Chief Statistician/Statistical and Science and Policy Branch

The Chief Statistician of the United States provides the vision and motivation to guide quality and innovation in the Federal Statistical System (FSS), including embracing the opportunities presented by the rapid increase in the types and volume of data available inside and outside of government. This individual also serves as the Branch Chief for Statistical and Science Policy, and is the Senior Executive responsible for ensuring the quality, relevance, and timeliness of Federal statistics while maximizing the effectiveness of the (FSS). The Chief Statistician/Branch Chief represents the U.S. as a member of the United Nations Statistical Commission, the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy, and similar international statistical bodies. As Chief of the Statistical and Science Policy Branch of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, they manage a unit of professional staff engaged in evaluating statistical program performance and agency compliance with government-wide principles and standards for information used in evidence-based regulatory and other government policy. The incumbent represents OMB in major interagency efforts and must demonstrate initiative and creativity in developing, managing, and delivering high-quality staff work to OMB policy officials and to other senior White House officials. Specifically, this position plays a key leadership role in governmentwide data policy priorities through the implementation of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, including serving as the chair of the Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building. This position also helps to lead the efforts, though serving as the co-chair of the Equitable Data Working Group, to expand and refine the data available to the Federal Government to measure equity and capture the diversity of the American people, while appropriately protecting privacy and confidentiality.

As a Chief Statistician, some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Pursuant the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and predecessor laws, develops long-range plans for the improved performance of Federal statistical activities and programs.
• Coordinates, through the review of budget proposals and otherwise, the statistical functions of the Federal Government with respect to gathering, interpreting, and disseminating statistics and statistical information that are carried out in more than 100 agencies.
• Represents the U.S. as a member of the United Nations Statistical Commission, the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy, and similar international statistical bodies; ensures participation by U.S. technical experts on working parties developing international statistical standards; and coordinates U.S reporting of data to international organizations.
• Pursuant to the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, provides leadership in Federal statistical activities and programs to meet the promise of evidence-based policymaking, including developing and executing policy in areas such as maintaining the trust and integrity of the statistical system, ensuring data quality and confidentiality, attaining and providing data access, and leading interagency data governance. Responsibilities include serving as the chair of the Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building.
• Pursuant to the Information Quality Act, develops and implements government-wide policies, principles, standards, and guidelines for ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information (including statistical information) disseminated by Federal agencies.
• Pursuant to the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act, coordinates and oversees the confidentiality and disclosure policies and practices of the affected agencies and information collections.
• Ensures that the Federal Statistical System is positioned to meet the increasing demand for more timely information. and evaluates statistical program performance and agency compliance with government-wide policies, principles, standards, and guidelines.
• Helps to implement key Administration data policy priorities, including working as co-chair of the Equitable Data Working Group, in partnership with the United States Chief Technology Officer, to expand and refine the data available to the Federal Government to measure equity and capture the diversity of the American people, while appropriately protecting privacy and confidentiality.
• Forges collaborative relationships with peer executives in the Executive Office of the President.
• Supervises, as Chief, Statistical and Science Policy Branch, a professional staff comprising of senior scientists and statisticians who assist with the implementation of the Federal Statistical Program.
• Coordinates the development of responses to Congressional mail or substantive and highly complex issues or legislation.
• Represents OIRA in interagency and public forums.

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