Research Analyst

Clarification from the agency

Current United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Service and United States Postal Inspection Service and Postal Regulatory Commission Employees only.

Are you a good writer and do you love research? This announcement provides the opportunity for a reassignment/promotion to the position of Research Analyst position in our Research & Insights Solution Center (RISC), located in Arlington, VA. Bring your skills and voice to our team!

Our unit conducts innovative research and analysis on economic, business, strategy, operational, and public policy issues affecting the Postal Service. Please view our white papers at Reports | Office of Inspector General OIG (uspsoig.gov). Look for RISC or RARC (before 2019) in the report name.

The successful candidate will help gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative data related to postal issues, plan and conduct studies, organize and speak at events related to research topics, and write analytical reports and other materials about the postal industry, especially concerning the Postal Service's customers, products, strategies, regulatory environment, and business opportunities.

Candidates will be evaluated on the skills that they possess that are directly related to the duties of the position and the experience, education and training that indicate the applicant's ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Only those candidates who meet all qualification and eligibility requirements and who submit the required information by 11:59 PM EST on 07/27/2026 will be considered.

The USPS OIG uses a Pay Banding system, which is equivalent to the Federal GS scale. Grade and salary determinations will be made based upon a candidate's education and professional experience.

This position is being advertised at the Journey Band level, equivalent to a GS-9 to GS-13. The salary range for this position is $70,623.00 - $158,322.00. The salary figures include locality pay. Career ladder to GS-13 equivalent is at management's discretion.

Please note that the duties and responsibilities associated with this position may vary based upon the agency's needs at the time of hire. The following description of major duties and responsibilities is only intended to give applicants a general overview of the expectations.

• Conduct primary and secondary research and conduct data analysis on a wide range of postal issues.
• Apply public policy analysis, market research methods, quantitative techniques, data analysis and qualitative research to develop public white papers or other written materials in compliance with the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE Blue Book Standards for Inspection and Evaluation.
• Present research findings in public forums, conducts meetings with internal leadership, the Postal Service and other external stakeholders to discuss project plans and outcomes.
• Prepare and organize presentations and events that engage internal and external stakeholders and lead to the expression of new ideas.
• Contribute to the creation of diverse content formats, in addition to traditional white papers, for presenting research findings and reaching a wider audience. Formats may include digital stories, podcasts, and presentations at internal/external online and in-person events (e.g., webinars and expert panels).

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be able to pass a drug screening
• Must be able to pass a background investigation
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Moderate Background Investigation security clearance
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a government-issued credit card
• May be required to successfully complete a 12-month probationary period

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

You must meet ALL of the minimum qualifications listed below.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university

AND

• At least 3 years of professional experience in planning and conducting research using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including data analysis, to develop public-facing reports.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree or graduate-level coursework in a relevant field such as economics, public policy, business administration, communications, or data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience conducting quantitative data analysis using various methodologies to identify trends, generate findings, and support evidence-based conclusions.
• Ability to think strategically by analyzing complex issues, anticipating risks and opportunities, and connecting data to broader trends, identifying implications for decisionmakers, and shaping recommendations.
• Strong written communication skills, with experience producing reports that meet rigorous quality standards and are tailored to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Effective verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex ideas clearly to internal and external stakeholders at various levels.
• Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Flexibility and adaptability in managing shifting priorities and contributing to a team-oriented culture.

EVALUATION FACTORS
You must have the experience, knowledge and skills as listed in EACH of the evaluation factors. Failure to demonstrate that you meet all of the evaluation factor requirements as listed below will result in a score of zero (0); an ineligible status, and you will not be referred for further consideration. Include your major accomplishments relevant to the position requirements in your resume.

• Knowledge of public policy, business, or economic issues.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and conducting research using both qualitative and quantitative methods, and producing public-facing analytical reports, white papers, or other written materials that are clear, rigorous, and accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data to identify systemic or procedural issues, develop findings and recommendations that inform decision-making or public understanding.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely to external stakeholders, including through presentations at public forums or conferences.

You will no longer be considered for this position if you: fail to respond to all of the questions in the self-assessment questionnaire; fail to address a factor in the narrative section (no response or "See resume" or similar language will be scored a zero (0)); or receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor.

Failure to demonstrate that you meet all evaluation factor requirements will result in a score of zero (0). Upon receipt of a zero score, you will be deemed "not minimally qualified," and you will not be referred for further consideration.

How you will be evaluated

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

The Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications required for this position.

You will no longer be considered for this position if you:

• Receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor
• Fail to attach all required documentation
• Submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit
• If your application materials indicate that you are not minimally-qualified for this position
• If you fail to qualify on the interview

Only the top-rated candidates will be referred to a review official or the selecting official for further consideration. Top-rated applicants may be required to participate in an interview. Your rating may be further adjusted or rated as ineligible by the review official or the selecting official based on your interview performance. Once all applicant scores are finalized, the selecting official will make a final decision. NOTE: If you receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor or on the interview, you will be considered NOT MINIMALLY QUALIFIED for the position and rated ineligible.

Applicants for this position may be interviewed one or more times as part of the hiring process. During interviews, applicants may not use any AI tool or virtual assistant (such as ChatGPT) to help them answer questions, except for accessibility tools used as part of a reasonable accommodation. Applicants who fail to follow these rules will be disqualified from the hiring process.

You must submit all required documents by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date of this announcement, Vacancy Announcement 13004627, by closing date 07/27/2026.

1. RESUME - IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. You will no longer be considered for this announcement if your resume exceeds the two-page limit. It is essential that your resume and supporting documentation provide sufficient information to substantiate your qualifications for the announced position (categorize as "Resume"). Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?

Make sure your page margins are 0.5 inches. The recommended font styles are Sans-Serif, Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noto Sans. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.

2. COMPLETE OCCUPATIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE. Click the "Apply Online" button and follow the prompts to complete the Occupational Questionnaire. (Required: You must click on "Submit My Answers" button at the end of the Questionnaire to complete this process)

3. WRITING SAMPLE. Required. Upload at least one writing sample that demonstrates your ability to conduct research and analysis and use that information to prepare high-quality written deliverables. Upload and save as "Writing Sample" document.

4. COVER LETTER. Required. Upload and save as "Cover Letter" document.

5. TRANSCRIPTS from an accredited college or university. The information presented in the transcript must be verifiable and should contain the name of the institution, applicant's name, list of completed courses, semester hours, GPA, date and type of Bachelor's Degree issued. Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. Attach document verifying that it has been deemed equivalent. For further information visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. (Required: Upload and save as "Transcript" document.)

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