Data Science Advisor (DSA)

Maximus; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 99,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

MaxHP is seeking a Data Science Advisor in Tampa, FL to lead the POTFF Enterprise Data and Analytics function and advise senior leaders on research methodologies and program evaluation. The role directs Data Engineers and Data Scientists, sets the analytical agenda, and ensures sound, reproducible methods aligned with government priorities.

Responsibilities include coordinating with government data teams, delivering decision-support products, and maintaining governance and standards while

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in research methods, study design, and program evaluation.
• Advanced proficiency in Python or R and SQL; deliver models and dashboards.
• Experience leading a data science, analytics, or research team.
• Strong written and oral communication with senior leadership.
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and enterprise data governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead Enterprise Data and Analytics function and manage the analytics backlog.
• Advise enterprise leadership on research methodologies and study design.
• Design evaluations, analyses, and experiments to measure ROI of POTFF interventions.
• Maintain analytics standards, governance, and reporting frameworks.
• Coordinate with government data teams on access, standards, and platforms.

Skills

Python or R

SQL

Data science methods

Team leadership

Effective communication

Agile/Scrum

AI/ML concepts

Education

Master’s in quantitative field

Bachelor’s with relevant experience

Tools

Databricks

Apache Spark

Power BI

Palantir Foundry

Job description

Description & Requirements

MaxHP is hiring a

General information

Date

Thursday, November 5, 2026

City

Tampa

State

FL

Country

United States

Working time

Full-time

Description & Requirements

MaxHP is hiring a Data Science Advisor who leads the POTFF Enterprise Data and Analytics function and serves as the primary analytical advisor to the Enterprise POTFF Director, Domain Leads, and the Human Factors Council (HFC) on research methodologies, data collection strategies, and program evaluation. The DSA coordinates and directs the technical work of the Data Engineers, Data Scientists, and Senior Data Scientists under their purview, subject to Government direction; sets the analytical agenda in response to Government priorities; ensures that methods are sound, reproducible, and defensible; and delivers findings to Government leadership in a form suitable for decision-making. DSA billets are normally established at the USSOCOM headquarters or a principal enterprise site.

U.S. citizenship is required. Candidates must possess an active U.S. Government security clearance or be eligible to obtain and maintain a security clearance as required for contract performance.

This position is pending upon contract award.

Candidates should be willing to support POTFF Operations at one of the following locations:

Fort Walton Beach, FL; Tampa, FL; Fayetteville, NC.

At MaxHP, your expertise supports a mission that matters. As a joint venture between Maximus and Endurion, MaxHP brings together specialized capabilities and resources to support the POTFF Program, strengthening human performance, resilience, and mission readiness across the Special Operations community. Our professionals play an essential role in supporting the people behind the mission, helping Service members and their families remain strong, ready, and resilient. Here, your experience becomes part of something bigger: directly supporting those who serve at the highest levels of our Nation’s defense.

About the POTFF Program:

The Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program supports U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel and their families through an integrated, holistic approach to human performance, health, and readiness. The program brings together specialized professionals across physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and spiritual performance to strengthen resilience, optimize performance, and support long-term mission readiness and career longevity.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the lead for the Enterprise Data and Analytics function: plan, prioritize, assign, and review the work of the Data Engineers, Data Scientists, and Senior Data Scientists under their purview in response to Government-directed requirements, and manage the analytical backlog using an Agile or comparable framework.


• Serve as the primary analytical advisor to the Enterprise POTFF Director, Domain Leads, and the HFC regarding research methodologies, data collection strategies, study design, and program evaluation.


• Design and oversee Government-directed program evaluations, analyses, and experiments that measure the validity, efficacy, and Return on Investment (ROI) of POTFF interventions, and select appropriate statistical models and study designs, and ensure data quality and defensible, reproducible methodology.


• Establish and maintain the team’s analytical standards, data governance practices, reporting methodologies, and performance-measurement frameworks in coordination with Government data governance, and ensure compliance with DoW Impact Level 5 (IL5), HIPAA, Privacy Act, and applicable DoW artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) policy.


