Clarification from the agency

•Federal Employee •Excepted Service with Interchange Agreement •CTAP •ICTAP •Veterans Recruitment •30% Disabled •Individuals with disabilities •VEOA •VRA This position is also being advertised to all U.S. citizens via Delegated Examining procedures. The announcement number is: TN-19-EI-00853-DE.

This position is located with the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Energy Information Administration.

As an Operations Research Analyst, you will:

• Develop, design, formulate, execute, coordinate, perform and document a broad range of analyses involving current and projected pricing, production, supply and distribution patterns, conditions and problems pertaining to energy and bring such studies to meaningful conclusions.
• Perform analyses through parametric knowledge of subject studies and related projects.
• Identify specific research areas that merit investigation, develop new hypotheses and approaches for studies and evaluate the feasibility of such endeavors.  Initiate, formulate, plan, execute and controls studies, which are designed for the purpose of identifying, analyzing, and reporting on energy-related issues.
• Advise management on the selection of an appropriate study design, analysis, and in interpretation of study results.
• Conduct research and studies or projects related to analytical, statistical, or mathematical computations in the preparation of energy cost estimates, programs, and/or research.  Develop reliable methods and strategies to merge survey data with administrative and utilization data.
• Monitor and conduct a variety of specialized and complex research projects and studies important to agency decision-makers.  Monitor, evaluate and coordinate projects and studies carried out under contract.
• Apply extensive knowledge of issues, problems and subjects studied to assure results reflect real world environments.  Brief study sponsors and high-level officials on progress and conclusions of studies.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• Resume and question responses must be submitted online.
• May be required to complete a one-year probationary period.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: 

You must submit an unofficial or official transcripts by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.  NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.  

You may be required to complete a one year probationary period, if not previously completed in a Competitive or other Excepted Service position. 

You must submit all application paperwork by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

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.

Additional information regarding the education requirements for Operations Research Analyst can be found at the following website:  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/operations-research-series-1515/. 

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

For the GS-09, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service.  Experience for this position includes performing segments of analyses and projects using standard techniques and models; observing, studying and documenting new modeling techniques and approaches; and assisting in the development of working papers and coordinating with others to improve models.

OR

Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education.

For the GS-11, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service.  Experience includes gathering, analyzing, and evaluating information concerning mathematical, statistical, economic, or other phenomena that impact energy market conditions or energy industry practices; preparing reports and charts to document study purposes, methods, premises, and conclusions, and participates in briefing officials on progress and conclusions of studies.

OR

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

For the GS-12, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes developing alternatives, provide information and guidance to management for planning; recommending conclusions based on the results of studies on energy market conditions or energy industry practices; and planning, designing, implementing and testing enhancements to improve and validate models.

Education cannot be substituted for experience at the GS-12 grade level.

For the GS-13, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes identifying and defining problems, developing alternatives, providing information and guidance to management for planning; developing and auditing procedures for automated or computer-assisted statistical survey operations on energy related programs; developing mathematical, statistical models and methodologies for analyzing systems and energy programs; and using project management techniques and methods in order to direct, lead, and manage analytical studies and projects pertaining to energy.

Education cannot be substituted for experience at the GS-13 grade level.

Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). 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!

1. Skill in applying advanced, analytical, mathematical, or statistical theories, principles, concepts, methods, and techniques as well as economic analysis sufficient to define, guide and perform major studies to meaningful conclusions.
2. Knowledge of a full range of operations research analysis techniques, including but not limited to mathematical optimization.
3. Knowledge of one or more specialized areas of operations research sufficient to apply new analytical developments, methodologies and research findings to broad studies of an unprecedented nature.
4. Skill in coordinating extensive projects in assigned areas of responsibility.  Projects are characterized by high visibility, unusual urgency or program criticality.
5. Ability in articulating and negotiating very complex and sensitive issues with officials of diverse perspectives and with different, sometimes opposing views.

"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.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

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.

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications necessary for this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

We will also verify that you are eligible for Merit Promotion positions by reviewing your previous Federal employment to ensure you meet Time-in-Grade requirements. If you are eligible to apply to Merit Promotion announcements based on Veteran or other non-competitive statuses, we will verify your supporting documentation prior to referral.

If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

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', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.
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