Operations Research Analyst

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Acquisition, Business Operations Division, located in one of the following locations: Washington, DC or Ashburn, VA.

About the role

Joining Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Office of Acquisition, will allow you to use your expertise in operations research to perform cost estimating and analysis for CBP programs. This position strengthens the Department's ability to perform homeland security functions by utilizing operations research analysis principles and concepts to perform a full range of cost estimate and cost analysis duties that support the improvement of cost estimating and analysis for all program systems within CBP.

Duties

• Develop and review Life-Cycle Cost Estimates (LCCEs) for key program decision points and identify areas of improvement in CBP cost analysis capabilities and performance.
• Plan and conduct cost studies on major and non-major Acquisition systems as required by the Component Acquisition Executive (CAE). As a senior cost expert within CBP, provide counsel to the Program Manager, the CSM, Branch Chief, BOD Director, and the CAE on the quality and adequacy of program cost estimates.
• Develop cost models and cost estimating relationships, perform cost sensitivity and risk analysis, determine whether analyses include all lifecycle costs, and clearly communicate findings to top CBP management within time constraints.
• Adapt mathematical, statistical, econometric, and other scientific methods to the CBP cost analysis application; use these adaptations to draft policy and formulate procedures that support CBP's cost management system (CMS) efforts to improve cost estimating and analysis for all systems and programs within CBP.
• Brief and present results of cost estimating products to various senior CBP and DHS staff as required.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details provided for exceptions).
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English.
• You may be required to pass a background investigation.
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• Your conduct will be subject to government ethics standards, including obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity.
• DHS uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.

This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

Qualifications

This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (Basic Requirement). You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below:

Basic Requirement:

• Degree: 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: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Applying cost estimating and analysis best practices, methodologies, and/or new approaches.
• Resolving unique cost estimating problems, issues, or significantly impacting standard cost estimating practices, using new technology or processes, and cost estimating techniques.
• Providing appropriate levels of cost analyses expertise to support acquisition decisions by responsible program offices.
• Providing cost analysis recommendations for advancing programs, processes, and/or estimating methods.
• Developing and executing significant cost estimates to inform, impact, or enhance the execution of the organizational mission.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process.

Pay

This position starts at a salary of $143,913.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $187,093.00 (GS-14, Step 10).

Additional Information

• DHS Level II certification in Cost Estimating is required within 18 months of placement.
• All employees new to the federal government must serve a one-year probationary period during the first year of their initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment.
• The vacancy questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions (200 words or less each) to highlight your dedication to public service.
• Telework: No - exemptions related to telework may be available in very limited cases.