Public Notice - Operations Research Analyst (Direct Hire)

Positions are in various NASA organizations and may be filled at any advertised grade. As an Operations Research Analyst, you will support a group of Programs to plan and coordinate analyses of the budget and performance, communicate findings to Agency leadership, evaluate budgets and plan and analyze budget submissions and program performance in light of agency strategic goals and objectives to assure achievement of NASA's strategic plan and missions.

Major duties

• Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
• Supports senior leadership and program decision-makers by translating complex model outputs into actionable insights, clearly communicating assumptions, sensitivities, limitations, and confidence levels with diplomacy, rigor, and intellectual honesty
• Collects, validates, analyzes, and reports statistical data involving performance and resource requirements for large, complex, and diverse projects, investments, and agency policies in order to improve NASA's programmatic performance policies.
• Develops, validates, and maintains cost and schedule estimating relationships for in-house spacecraft systems and components, applying parametric, analogy, and engineering build-up methods traceable to the NASA Standard Work Breakdown Structure.
• Plans, organizes, and leads multidisciplinary teams to develop diverse analyses associated with NASA's long term plans and investments. Uses operations research skills to assist in NASA budget formulation processes.
• Leads strategic assessments to evaluate options and timing for future spaceflight missions as well as other investments under differing budget assumptions.
• Constructs mathematical models using advanced operations research, cost/benefit analysis, economic theory, and risk assessment techniques to evaluate the need for changes in practices and processes.
• For supervisory positions, you will perform a full range of supervisory duties, which includes assigning and evaluating work; recommending personnel actions; taking disciplinary actions; and identifying training needs and developing employees.

Qualifications

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-07, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level: Applying principles and practices of operations research, mathematics or statistics sufficient to perform cost analysis; or applying analytical techniques to identify/evaluate trends and relationships for projects or studies. OR b) Completed a bachelor's degree in a field listed above or a related field and meet Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) criteria. SAA: (1) you must be in the upper third of your graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision; or (2) you must have a 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 GPA; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 GPA based on courses completed in your major field of study during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (ACHS). c) Completed 1 full academic year of graduate study in an appropriate field OR d) d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study in an appropriate field. To qualify for GS-09, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level: Using operations research to apply scientific methods and techniques to analyze systems, process or operational problems and procedures; assisting with gathering information concerning processes or operations for the organizations' projects or studies; or assisting senior analysts with analyzing and evaluating data and historical trend reports. OR b) Completed all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field OR c) Completed 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field OR d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above To qualify for GS-11, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level: Assisting with quantitative and qualitative studies and analyses; participating in the design, development, and adaptation of mathematical, statistical, econometric, and other scientific tools, methods and techniques; supporting studies that require careful planning, efficient coordination of efforts, and application of practical scientific judgement in support of ongoing projects, programs, or initiatives. OR b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field OR c) Completed 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in an appropriate field OR d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above To qualify for GS-12, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level: Supporting modeling and simulation of operations and associated system impacts, using a variety of complex tools and methodologies to perform analysis; assisting the design, development, and adaptation of mathematical, statistical, econometric, and other scientific tools, methods and techniques to analyze problems. 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. To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level: Providing technical guidance for modeling and simulation of operations and associated system impacts, using a variety of complex tools and methodologies to perform analysis; leading the design and development of mathematical, statistical, econometric, and other scientific tools, methods and techniques to analyze problems of a highly significant nature; conducting technical studies that require careful planning, efficient coordination of efforts and application of practical scientific judgement in support of ongoing projects, programs, or initiatives. To qualify for GS-15, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level: Leading analytical projects to provide strategic advice; researching, analyzing, and documenting business strategies or resources management issues, and coordinating with senior leaders to develop, recommend, and implement solutions; gathering, analyzing, manipulating, and presenting data in order to facilitate short-term and long-term decision making and resources allocation. 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. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of artificial intelligent (AI) or AI-assisted tools during the application process. Promotion Potential The full performance level (FPL) will vary based on the position in which the selectee is placed and does not default to the highest grade advertised.

Education

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.