Operations Research Analyst -SV-1515-J - Transportation Security Administration - Arlington, Virginia - EXPIRED

This Operations Research Analyst position is located in the Technical Expertise Branch, in the Acquisition Management Function Division, within the Office of Acquisition (OA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If selected for this position, you will be assisting with the TSA implementation of the DHS\'s acquisition program test and evaluation processes, policies and procedures. Leading the development and monitoring for the execution of integrated testing and evaluation (T&E) strategies across the agency. Typical assignments include, but are not limited to:

• Developing and conducting reviews of complex security material, service and information technology acquisition system test and evaluation documentation.
• Applying expertise in operations research, database design and applications, computer simulation, and operational impact analyses, cost/benefit analyses, data process modeling/analyses of problems, and regression analyses to ensure successful transition of complex IT systems and technologies to the field environment.
• Reviewing test and evaluation support products for technical accuracy and ensuring adequacy and timeliness. Presenting programmatic test and evaluation issues to a variety of senior and working-level integrated product team audiences in meetings, presentations, or briefings.
• Collaborating with the CAE staff, DHS and TSA program managers in developing new policies to formulate new and innovative approaches to improving test and evaluation documentation and processes. Ensuring that policies and strategies that are documented align with DHS, TSA and Office of Acquisition strategic guidance.
• Facilitating ongoing customer service with stakeholders throughout the organization, which involves providing advice and recommendations regarding acquisition program processes, policies, and directives about the program. Interfacing with senior level managers and senior executives within the Office of Acquisition and other TSA offices and the Department of Homeland Security.

Basic Education Requirements: This position requires a 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.

For the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-I Band or GS-13 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience includes applying operations research methods, acquisition test and evaluation principles, concepts, policies and procedures; AND experience utilizing qualitative and quantitative analytics to assess and suggest improvements for program effectiveness to senior level leadership.

NOTE: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education as reflected in your resume and supporting documentation. You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of the competencies required for this position. We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your category placement may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

When completing the assessment questionnaire for this position, you will be prompted to elect if you wish for your application to be considered as External (where Veterans’ Preference applies), as Status (current or former Federal Employees), and/or Internal to TSA as a current permanent or competitive temporary employee. At that time, please select the answer(s) that apply to you and your application to this position.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Grouping procedures. Under Category Grouping, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;

Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job; and

Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
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