State Department Using Streamlined Process to Hire 50 Data Scientists
In a hiring announcement issued last week, the State Department announced its intentions to hire at least 50 data scientists within the next year through a streamlined assessment-based application process. Through a system referred to as Subject Matter Expert Qualification Assessment (SMEQA), the State Department hopes to build off the governmentwide data scientist hiring efforts last year, which yielded 30 new hires.
“This vehicle uses SMEQA—it essentially flips federal hiring on its head by requiring a skills assessment. There is a combo of resume review and skills evaluation, which if you pass, places you on a certificate across the entire agency,” commented Garrett Berntsen, the department’s Deputy Chief Data Officer.
Qualified applicants will use the SMEQA to become certified for employment at the subcomponent of their choice. The skills assessment evaluates different data science skills and techniques, aligning with what an experienced data scientist would encounter in the private sector. Then, experts will determine applicant viability through condensed resumes, a written assessment, a multiple-choice questionnaire with some technical questions, and structured interviews. Hiring managers throughout the department will interview candidates who advance through these steps.
The hiring initiative will move to the next phase after 250 candidates have applied. The application deadline is April 28. Experienced private sector hires may not incur a salary cut if they fall within the General Schedule (GS) levels 13 and 14 bands between $106,823 and $164,102.
“It’s an easier process for applicants, especially those unfamiliar with applying to federal government jobs typically, and we tend to get a higher number of candidates through the process that are actually good fits,” noted Joel Nantais, the department’s Chief Data Scientist.
Eighteen offices and bureaus are part of the initiative, allowing data scientists to work on various projects depending on their assigned division. According to Nantais, the department generally tasks new hires to meet data strategy goals, including initiative development and workforce data analysis.
The State Department intends to make several immediate hires; however, hiring managers will refer those who didn’t receive an offer to similar vacancies across the department.
