Clarification from the agency

This position is announced under Direct Hire Authority. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply under the Direct Hire process.

As an Operations Research Analyst you will:

• Serve as a subject matter expert for cost estimating, life-cycle cost analysis, cost modeling and the development of cost databases, risk management, and operational research.
• Use knowledge of applying appropriate cost estimating and statistics principles and methods, as well as risk management principles, to technically complex systems.
• Provide independent technical advice and authoritative recommendations to CEPE leadership, Program Offices, and senior NNSA decision-makers on program affordability, baseline realism, and resource allocation.
• Serve as a subject matter expert conducting scientifically based quantitative analysis of NNSA programs and projects to inform baseline decisions, budget formulation, acquisition strategy, and Congressional reporting.
• Perform program analysis, including identification of key risks and issues, resource alternatives, and programmatic recommendations, informs the NNSA Future Years Nuclear Security Program (FYNSP) and budget submission under the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Evaluation (PPBE system).
• Serve as a subject matter expert for the evaluation of the program/project performance, operational effectiveness, operational suitability, and estimated costs and schedules of programs and projects.
• Independently evaluates program performance, identifies systemic risks or root causes of cost and schedule growth, and develops actionable recommendations for senior executive leadership.
• Analyze cost/financial and technical data to perform analysis, build models, identify trends, and develop tools using appropriate statistical and mathematical techniques.

Conditions of employment

• Subject to Random Drug Testing
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Favorable suitability determination required.
• Financial Disclosure is required.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification.
• More than one position may be filled from this vacancy announcement.
• If you are a current federal employee, appointed under the direct-hire authority, you will be given a new appointment.
• May be required to successfully complete a one (1) year probationary period. Employees serving on a probationary period may be terminated at any time during the probationary period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
• Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, you will be disqualified.

Qualifications

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., NQ-03 or GS-14.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as: experience that demonstrated accomplishment of operations research project assignments that required a wide range of knowledge of mathematical/statistical reasoning requirements and techniques pertinent to the position to be filled. This knowledge is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant conducted operations research using well-established and innovative methods for resolving variances and applied mathematics, economics, data analysis and/or statistics appropriate to solving operations research problems and making recommendations to leadership.

Examples of specialized experience include:

1. Experience in statistical and mathematical methods to assess and/or estimate program cost and schedule and review scope performance.
2. Independently assessing and performing analysis of major acquisition programs (one hundred million to multi-billion dollars in value).
3. Experience performing statistical and mathematical modeling, including but not limited to linear and non-linear regression analysis, stochastic uncertainty modeling, and optimization modeling (linear optimization, graph analysis, etc.)

Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!

• Cost Benefit Analysis
• Cost Estimation and Analysis
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Organizational Performance Analysis

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

This position is announced under a government wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for Operations Research Analyst positions in the1515 series. Under the DHA, all applicants who meet the Qualification requirements listed in this announcement, at the grade level they are applying, will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply under the DHA process.

THE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS WILL BE IN TWO STAGES:

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

Structured Resume Review: The Human Resources Office/ Subject Matter Expert will review the first two pages of your resume to determine your technical qualifications.

Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered.

Federal employees eligible for career transition assistance plans such as CTAP, or ICTAP, requesting selection priority, must meet the Qualifications requirements listed in this announcement and be found "well qualified" for the position. Well-qualified is defined as: experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective factors, demonstrated by proficiency in most of the requirements of the job, requiring only limited training or orientation to perform effectively.

If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information.

Your application and resume shall demonstrate that you possess the following Competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the Competencies identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the link below.
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12898346

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes: ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.

• Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume may not be considered.
• Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. If selected, it is mandatory that you provide official transcripts.
• For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.

SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current/former federal employees): To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility! Full position title; appointment type; occupational series; pay plan, grade, and step; tenure code; and service computation date (SCD).

If your current position SF50 does not indicate you have competitive/excepted service status or does not reflect the pay plan and grade of the highest position you have held in the competitive/excepted service, in addition to your current SF50, you must provide your previous SF-50s that provide the proof of competitive/excepted status and highest grade held on a permanent basis.


If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information.

For Professional, Scientific and Engineering Positions: If qualifying on the basis of an alternate method, i.e., professional license, you must submit official documentation to support your claim with your application package. If selected for the position you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to onboarding.

Veterans: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active-duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.

Individuals with Disabilities: Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center.

Certain Military Spouses: Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders authorizing you to accompany the Military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center.

Other non-competitive or special appointing authorities: provide documentation which supports your eligibility.

Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation Please see the OPM Guide to Career Transition Click HERE for more information.

Performance Appraisals: Submit your two (2) most recent performance appraisals. Your performance appraisals and incentive awards will be given due consideration in the selection process based on their relation to the duties of the position and the consistency with which they may be considered in evaluating you against other applicants. If the performance appraisals are not available, please provide a written statement of explanation and upload as a separate document.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement:

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