Operations Research Analyst

Job Summary

You will serve as an Operations Research Analyst in the mission processing branch supporting the Operations and Test Management Division to provide flow management leadership analysis/metrics to support performance evaluation; analyze risk and what-if scenarios for current/upcoming flow; lead lessons-learned collection and implementation efforts throughout ops flow; lead planned vs. as-run assessment to inform flow planning; identify and manage ops risks associated with future missions.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyzes the impact of current and proposed technology investments in achieving the Explorations Ground Systems (EGS) strategic objectives using analytical and model building techniques.
• Selects and applies mathematics, economics, and statistics for solving operations research problems, such as development of resource allocation models, data profiling, trend analysis, simulation, econometric projections, or classification models.
• Evaluates/recommends appropriate data collection and analysis method including solving a range of collection and analysis challenges, by determining specific approaches, procedures, analytical techniques, statistical methodology, and data source.
• Analyzes and assesses projects to evaluate performance and recommend adjustments to the plan. Guide and make recommendations to management for strategic planning and program development.
• Utilizes strong communication skills, good judgment, excellent integration and technical experience, and the ability to identify potential issues affecting EGS and other stakeholders.
• Performs special studies to identify mathematical applications to improve or enhance existing programs and contracts.
• Determines the types of data to be collected, formulating study methodologies, recommending improvements to existing programs or processes, and analyzing data from a variety of sources to measure and evaluate contractor performance.

Requirements and Qualifications

Conditions of Employment

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• This position may require a one-year probationary period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/Directorate/Division/Branch requirements.
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/Directorate/Division/Branch requirements.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement, to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

• Performing objective inquiries that include study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and result reporting;
• Supporting the extraction and visualization of data (e.g., resource allocation models, data profiling, trend analysis, simulation);
• Analyzing data relationships to interpret findings, draw conclusions, and provide recommendations for strategic planning and program development.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.

Education Requirement

Basic Requirement: You must have successfully completed 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 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.

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.

U.S. degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

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. These education credentials must be 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://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional Information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:

• Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
• Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
• Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents.'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.

Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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. Learn 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.

Key skills/competency

• Operations Research
• Data Analysis
• Statistical Modeling
• Simulation
• Resource Allocation
• Risk Analysis
• Strategic Planning
• Project Evaluation
• Data Visualization
• Mathematical Modeling