: CS-0101-12

Promotional Potential: No known promotion potential 

Type of Appointment: Career Service – Term Appt  

Collective Bargaining Unit: (Non-Union): This position is not in a collective bargaining unit  

Position Designation: The incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability - Security Sensitive.  Accordingly, the incumbent will be subject to pre-employment checks (criminal background checks, consumer credit check, traffic record checks, if applicable) as a condition of employment, and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks for the duration of your tenure. 

Emergency Designation: This position has been designated as an emergency employee position under the provisions of District Personnel Manual, Chapter 12. As such, your services may be required in emergency situations to perform crucial duties, i.e., snow removal, debris removal, transportation, shelter operation, food distribution, and communications. These duties may be performed when the government is closed or when most employees are dismissed early. Employees are required to work rotating shifts, to include evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Employees are considered emergency personnel and are subject to call-in 24 hours a day and will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached. 

Applicants claiming “Residency Preference” will be required to maintain residency in the District of Columbia for a minimum of seven (7) years. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of employment.

Benefits May Include:

DDOT is an employer of choice for any job seeker who has passion, energy, and enthusiasm about our city.  Employee benefits include:

• Health and life insurance benefits and retirement benefits (More information about these benefits is available on the D.C. Department of Human Resources (DCHR) website at www.dchr.dc.gov.)
• Continued professional development, and professional growth through d.University, the in-house training available for all DDOT employees
• Flexible work schedule (team and role dependent)
• Employer assisted housing loan program, providing payment and/or closing cost financing for first-time home buyers (restrictions apply)                                

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex,  pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non-merit factor.