• Translate Government priorities into analytical requirements, support the strategic planning process for POTFF programs with data-driven decision support, and support the development of enterprise performance measures, executive dashboards, and readiness metrics.


• Prepare and deliver reports, briefings, and decision-support products that accurately convey findings, limitations, and recommendations to Government leadership.


• Provide consultation to supported units and POTFF staff on opportunities and methods for capturing data on POTFF programs and initiatives, and on the interpretation of analytical products.


• Coordinate with the USSOCOM Enterprise Data Team and other Government data organizations on data access, standards, and shared platforms, as directed by the Government.


• Perform advanced analysis personally when required, and maintain currency in statistical analysis, data science, AI/ML, data engineering, and visualization technologies.


• Coordinate and advise on the training and professional development of the data science personnel under their purview, subject to Government approval.

Required Minimum Experience and Skills:

• Possess a master’s degree in a quantitative discipline, including but not limited to statistics, biostatistics, mathematics, applied mathematics, data science, operations research, computer science, engineering, physics, economics or econometrics, epidemiology, geospatial science or geoinformatics, or psychology or another behavioral science with a quantitative-methods concentration, with documented coursework or professional application in statistics, programming, and quantitative analysis, or a bachelor’s degree in such a discipline with the additional experience stated under Required Minimum Experience/Skills below.


• Demonstrated expertise in research methods, study design, and program evaluation, including quantitative and qualitative methods, sufficient to design defensible evaluations and to advise senior leaders on their limitations.


• Advanced proficiency in Python or R and in SQL, and demonstrated experience delivering statistical or predictive models and decision-support products to organizational leadership.


• Demonstrated supervisory experience leading a data science, analytics, or research team, and experience running a program or project of comparable scope.


• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with senior leadership, negotiate complex issues, develop a range of alternatives when there is no single solution, and establish and maintain good working relations with stakeholders.


• Desired (not required): Experience with human performance, sports science, health, clinical, or biomedical data or research.


• Desired (not required): Agile or Scrum certification (e.g., Certified ScrumMaster, PMI Agile Certified Practitioner) or comparable training.


• Desired (not required): A doctoral degree in one of the disciplines listed above, or a history of peer-reviewed publications.


• Desired (not required): Familiarity with the Government-furnished technology stack (e.g., Databricks and Apache Spark, Power BI, Microsoft Power Platform) and with Palantir Foundry.


• With a master’s degree: minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience applying data science, statistics, or research methods to real-world problems, including at least two (2) years supervising or leading analysts.


• With a bachelor’s degree: minimum of ten (10) years of such experience, including at least two (2) years supervising or leading analysts.


• In either path, at least three (3) years must be hands‑on practice as a data scientist, statistician, or equivalent analyst personally performing the analyses, rather than supervising or advising. Degree-program work does not count toward the Data Science Advisor experience requirement.

EEO Statement

Maximus is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics.

Pay Transparency

Maximus compensation is based on various factors including but not limited to job location, a candidate's education, training, experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value analysis including seniority and merit systems, as well as internal pay alignment. Annual salary is just one component of Maximus's total compensation package. Other rewards may include short- and long-term incentives as well as program-specific awards. Additionally, Maximus provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and paid time off. Compensation ranges may differ based on contract value but will be commensurate with job duties and relevant work experience. An applicant's salary history will not be used in determining compensation. Maximus will comply with regulatory minimum wage rates and exempt salary thresholds in all instances.

Accommodations

Maximus provides reasonable accommodations to individuals requiring assistance during any phase of the employment process due to a disability, medical condition, or physical or mental impairment. If you require assistance at any stage of the employment process—including accessing job postings, completing assessments, or participating in interviews,—please contact People Operations at [e-mail].

Minimum Salary

$ 99,000.00

Maximum Salary

$ 159,000.00