Chief Data Scientist

The position of Chief Data Scientist is in the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) has primary responsibility for information technology and information management for FSIS.

Advises on scientific issues pertaining to the development, planning, coordination, and implementation of statistical analyses of food safety and public health related to the full range of FSIS program areas.

Conducts or directs full and comprehensive data science lifecycle, data analyses and performs integration studies that require detailed knowledge of food safety and public health issues.

Cultivates and maintains contacts in the public health, food safety, data science/analytics, and scientific community, and with professional organizations and academic institutions, in an effort to complement and expand FSIS programs.

Serves as the liaison with nationally and internationally recognized authorities and organizations whose policies impact the agency’s data infrastructure, analytics, and activities in support of food safety and public health initiatives.

Supports in coordinating, evaluating, and improving the development and implementation of data analytics and the life cycle process model to support policy development and scientific policies as it relates to food safety and food defense.

Reviews and scientifically evaluates new and proposed policies, procedures, regulations, and legislation that impact data analytics integration and food defense and safety programs.

Collaborates with other Agency officials to ensure that decisions made and actions taken are fully supported by scientific and credible data and respond to the interests and needs of other programs and organizations.