Summary The internship is designed to provide students with opportunities to work in and explore careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in the civil service. Responsibilities This position is an Excepted Service appointment in the Office of Planning, Analysis and Risk Management (OPARM). OPARM leads FSIS efforts related to strategic planning and evaluation, data analysis and advanced analytics, data science and enterprise risk management, and internal controls. As a Student Trainee (Mathematical Statistician), your duties will include, but are not limited to the following: Using statistical (including data science), data visualization and other software applications or tools to query and analyze data, draw conclusions, and make recommendations with respect to existing policies and planned initiatives. Expressing ideas and concepts orally and in writing, and by numeric and graphic means, to support the coordination and tracking of data analysis activities. Reviewing, analyzing, monitoring, visualizing, and interpreting public health and operational data. Performing quality checks to assess consistency of data reporting across program areas. Tracking project activities, tasks, and status to ensure data and performance-related deliverables are properly monitored, completed, and communicated. Performing other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, you must meet BOTH the (1) Pathway Internship Eligibility requirements as well as (2) the minimum Qualifications for the position: (1) To Be Eligible For An Appointment Under The Internship Program You Must Meet The Following Requirement: Student applicants must be accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled. Student Trainees must be in good academic standing, as defined by the institution they are attending. Generally at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) for undergraduate programs (cumulative; no rounding) and a 3.0 GPA for advanced degree programs. Individuals must meet the definition of a student throughout the duration of their Internship appointment. (*NOTE: Certificate Program: This term is defined, in 5 CFR 362.102, and means postsecondary education in a qualifying educational institution equivalent to at least 1 academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.) (2) To Qualify at the GS-07 Grade Level: Successful completion of 1 full academic year of graduate level education OR Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) after completing a bachelor's degree. S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. 1. Class standing. Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. 2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.). Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Note: Grade-point averages will be rounded to one decimal place. 3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed below. These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies: https://www.achshonor.org/. Agencies considering eligibility based on any society not included in the following list must ensure that the honor society meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. If you are a student veteran, complete the questionnaire and submit documentation: DD-214, VA Letter, SF-15 if claiming 10-point Veterans' preference or DD-214 if claiming 5-point preference or VEOA eligibility (separated under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous service). PROGRAM COMPLETION: This is an indefinite appointment. Upon successful completion of the program and at the agency's discretion, the appointee may be non-competitively converted to a term or career or career-conditional appointment, upon conversion this position has a full performance level of GS-12 depending on available vacancies. The anticipated position may change based on the needs of the organization. Interns must qualify and meet the individual occupational requirements for the position. Service in the Pathways Program confers no right to further employment in either the competitive or excepted service. An agency wishing to convert a student must therefore execute the required action to do so within 180 days of successful completion of the degree and program requirements. CONVERSION FROM STUDENT TRAINEE: Prior to conversion to a term or career or career conditional appointment, Student Trainees must satisfactorily complete all training, program, and educational requirements. Be a U.S. citizen. Successfully complete academic course of study. Complete a minimum of 480 hours of work experience under the Internship Program. Complete 40 hours of mandatory AgLearn Training. Meet the OPM Qualification Standard for the anticipated position the Intern may be converted to. GS-1529/1550/1560 - 09, 11, 12 Interdisciplinary (target grade GS-12). Maintain acceptable performance under the agency's approved performance management system. Receive favorable recommendation for conversion from supervisor. SPECIFIC COURSE WORK: To be eligible and to qualify for a conversion to a term or career or career-conditional appointment, Student Trainees must meet academic degrees and course requirements for that particular series. See OPM Qualification standards for each series by clicking the links below: Mathematical Statistics Series, 1529 Computer Science Series, 1550 Data Science Series, 1560 Education Using Education To Qualify: To use your education as a basis for meeting the Minimum Qualification Requirements (MQR) for this position, you MUST submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the MQR, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken to receive credit for that course work. See the "Qualifications" section of this announcement for more details. COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS: You MUST submit a copy of your college transcripts: Your Field of Study School Name Student's Name Current GPA or Academic Standing Past and Current Course Work Degree Program Major/Concentration An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if selected, an official college transcript will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, candidates are to ensure these requirements are met. If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation demonstrating that you meet the eligibility and MQR for this position, your application will be deemed incomplete & any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. Visit here for a database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information or you will be ineligible for further consideration. Additional Information If you are selected, you will need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine suitability for federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds for disciplinary action, including removal from federal service. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. See more information at: CHCO Council. Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: Reasonable Accommodations Selectees may be eligible for Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA). Please click Veterans Policy for further information about veteran specific hiring options. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.