OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYST - Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Summary This position is being filled under DoD Direct-Hire Auth (Certain DoD Personnel), PL 118-31, Sec 1250B(i)(2), 12/22/2023. This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Responsibilities This position is being filled under the memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) "Expansion of Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense," dated 12/22/2023. As an OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYST at the GS-1515-12/13/14 some of your typical work assignments may include: Serves an Operations Research/Systems Analyst (ORSA) in the Operations Research Branch. Provides general operations research capability to inform a range of organizational business and military operations-related executive decisions, both internal and external to DTRA. Formulates and structures ill-defined problems with limited available data into executable tasks, research designs and study methods. Applies objective, analytical, and critical thinking to the analysis of complex problems, and supports this analysis with the application of the full suite of statistical tools and methods. Develops methods to visualize and communicate analysis and associated results. Serves as an expert in all aspects of analytic techniques and methods; develops metrics to quantify structures within an analytic problem. Develops innovative methodologies for evaluating problem solution options by providing expert input to test and experiment designs, determining measures of effectiveness, applying risk analysis, analyzing empirical data, and obtaining objective data for issue decisions, studies, course-of-action comparisons, analytic models and war games. Applies mastery level skills of commonly available mathematical, statistical, analysis, and research tools to conceptualize, formulate and employ unique methods to develop solutions to complex operational problems in support of DTRA missions. Supports the Branch by serving as ad hoc team leader or member for specific analysis projects. Assures quality of work accomplished, taking appropriate steps to ensure excellence of analysis planning, data collection, and reporting. Participates in organizational leadership meetings addressing DTRA processes. Develops and maintains a network of contacts throughout DTRA and deployed forces in order to maximize available data and analysis in support of studies. Prepares written and oral summaries of branch operations. Develops analytical and technical input to work plans and reports. Formulates problems and designs research and study methods. Conducts and supervises collection and analyses of qualitative and quantitative data relating to complex military organizational and operational situations. Coordinates with DTRA, in-theater analysts, and data collection teams to develop plans. Conducts data analysis using basic ORSA tools and techniques such as statistical inference, data mining, modeling, mathematical programming and simulations to contribute to informing DTRA decisions. Summarizes, synthesizes, and clearly communicates complex analyses in simplified, operational terms. Develops, presents and defends written analysis reports within DTRA and to senior Department officials and leadership. Develops and exploits modeling and simulation (M&S) solutions as appropriate for assessing effectiveness of DTRA programs. Plans, evaluates, coordinates, and integrates ORSA-related actions with other staff elements and functions. Reviews completed products for quality, accuracy and completeness. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1515 series. Degree: Operations Research; or at least 24 semester hours in a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic, science, or subject-matter courses requiring substantial competence in college-level mathematics or statistics. At least 3 of the 24 semester hours must have been in calculus. *NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position. You may qualify at the GS-14, if you fulfill the following qualifications: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service: Experience with a broad area of classical and modern analytic techniques sufficient to receive recognition as an authority in a particular specialty. Experience with program operations in order to serve as a consultant and technical advisor to senior subject matter specialists and/or agency officials. Experience with policy and regulation in order to act as the authoritative source of technical input to publications or other documents that are the basis for formulating public policy. Experience with system and component performance and technical characteristics in order to execute and control projects that represent an important segment of the agency's operating programs and/or projects; complete assignments that involve initiating, applying, and planning major developmental studies; and provide significant and innovative recommendations for advancing programs and/or methods. Experience with the Department of Defense procedures and policies in general and specifically war fighting concepts and doctrine. OR You may qualify at the GS-13, if you fulfill the following qualifications: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service: Experience assisting with a broad area of classical and modern advanced analytic methods and techniques sufficient to receive recognition as an authority in a particular specialty. Experience assisting with program operations in order to serve as a consultant and technical advisor to subject matter specialists and/or agency officials. Experience assisting with policy and regulation in order to act as an authoritative source of technical input to publications or other documents that are the basis for formulating public policy. Experience assisting with system and component performance and technical characteristics in order to execute and control projects that represent an important segment of the agency's operating programs and/or projects; complete assignments that involve initiating, applying, and planning major developmental studies; and provide significant and innovative recommendations for advancing programs and/or methods. Experience assisting with the Department of Defense procedures and policies in general and specifically war fighting concepts and doctrine. OR You may qualify at the GS-12, if you fulfill the following qualifications: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service: Limited experience with a broad area of classical and modern advanced analytic methods and techniques sufficient to receive recognition as an authority in a particular specialty. Limited experience with program operations in order to serve as a consultant and technical advisor to subject matter specialists and/or agency officials. Limited experience assisting with policy and regulation in order to act as an authoritative source of technical input to publications or other documents that are the basis for formulating public policy. Limited experience with the Department of Defense procedures and policies in general and specifically war fighting concepts and doctrine. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for the GS-12,GS-13 and GS-14 grade levels. ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses. Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable. When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities. For further information, visit: Foreign Education Additional Information Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements: Persons with Disabilities - Schedule A Special Hiring Authority for Veterans Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses Other Special Appointment Authorities - Subpart F Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/register/) The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision. NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy. Selective Service Requirement: Please visit http://www.sss.gov for more information. For more information, please visit https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d Other Notes: Subject to pre-employment drug testing and periodic random drug testing thereafter. Travel in the performance of temporary assignments may be required up to 25% of duty time (CONUS/OCONUS). May be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays. Overtime/compensatory time may be required. Valid Passport Required. RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES/DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement. Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).