Operations Research Analyst

Summary

Salary Ranges are the following unless statutory/regulatory rates prevail.

For the Redstone Arsenal, AL Location: $130,987 to $197,200

For the Fort Belvoir, VA and/or Dahlgren Location: $143,913 to $197,200

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

This position is part of the Department of War (DoW), Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The incumbent will be responsible for serving as an Operations Research Analyst, and/or non-supervisory Cost Manager, in the Cost Estimating Directorate, providing a full range of cost estimating and analysis services for MDA program elements (matrixed) and MDA Cost Core (non-matrixed).

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Acq Demo Business and Technical Management to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

As an Operations Research Analyst at the NH-1515-4 broadband level, some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Serve as the principal cost estimating expert for the program/team, providing authoritative guidance and analysis to program/organization leadership.
• Lead, develop, document, update, and deliver life-cycle cost estimates (LCCEs) and cost analysis to inform decision-making, program planning, resource allocation, and acquisition/contract efforts for MDA programs and initiatives.
• Ensure cost estimates and analysis comply with Department and MDA directives, standards, templates, and procedures for preparing, documenting, and presenting reliable cost estimates.
• Lead and ensure the uniform collection and reporting of cost, technical, and programmatic data across programs and contracts, consistent with statutory requirements.
• Lead research efforts to advance cost and schedule estimating methodologies for the organization/program/team, addressing issues unique to complex missile defense technologies and rapid acquisition. Lead, develop, apply, and document appropriate cost estimating and analysis methodologies, utilizing techniques such as linear and non-linear regression to determine cost estimating relationships (CERs).
• Lead, prepare, document, and present cost estimates, cost analysis, cost studies, excursions, and recommendations to customers and stakeholders. Lead, support, and review Congressional Request for Information (RFI) responses and statutory and oversight requirements including GAO audits.
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Occasional Travel
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: Maxi Flex
• Recruitment Incentives: Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees based on agency policy and availability.
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is (list from PARF/notepad) telework eligible.
• This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.
• This is a drug testing designated position.
• Employee must obtain/maintain Non-critical Sensitive/Secret security clearance
• This is an acquisition position coded Advanced in Business, Cost Estimating. Incumbent must obtain mandatory Back-to-Basics (BtB) certification within 48 months of entry into position
• Incumbent must acquire 80 Continuous Learning Points every 24 months

Qualifications

You may qualify at the NH-04 Broadband Level, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-03/GS-13 grade level in the Federal service as listed below and must meet 3 of the 5 specialized experience listed below to be qualified:

• Experience in cost estimating and analysis policy, processes, techniques, modeling, and tools to predict the cost of a future program, project, or operation to support decision-making, program planning, resource allocation, and acquisition/contract efforts.
• Experience in data collection, validation, cleaning, and storage techniques to enable future use of data in cost estimates and analysis.
• Experience in conducting research, evaluating complex data, identifying trends, performing quantitative and qualitative analysis including linear and non-linear regression, quantifying uncertainty, and generating data-driven recommendations.
• Experience developing credible, accurate, comprehensive, and documented Life Cycle Cost Estimates (LCCEs), Program Office Estimates (POEs), and/or Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs).
• Experience preparing and presenting cost estimates and analysis, including results and recommendations, to customers and stakeholders.

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.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1515, series as listed below:

Degree : in 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.

Evaluation of Education:

The primary requirement of operations research work is competence in the rigorous methods of scientific inquiry and analysis rather than in the subject matter of the problem. Therefore, applicants should have sufficient knowledge of applied mathematics to understand and use the fundamental concepts and techniques of operations research methods of analysis. In addition, some positions may require knowledge of a specific subject area.

Courses acceptable for qualifying for operations research positions may have been taken in departments other than Operations Research, e.g., Engineering (usually Industrial Engineering), Science, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Management Science.

The following are illustrative of acceptable courses: optimization; mathematical modeling; queueing theory; engineering; physics (except descriptive or survey courses); econometrics; psychometrics; biometrics; experimental psychology; physical chemistry; industrial process analysis; managerial economics; computer science; measurement for management; mathematical models in social phenomena; and courses that involved application of operations research techniques and methodologies to problems of management, marketing, systems design, and other specialized fields; or other comparable quantitative analysis courses for which college-level mathematics or statistics is a prerequisite. Courses in theory of probability and statistics are highly desirable, but are not specified as minimum educational requirements because to do so would possibly exclude some applicants who would otherwise be well qualified.

NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Other Notes:

• DAWIA (Back to Basics) Certification: NON-CAP: Position requires DoD Acquisition Business, Cost Estimating, Advanced certification. Certification prior to hiring is not essential but must be accomplished within 48 months after entry into this position. Selectee must also achieve 80 hours of Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) every 2 years. Click here for more details and Resources.

RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at:

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov))

This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.

You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.