Operations Research Analyst Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. 2025-14-DE Department Federal Maritime Commission
Salary $101,401.00 to $156,755.00 Grade 12 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/17/2025 Close Date 2/3/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The incumbent serves as an Operations Research Analyst (Data Scientist), reporting directly to the Director, Bureau of Trade Analysis (BTA or Bureau). BTA reviews and analyzes service contracts, monitors foreign business practices and the rates of foreign government-owned or -controlled carriers; and reviews carrier-published tariff systems under the accessibility and accuracy standards of the Shipping Act.

Duties

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13. You will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

  • Plans, initiates, and directs a continued research and evaluation program in maritime and supply chain topics. Applies advanced computing, scientific and/or statistical techniques and methods to enhance the efficiency or quality of FMC products or procedures.

  • Serves as a liaison between the assigned office and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) to ensure that data science approaches are feasible given IT constraints and identifying approaches to overcome obstacles.

  • Advises management of the advantages and disadvantages of various data science approaches, as well as potential applicability of new techniques, including applications of analytic tools, computer languages, and methodologies.

  • Keeps abreast of developments and advancements in these topics, identifying opportunities to incorporate the latest technology or techniques and to minimize potential negative impact on current projects.

  • Identifies and utilizes a wide variety of internal and external data sources and collaborates with FMC offices to identify and address potential barriers associated with accessing, analyzing and using the data.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • A 1-year probationary period is required.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a background investigation.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • FMC participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • May be required to obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
  • May be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement:

Basic Education Requirement

A bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in operations research; or a degree with 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.

Specialized Experience

GS-12: One year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Specialized experience includes leveraging analytic, statistical, and programming techniques to assist senior subject matter experts in analyzing and interpreting large or complex datasets to develop data-driven solutions.

GS-13: One year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Specialized experience includes leveraging and developing analytic, statistical, and programming techniques to analyze and interpret large or complex data sets to develop data-driven solutions as a technical consultant.

The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector, or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.

It is your responsibility to ensure your resume states complete information for each job entry. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year (MM/YYYY), and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume. If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Education

This position has a basic education requirement. A copy of your transcript must be included in your application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; an official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

Additional information

  • We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
  • We may fill like positions within 12 months of the close of the announcement.
  • Federal employees are required to adhere to the 14 Principles of Ethical Conduct.
  • This is a non-bargaining unit position.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

Benefits

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume will result in a "not qualified" determination.

Rating:Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. Subject matter expert(s) may evaluate your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the specialized experience (under the qualifications section) and the competencies listed below:

  • Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


Category rating will be used to rank and select eligible candidates. If qualified, you will be assigned to one of three quality level categories, Highly Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. The category is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position and is based on your responses to the questionnaire(s)/assessment(s). Qualified: Does not exceed the basic qualifications requirements described in the Qualifications section. Well Qualified: Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the Qualifications section and demonstrates proficiency in the competencies above. Highly Qualified: Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the Qualifications section and substantially exceed in the competencies above.

Veterans' preference is applied after applicants are assessed. Preference-eligibles will be listed at the top of their assigned category and considered before non-preference-eligibles in that category.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. We will not reimburse costs related to the interview such as travel to and from the interview site.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)), you must be assigned to the Well Qualified category or better to receive special selection priority.

Required Documents

A complete application includes 1. A resume, 2. Vacancyquestion responses (eligibilities and assessment questionnaire(s)), and 3.Submission of any required documents (below). Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you will not be considered for this position (or will not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

All applicants are required to submit a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.)

VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION
If you are claiming veterans preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation (such as a statement of service) from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. Ten-point preference eligibles must also submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, along with the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form.

For more information on veterans' preference please visit FedsHireVets.

CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION
These programs apply 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. If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, you must submit the following documents:

  • To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position based on the competencies listed above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility including:
    • Agency notice,
    • SF-50 that reflects current grade,
    • SF-50 that reflect full performance level of the position, and
    • Your performance appraisal which must reflect "fully successful" or equivalent).
  • Displaced District of Columbia Government, Department of Corrections employees will be eligible for priority consideration and competitive appointment (Public Law 105-274). Eligible candidates are not restricted by geographic location or grade level in jobs for which they apply. Documentary evidence is the same as stated above.
EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION
For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITIES DOCUMENTATION
If you are applying under a special hiring authority (i.e. Schedule A persons with disabilities authority), submit a copy of proof of your eligibility.

If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

  • The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon EST on the announcement's closing date.
  • To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  • Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
  • To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • To return to saved application at a later date, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

Cassie Hayden
Address
Bureau of Trade Analysis
800 North Capitol Street, NW
Suite 940
Washington, DC 20573
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS My Account tab and clicking on Application Status. For a more detailed update of your application status, you may click on more information.

Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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