Data Scientist (GIS Support), IS-1560-13

Application Deadline: 1 August 2025

Department: National Museum of Natural History

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: $120,579 - $156,755 / year

Description

OPEN DATE:  July 11, 2025                    CLOSING DATE:  August 1, 2025
POSITION TYPE:  Trust FundAPPOINTMENT TYPE:  Temporary, Not-to-Exceed 2 YearsPROMOTION POTENTIAL:  IS-13SCHEDULE:  Full TimeDUTY LOCATION:  Washington, DC 
  Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants
 
What are Trust Fund Positions?Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).  Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 

OVERVIEW

Come join a dedicated and creative team at an exceptional time for the Smithsonian, an institution with a bold vision for the future: to build a better tomorrow for all. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian’s unique complex and is one of the most visited museums in the United States.  Its mission is to promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it. NMNH has a collection of 148 million specimens and artifacts. Each one reflects a moment in space and time and in these moments, we find Earth’s story.

The National Museum of Natural History is seeking an experienced candidate to fill the position of a Data Scientist in the Informatics and Data Science Center, Research Informatics Office. The purpose of the position is to increase the capacity of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution to conduct data science and geospatial analyses, visualizations, technologies, and research.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a recognized subject matter resource for data science, geospatial visualization, data integration and interoperability, operations research, mastery of data management and data analytics or visualization whose output improves Unit’s results, research and data operations.
• Contributes to Unit data rules and approaches and advises others on appropriate data elements/sets to use for analyses. Coordinates the management and flow of data throughout its lifecycle. Organizes, stores and analyzes strategic, operational and production data. Designs, develops and maintains data clearinghouses. Improves user access to data. Uses data management tools and knowledge of best practices to control the storage, retrieval, security and integrity of Unit data. Uses web design languages to create web visualizations for user/data interfaces. Manages data sharing policy and agreements.
• Uses an advanced knowledge of programming languages to implement analytical approaches (i.e., comparative, trend, diagnostic, root cause, predictive) and analyze data sets consisting of qualitative, quantitative, structured and unstructured data types to deliver key performance information used to inform decisions, actions and communications.
• Leads the Unit in the discovery processes with internal and external teams and stakeholders to identify requirements, expected outcom