Operations Research Analyst

Duties
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1) NH-02 Salary range of $42,003 - $100,098 for Redstone Arsenal, AL (includes 21.91% locality) unless regulatory or statutory rules prevail.
2) NH-03 Salary range of $92,293 - $142,676 for Redstone Arsenal, AL (includes 21.91% locality) unless regulatory or statutory rules prevail.

As an Operations Research Analyst at the NH-1515-2/3 broadband level some of your typical work assignments may include:
NH-03 level duties:

• Develop, update, maintain, and document credible, accurate, and comprehensive Life Cycle Cost Estimates (LCCEs), Program Office Estimates (POEs), and Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs)
• Participate as a member of an Integrated Product Team (IPT) or program office to generate cost-related products in support of acquisition milestones, contract actions, budgets, trades and other key program decision points to execute the organization's mission
• Support cost trade analyses (e.g. what-if drills, business case analysis, cost benefit analysis, economic analysis, cost as an independent variable, architecture trades, design to cost, and analysis of alternatives)
• Perform analysis to help leadership make informative decisions concerning cost, budget, and schedule over the lifecycle of acquisition programs
• Provide cost estimating and analysis products and instructions in support of Request for Proposal (RFP) actions through post-contract award activities. Participate in source selections/proposal evaluations to evaluate risk, reasonableness, and realism
• Develop standardized, product-oriented Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), Cost Element Structures (CES), data collection plans, Contract Data Requirements Lists (CDRLs), Data Item Descriptions (DIDs), and cost reporting award fee criteria
• Assist in the development and review of Cost Analysis Requirements Descriptions (CARDs)
• Collect, review, analyze, document, and store cost data and related program, schedule, and technical data in organization's database and library, including Contract Performance Reports and Cost & Software Data Reports
• Develop, apply, and document appropriate cost estimating and analysis methodologies, utilizing techniques such as linear and non-linear regression to determine cost estimating relationships(CERs)
• Develop, update, and maintain cost models capable of providing timely, credible, accurate, comprehensive, and documented program life cycle cost estimates
• Generate alternative methodologies and cross-checks to validate primary cost estimate
• Conduct sensitivity, risk, and uncertainty analysis
• Document cost estimates including the requirements, steps, data sources, assumptions, methodologies, risk and uncertainty analysis, sensitivity analysis, and outputs to allow for full understanding and replication of the cost estimate
• Prepare, review, and present cost estimates, cost analysis, cost studies, excursions, recommendations, and briefings to Missile Defense Agency (MDA) leadership and stakeholders
• Develop, update, and maintain a Joint Cost Model with the Lead Service(s) to support the MDA transition of systems
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of cost estimates to ensure they are credible, accurate, comprehensive, and documented
• Generate the cost estimates presented in resource baselines
• Support Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs) and reconcile Earned Value Management (EVM) Estimates at Completion (EAC) with IGCEs.
• Support and/or respond to external requests for information related to MDA cost estimates through oral and written communication with supporting data products.

The overall responsibilities of the NH-02 position are substantially the same as the full performance duties (covered above) with the following exception: The incumbent works under closer supervision and works in a developmental capacity performing assignments and completing training, both of which are aimed in preparing the incumbent to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to perform duties in at the full-performance level.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Occasional Travel
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: Maxi Flexi
• Recruitment Incentives: Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees based on agency policy and availability
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position may be eligible for part-time or situational telework at the discretion of management.
• This is an acquisition position coded Practitioner in Business, Cost Estimating. Incumbent must obtain mandatory Back to Basics (B2B) certification within 60 months of entry into position.
• Incumbent must acquire 80 Continuous Learning Points every 24 months.
• This is a drug tested position
• Must maintain and obtain Non-Critical Sensitive Secret (Secret) clearance

Qualifications

You may qualify at the NH 02-03, if you fulfill the following qualifications:
For the NH-02: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-01/GS-04 grade level in the Federal service as listed below. Applicants are required to meet 3 of the 5 in order to be qualified.

