Operations Research Analyst, HQDA Field Operating Agencies and Staff Support Agencies, Fort Belvoir, VA
HQDA Field Operating Agencies and Staff Support Agencies -
Fort Belvoir, VA,
US
Operations Research Analyst
Date Posted: 2024-06-11
Job description
Summary
This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DOD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.
About the Position: Serves as an Operations Research/Systems Analyst (ORSA) applying state-of-the-art Operations Research (OR), Computer Language Coding, and Data Science techniques to Department of the Army problems in support of senior-level decision makers at Headquarters Department of the Army.
This job is open to
Duties
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualifications
Who May Apply: US Citizens
This position is developmental and may be filled at the GS-11, GS 12, or GS 13 level. The incumbent may be non-competitively promoted pending time-in-grade requirements and demonstrated ability to perform the next level/grade duties. The full performance level for this position is GS-13. If not selected at the full performance, duties will be performed in a developmental capacity under close supervision under this position is developmental.
In order to qualify, you must meet the education/experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.
Basic Requirement for Operations Research Analyst: Degree:
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. YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
Qualifications at the GS-11 level:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes; analyzing background research, collecting and reducing data, to draw conclusions, determine tradeoff relationships between system operating costs and effectiveness; utilizing of experiments and computer modeling, or simulation, to determine the optimum test design; conducting operations research investigations of military weapons and material systems. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).
OR
Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Engineering (usually Industrial Engineering), Science, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Management Science.YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
OR
A combination of education and experience. A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.). YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Qualifications at the GS-12 level:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes; applying mathematical or statistical principles and practices to military weapons programs sufficient to evaluate support of equipment and effectiveness; developing, and integrating pertinent information through various data collection, analysis procedures, and technologies; and or utilizing program policies sufficient to participate in a variety of projects to determine tradeoff, operating costs and system performance. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).
OR
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Engineering (usually Industrial Engineering), Science, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Management Science.YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Qualifications at the GS-13 level:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: conducting extensive systematic exploration of problems of an unprecedented nature using compiled computer programming languages, primarily C and C++, interpreting computer programing languages such as, R, Python, Java, and database management languages; utilizing data science and research techniques sufficient to complete major developmental studies. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12).
There is no educational substitution for experience at the GS 13 level.
Education
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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:
Additional information
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement.
If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.
Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.
Required Documents
The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements.
As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
1. Your resume:
2. Other supporting documents:
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 06/21/2024 to receive consideration
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account ( all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit:
Agency contact information
Army Applicant Help Desk
Email
...@ARMY.MIL
Website
Address
HT-W3WCAA CENTER FOR ARMY ANALYSIS
DO NOT MAIL
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060
US
Next steps
If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking (as applicable) for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DOD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.
About the Position: Serves as an Operations Research/Systems Analyst (ORSA) applying state-of-the-art Operations Research (OR), Computer Language Coding, and Data Science techniques to Department of the Army problems in support of senior-level decision makers at Headquarters Department of the Army.
This job is open to
- The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Duties
- Conduct extensive systematic exploration of problems of an unprecedented nature using compiled computer programming languages.
- Maintain existing computer models and conduct software engineering in development of new or revised Agency applications, tools, and data storage and management systems.
- Coordinate with team members as related to model development and revision to assure overall integrity.
- Develop or advise on the development of sound analytic methodologies focused on computer modeling and application development.
- Stay current on developments in operations research and maintains liaison with other OR analysts and data scientists.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
- You may be expected to travel up to 25% for this position.
- This position is a Testing Designated Position subject to applicant testing and random drug testing. Selectees will be required to sign DA Form5019 requiring participation in random drug urinalysis testing.
Qualifications
Who May Apply: US Citizens
This position is developmental and may be filled at the GS-11, GS 12, or GS 13 level. The incumbent may be non-competitively promoted pending time-in-grade requirements and demonstrated ability to perform the next level/grade duties. The full performance level for this position is GS-13. If not selected at the full performance, duties will be performed in a developmental capacity under close supervision under this position is developmental.
In order to qualify, you must meet the education/experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.
Basic Requirement for Operations Research Analyst: Degree:
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. YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
Qualifications at the GS-11 level:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes; analyzing background research, collecting and reducing data, to draw conclusions, determine tradeoff relationships between system operating costs and effectiveness; utilizing of experiments and computer modeling, or simulation, to determine the optimum test design; conducting operations research investigations of military weapons and material systems. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).
OR
Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Engineering (usually Industrial Engineering), Science, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Management Science.YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
OR
A combination of education and experience. A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then, divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.). YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Qualifications at the GS-12 level:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes; applying mathematical or statistical principles and practices to military weapons programs sufficient to evaluate support of equipment and effectiveness; developing, and integrating pertinent information through various data collection, analysis procedures, and technologies; and or utilizing program policies sufficient to participate in a variety of projects to determine tradeoff, operating costs and system performance. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).
OR
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Engineering (usually Industrial Engineering), Science, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Management Science.YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Qualifications at the GS-13 level:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: conducting extensive systematic exploration of problems of an unprecedented nature using compiled computer programming languages, primarily C and C++, interpreting computer programing languages such as, R, Python, Java, and database management languages; utilizing data science and research techniques sufficient to complete major developmental studies. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12).
There is no educational substitution for experience at the GS 13 level.
Education
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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:
Additional information
- Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
- You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
- One year trial/probationary period may be required.
- Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
- Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
- If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
- This is an Analysis, Modeling and Simulation Career Field position.
- Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
- Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
- Relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized.
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement.
If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.
Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered. - Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements.
As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
1. Your resume:- Your resume may be submitted in any format and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
- If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
- For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., HRS per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete and you may not receive consideration for this position.
- For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Other supporting documents:- Cover Letter, optional
- Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
- This position has an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience. If you meet this requirement based on education you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. - How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 06/21/2024 to receive consideration- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
- It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
- Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account ( all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit:
Agency contact information
Army Applicant Help Desk
Email
...@ARMY.MIL
Website
Address
HT-W3WCAA CENTER FOR ARMY ANALYSIS
DO NOT MAIL
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060
US
Next steps
If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking (as applicable) for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration. - Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.- Criminal history inquiries
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Financial suitability
- New employee probationary period
- Privacy Act
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Selective Service
- Signature and false statements
- Social security number request
Required Documents
The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements.
As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
1. Your resume:
- Your resume may be submitted in any format and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
- If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
- For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., HRS per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete and you may not receive consideration for this position.
- For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Other supporting documents:
- Cover Letter, optional
- Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
- This position has an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience. If you meet this requirement based on education you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible. See: Transcripts and Licenses
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 06/21/2024 to receive consideration
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
- It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
- Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account ( all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit:
Agency contact information
Army Applicant Help Desk
...@ARMY.MIL
Website
Address
HT-W3WCAA CENTER FOR ARMY ANALYSIS
DO NOT MAIL
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060
US
Next steps
If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking (as applicable) for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Criminal history inquiries
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Financial suitability
- New employee probationary period
- Privacy Act
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Selective Service
- Signature and false statements
- Social security number request