Summary This position is part of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Cost Estimating and Program Evaluation (CEPE). A successful candidate in this position will serve as an Operations Research Analyst, providing technical expertise in performing cost estimates, lifecycle cost analysis, cost modeling, and cost-benefit analysis of major nuclear programs and/or projects to inform decision-making of CEPE management and NNSA leadership. Responsibilities As an Operations Research Analyst, duties include: Serves as a subject matter expert for cost estimating, program evaluation, data and databases used for modeling and analysis, risk management, and operational research. Uses knowledge of applying appropriate cost estimating and statistics principles and methods, as well as risk management principles, to technically complex systems. Provides expert advice to program and project teams in cost estimating and program evaluation, including project baselining and support to the program decision processes. Advises the Administrator and NNSA senior managers on cost and program evaluation methods, processes, systems, and functional objectives The work of this position requires major responsibility for application of advanced theories and practices to solve a wide variety of novel and unconventional scientific, technical, and programmatic issues associated with estimating the cost of NNSA programs and projects, including those resulting from unpredictability of technological limitations and impacts of emerging technologies, economic dynamics, changing mission requirements, and especially political pressure to achieve program and project objectives expeditiously and/or economically. Provide expert professional scientific and technical services and advice to NNSA senior managers concerning agency policies, programs, and systems that directly affect the agency's ability to predict and justify to Congress cost associated with agency programs and projects. Evaluate the data resulting from applying mathematical or statistical tools, models, methods, and techniques. Provide the NNSA Administrator with independent, data-driven, analytical advice on all aspects of the nuclear security enterprise, including cost analysis of NNSA programs and projects and the development, evaluation and analysis of program alternatives. Work usually involves active participation in conferences, meetings, hearings, or presentations. Problems or issues are of such considerable consequence or importance that they are not susceptible to resolution at lower echelons in Government. Persons contacted typically have diverse scientific approaches, viewpoints, goals, or objectives. The employee must achieve a common understanding of the problem and a satisfactory solution by persuasion, compromise, or developing suitable alternatives. Recognized as an agency-wide expert in scientific and mathematical approaches to cost estimating and program evaluation from the standpoint of entire agency programs, projects, and activities. As such, the incumbent is relied upon by senior NNSA management to define the scope and objectives of CEPE functions and to develop policies, methods, and systems to achieve functional objectives. Requirements Conditions of Employment Subject to Random Drug Testing Must pass a pre-employment drug test. Favorable suitability determination required. Financial Disclosure is required. Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance. You must be a United States Citizen. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements. Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification. A one-year probationary period may be required. Qualifications Specialized Experience: NQ-03 Level: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., NQ-02 or GS-12. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: experience that demonstrated the accomplishment of operations research project assignments that requires experience in utilizing scientific and analysis for estimating life- cycle cost, cost estimates, and analysis and cost modeling to assess program cost and schedule. The applicant performs analytical work that involves designing, developing, and adapting mathematical, statistical, and other methods and techniques. Develops and coordinates guidance and policies for organizational and program improvement NQ-04 Level: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., NQ-03 or GS-14. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: experience that demonstrated accomplishment of operations research project assignments that required a wide range of knowledge of mathematical/statistical reasoning requirements and techniques pertinent to the position to be filled. This knowledge is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant conducted operations research using well-established and innovative methods for resolving variances and applied mathematics, economics, data analysis and/or statistics appropriate to solving operations research problems and making recommendations to leadership. Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application! Cost Estimation and Analysis Cost-Benefit Analysis Mathematical Reasoning Oral Communication "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education This position has a positive education requirement: Basic Requirements: 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. 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. The following are illustrative of acceptable courses: optimization; mathematical modeling; queueing theory; engineering; physics (except descriptive or survey courses); econometrics; psychometrics; biometrics; experimental psychology; physical chemistry; industrial process analysis; managerial economics; computer science; measurement for management; mathematical models in social phenomena; and courses that involved application of operations research techniques and methodologies to problems of management, marketing, systems design, and other specialized fields; or other comparable quantitative analysis courses for which college-level mathematics or statistics is a prerequisite. Courses in theory of probability and statistics are highly desirable but are not specified as minimum educational requirements because to do so would possibly exclude some applicants who would otherwise be well qualified. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. 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. If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information. For Professional, Scientific and Engineering Positions: If qualifying on the basis of an alternate method, i.e., professional license, you must submit official documentation to support your claim with your application package. Additional Information The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website. If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year. Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation. All males born after December 31,1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified applicant in accordance with Agency policy. EEO Policy: Click HERE. Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Click HERE. Veterans Information: Click HERE. Telework: Click HERE. Selective Service Registration: Click HERE. Information about the NNSA Demonstration project can be found by clicking HERE.