Duties

Summary

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Responsibilities

• Conduct operations research, predictive/prescriptive analytics and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) studies. Identify specific concepts and develop procedures for investigating problems of a significant nature.
• Prepare study plans which define study efforts by providing the background, description, approach, project milestones, resource requirements and costs for each study. Identify sources of subject matter information, including specialized data.
• Perform quantitative, statistical analysis and operations research studies requiring the application of such techniques as mathematical modeling, linear and nonlinear programming, simulation, decision theory and machine learning theory.
• Perform Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) activities including data identification, cleansing and preparation, algorithm development, statistical learning and validation of results.
• Conduct, organize, direct and coordinate analytical studies in a primary business (e.g., procurement, finance, distribution, et al) area that often incorporate factors from other functional areas;
• serve as a technical and operations research advisor to management officials and ACE teams, branch chiefs and other analysts;
• serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on quantitative, machine learning and operations research contract study efforts administered by ACE, as required.
• Develop applications, tools and processes for delivery of data solutions to the DLA business community. Typical outputs include business metrics, dashboards, interactive reports and tailored data packages.
• Develop fact-based recommendations for senior leaders on matters of process, policy, investment and business strategy. Typical outputs include project reports, white papers, spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and oral presentations.
• AT THE GS-09 LEVEL: The employee will gather and organize data, conduct basic statistical analyses, develop spreadsheets, prepare PowerPoint packages to report results, and produce and deliver white papers, reports and oral presentations.
• Emphasis will be on developing programming skills (SAS, SQL, R, Python, etc.), understanding DLA business areas and applying statistical and operations research methods to basic logistics and business issues.
• Elementary machine learning and artificial intelligence concepts will be introduced. Employee may attend baseline training in areas of operations research, mathematics, statistics, data science, logistics and business process analysis.
• AT THE GS-11 LEVEL: Conducts portions of moderately complex operations research and logistics analyses under the direction of a project leader. Independently completes statistical analysis and interpretation of data.
• Identifies concepts and develops procedures for aspects of complex problems. Provides methodology and resource requirement input to the lead analyst in the development of study plans which define study efforts.
• Performs quantitative, statistical and operations research studies requiring the application of mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, linear/nonlinear programming, simulation, probability theory, data mining and machine learning.
• Assists the lead analyst in developing recommendations based on study results. Programming skills will be applied to the development of data visualization products for internal and external customers.
• Employee may attend specialized advanced training in areas of operations research, mathematics, statistics, data science, logistics and business process analysis.
• AT THE GS-12 LEVEL: The employee will independently conduct moderately complex analyses, applying a wide range of techniques including operation research, statistical methods, data mining, modeling and simulation and machine learning.
• Programming skills will be applied to the development of data visualization products for internal and external customers.
• Predictive/prescriptive analytics will inform business decision makers of alternative courses of action to improve business operations.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Drug Testing Position: Yes
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Tour of Duty: Full-Time
• Security Requirements: Non-Critical Sensitive/Secret
• Appointment is subject to the completion of a favorable suitability or fitness determination, where reciprocity cannot be applied; unfavorably adjudicated background checks will be grounds for removal.
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non-Exempt
• Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Bargaining Unit Status: No
• Two vacancies will be filled in CAD org code - but additional vacancies may be filled from the same certificate in any J6 area for up to 6 months from the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

A. Basic Education: 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 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.

B. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and is directly in or related to this position. To qualify at the GS-09 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military or private sector. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements including time-in-grade (General Schedule (GS) positions only), time-after-competitive appointment, minimum qualifications, and any other regulatory requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement. Creditable specialized experience includes:

• GS-07: Experience with applying analytical techniques to solve a variety of projects; Assisting with conducting studies, analyzing findings and making recommendations using principles, theories, techniques, and methodologies. Experience with applying advanced mathematical and other scientific management analysis techniques to solve portions of difficult and complex projects; Experience with conducting studies, analyzing findings, and making recommendations using principles, theories, techniques, and methodologies; Experience with machine learning techniques, data mining and/or artificial intelligence experiments.

C. Combination: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for grade level GS-07, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-09.

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). 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.

Education

Education: Education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Education must be from a college or university accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education. See http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx. If using education to meet basic qualifications, YOU MUST SUBMIT A TRANSCRIPT as supplemental documentation. To qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, applicants must possess:

• GS-09: 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree

Are you using your education to qualify? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: 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 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.

Additional information

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE: In order to receive this preference you must choose to apply using the "Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP)" eligibility. If you are claiming military spouse preference and are determined to be among the Best Qualified for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.

For Important General Applicant Information and Definitions go to: http://www.dla.mil/portals/104/documents/careers/GenAppInfoDef.pdf

Reemployed Annuitants: This position does not meet criteria for appointment of Reemployed Annuitants. The DoD criteria for hiring Reemployed Annuitants can be found at: http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

INFORMATION FOR VETERANS is available at: http://www.dla.mil/Careers/Programs/veterans.aspx . As of 23 December 2016, Military retirees seeking to enter federal service in the Department of Defense now require a waiver if they would be appointed within 180 days following their official date of retirement.

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE:The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has established a Drug-Free Federal Workplace Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for DLA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with DLA for a period of six months. This policy extends to random testing for the use of illegal drugs by employees who occupy testing designated positions defined as sensitive in Section 7(d) of Executive Order 12564. The Defense Logistics Agency's Drug Free Workplace Plan's drug testing panel includes testing for the following illegal substances: marijuana, cocaine, opiates (codeine/morphine), 6-Acetylmorphine (heroin), phencyclidine, amphetamines (amphetamine/methamphetamine), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The assessments for this job will measure the following Competencies:

• Principles, Theories and Concepts of Quantitative Analysis and Operations Research
• Analysis
• Communication

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation may be completed and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. The rating you receive is based on your responses to the assessment questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for this position. If your resume and/or supporting documentation is reviewed and 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. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

To apply for this position you must provide a complete Application Package. Each Application Package MUST include:

Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed for the qualifications and referred for selection consideration if eligible.

Applicable documents to support the eligibility(s) for which you are applying. Please review the following link for a listing of the additional documents you will need to provide: Supporting Documents .

If you are claiming Military Spouse Preference, you must submit the following supporting documents with your application package: Marriage Certificate or License; Signed Self-Certification Checklist (must be certified within 30 days); Veterans' Preference documentation (e.g., DD-214, VA Letter, Statement of Service, if applicable); Transcripts (if applicable). These documents must provide acceptable information to verify: Residency within the commuting area of your sponsor's permanent duty station (PDS); proof of marriage to the active duty sponsor; proof of military member's active duty status; and other documentation required by the vacancy announcement to which you are applying. NOTE: Previous federal employees must also submit the following additional documentation: SF-50s (e.g., LWOP, highest grade held, overseas appointments, etc.), SF-75 information, and documentation of performance rating of record (dated within the last 12 months).

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.