Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - Current Career United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Service and United States Postal Inspection Service will not be considered or selected from this vacancy announcement.

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RISC conducts research and evaluations into critical economic, business, technology, and policy issues affecting the U.S. Postal Service. RISC's research and white papers have touched on a wide variety of topics, including critical issues affecting the Postal Service's business, finance and operations, the role of the Postal Service in rural areas, innovative digital and retail offerings, and customer perception of the Postal Service's products and services.

You can view previous white papers at https://www.uspsoig.gov/document-type/white-papers by searching for "RARC" or "RISC" in the report number field.

The successful candidate will gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative data related to postal issues; plan and conduct studies; write analytical reports and other written products; conduct interviews with experts; and speak at events related to research topics. The position requires excellent research, analytical, and critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to write reports in clear and compelling language. Experience with quantitative data and familiarity with data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, R, or Python) is necessary.

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 08/31/2022 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 $61,947.00 - $138,868.00. 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 according to specific quality standards.
• Analyze postal products, services, business strategies, and operational issues; research innovative solutions to current and potential future issues and challenges; and develop practical suggestions for improvement.
• Analyze quantitative data from the U.S. Postal Service and other sources and use descriptive and inferential statistics to identify trends or patterns.
• Develop and apply qualitative research methods on issues related to the U.S Postal Service, including interviews with Postal Service leadership, industry experts, and postal stakeholders.
• Apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to develop white papers and other written materials related to financial, economic, business, international, technology, operational, stakeholder, and customer policy issues as they relate to the U.S. Postal Service; develop recommendations for the Postal Service based on research.
• Work with external research consultants: participate in the preparation of statements of work, selection process, and monitoring of their work to ensure quality of deliverables and compliance with objectives and timetables.
• Prepare and organize public events such as workshops and roundtables to share findings and gain insights on specific research topics.
• Attend/present at conferences and other public events, and network with experts and institutions involved in the team's research topics.
• Contribute to the unit's research planning activities, and perform administrative duties related to the white paper production process and CIGIE Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation (Blue Book) requirements.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be able to pass a drug screening and medical assessment questionnaire.
• 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 or to be awarded no later than May 2023.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• An advanced degree or advanced studies in public policy, economics, business administration, program evaluation, journalism, or other related disciplines.
• Professional experience developing and executing research projects, including planning, data collection, analysis, and writing.
• Knowledge of Postal Service business and operations - or other regulated industries - at the domestic or international level.
• Proven quantitative/data analysis skills.
• Strong writing skills and experience drafting and editing a variety of written products, such as white papers, short reports, blogs, and brief articles.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate research findings using data visualization.
• Experience creating and delivering presentations.
• Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.
• Demonstrable intellectual curiosity and experience conceptualizing strategic solutions to complex problems.
• A keen attention to detail and a proven ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to communicate, interact, network, and collaborate with a variety of domestic and international industry stakeholders.

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.
• Experience using research methodologies and analysis to prepare high-quality analytical reports, white papers, and other written materials.
• Quantitative and qualitative analytical skills for the purpose of determining systemic or procedural problems and developing findings as well as suggesting solutions.
• Experience preparing recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of programs, operations, or systems.
• Demonstrated ability to express and present ideas clearly and concisely, both in writing and orally.

You will no longer be considered for this position if you 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; if your application materials indicate that you are not minimally-qualified for this position; or 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.