• Problem Solving: Identify, analyze, and solve complex problems using structured problem-solving techniques. Apply logical and critical thinking to develop solutions to analytical problems.
• Mathematical Applications: Apply mathematical methods and techniques, such as linear algebra, calculus, probability, and statistics, to solve real-world problems. Familiarity with optimization, simulation, and other operations research methodologies.
• Data Analysis and Management: Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis to extract meaningful insights, including data collection, cleaning, validation, and interpretation. Basic understanding of data management principles, including data storage, retrieval, and database management.
• Software Tools: Use cost estimating, data analysis or statistical tools and software (e.g. Excel, SAS, R, ACE-IT, etc.)
• Communication Skills: Use verbal and written communication skills to effectively convey analysis results and insights to customers and stakeholders. Deliver clear and concise reports, presentations, and documentation of analytical findings.

OR

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements generally as stated in paragraph A in the individual occupational requirements.
Where specific course requirements are not indicated in paragraph A, the number of semester hours required to constitute a major field of study is the amount specified by the college or university attended. If this number cannot be obtained, 24 semester hours will be considered as equivalent to a major field of study. The nature and quality of this required course work must have been such that it would serve as a prerequisite for more advanced study in the field or subject-matter area. Related course work generally refers to courses that may be accepted as part of the program major.
OR

Appropriate combination of education and experience that is typically specified in paragraph B of the individual occupational requirements. The "paragraph B" method generally requires that an applicant possess a core of educational credit, such as described in paragraph A above, plus additional education and/or experience. The method of determining the number of semester hours required to constitute a major field of study is the same as described in paragraph A.
The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation.

Please see the Professional and Scientific section in the qualification standard; https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards

Education maybe substituted for experience at the NH-02/GS-05 level.

For the NH-03: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-02/GS-11 grade level in the Federal service as listed below. Applicants are required to meet 2 of the 4 in order to be qualified.

• Create credible, accurate, comprehensive, and documented Life Cycle Cost Estimates (LCCEs), Program Office Estimates (POEs), and/or Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs) Collection, normalization, and analysis of cost data.
• Develop application of appropriate cost estimating and analysis methodologies, utilizing techniques such as linear and non-linear regression to determine cost estimating relationships (CERs).
• Create, update, and maintenance of cost models capable of providing timely, reliable cost estimates.
• Prepare presentations and documentation of cost estimates, cost analysis, cost studies, excursions, recommendations, and/or briefings to customers and stakeholders.

Note: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the NH-03 level.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). 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.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the, 1515 series as listed below:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/operations-research-series-1515/

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Individual Occupational Requirements

Basic Requirements: 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.

Evaluation of Education: The primary requirement of operations research work is competence in the rigorous methods of scientific inquiry and analysis rather than in the subject matter of the problem. Therefore, applicants should have sufficient knowledge of applied mathematics to understand and use the fundamental concepts and techniques of operations research methods of analysis. In addition, some positions may require knowledge of a specific subject area.

Courses acceptable for qualifying for operations research positions may have been taken in departments other than Operations Research, e.g., Engineering (usually Industrial Engineering), Science, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Management Science.

The following are illustrative of acceptable courses: optimization; mathematical modeling; queueing theory; engineering; physics (except descriptive or survey courses); econometrics; psychometrics; biometrics; experimental psychology; physical chemistry; industrial process analysis; managerial economics; computer science; measurement for management; mathematical models in social phenomena; and courses that involved application of operations research techniques and methodologies to problems of management, marketing, systems design, and other specialized fields; or other comparable quantitative analysis courses for which college-level mathematics or statistics is a prerequisite. Courses in theory of probability and statistics are highly desirable, but are not specified as minimum educational requirements because to do so would possibly exclude some applicants who would otherwise be well qualified

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html \

Additional information

Other Notes:

ACQUISITION POSITION: The (NH-02/NH-03) position requires DAWIA (Back to Basics) Certification: NON-CAP: Position requires DoD Acquisition Business-Cost Estimating, Practitioner certification within required timeframes. Selectee must also achieve 80 hours of Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) every 2-years. Click here for more details and Resources .

RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov) )