Clarification from the agency

- Students who are currently enrolled or have been accepted for enrollment in a degree seeking program (diploma, certificate 4 year college or university, graduate, professional school, etc.) - All U.S. Citizens, Nationals, and Foreign Nationals who meet both Immigration and Annual Appropriations Laws. - This Pathways Internship will have a tentative start date in April/May 2021. If you graduate before August 2021 you will not be eligible for this Pathways Internship Program.

As a Student Trainee (Operations Research Analyst), you will:

• Perform minor phases of larger assignments.
• Conduct analytical investigations using appropriate scientific methodology and problem solving.
• Perform, interpret, and correlate various calculations, analyses, and computations for unknown factors or relationships that are primarily matters of a factual nature or involve mechanisms that are well understood.
• Learn techniques and gains knowledge through job experience and extended professional training that supplements technical understanding.
• Use computers and information technology and their varied applications to accomplish projects, designs, plans, and reports.
• Prepare required recurring reports, correspondence, and documentation.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• See "Other Information" section regarding Selective Service requirements.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
  When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.
• A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.
• Selectee may be subject to a 1 year probationary period. 

PATHWAYS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Must be in good academic standing (GPA of a 2.0 or higher).
• Must be enrolled in at least a half-time course load, as defined by your educational institution.
• Must submit a copy of your current transcripts and/or letter of acceptance as proof of your enrollment. If selected, official transcripts/proof of enrollment must be submitted prior to establishing a start date.
• Your entire time as a Pathways Intern will be considered your probationary/trial period.
• As a Pathways Intern you may have rotational assignments in various organizations.
• As a Pathways Intern you are expected to work during your summer, winter and spring breaks unless otherwise coordinated with your manager.

PATHWAYS PROGRAM COMPLETION:

BPA has the option to convert an intern to a permanent position upon program completion. This is not automatic nor guaranteed. It is at the discretion of the employing office. Interns may be converted to the General Schedule (GS) level qualified for at the time of conversion. To be eligible for conversion, an intern must:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the internship program before completion of their educational program/degree. 
• Meet the Office of Personnel Management's qualification standards for the position to which the intern will be converted
• Meet requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement.
• Perform their job successfully and be recommended by the organization to a permanent position.
• Relocation may be authorized with conversion.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT: 

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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:

GS-04: To qualify, you must have completed 2 full academic years of post-high school study OR an associate's degree. (1 full academic year is equivalent to 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours.)

GS-05: To qualify, you must have completed 4 academic years of post-high school education leading to a bachelor's degree OR a bachelor’s degree.

GS-07: To qualify, you must have completed 1 full academic year of graduate level education; or Eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision and completion of a bachelor's degree.

Although not required, your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies (KSACs). 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 KSACs 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.

1. Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
2. Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
3. Research: Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results.
4. Problem Solving: Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
5. Teamwork: Fosters commitment and team spirit; encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; manages group processes; works with others to achieve goals.
6. Oral Communication: Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information; makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

"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.

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to ensure you have been placed into the appropriate quality category.

Your application is rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education (when applicable), and training as described in your resume and applicant assessment. Your credentials are measured against the established duties of the position at the grade level(s) being advertised.

 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 scoring in the Well Qualified category (or higher).

 If you are a Veteran Preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

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