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Operations Research Analyst - Direct Hire (6 Month Roster/Register)

Internal Revenue Service | York, PA

Posted Date 3/19/2024
Description Positions under this announcement are being filled using a Direct Hire Authority (DHA). For information on the Recruitment Incentive please reference the Additional Information section of this announcement.

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OTHER IRS CAREERS? Visit us on the web at www.jobs.irs.govWHAT IS THE RESEARCH, APPLIED ANALYTICS, AND STATISTICS (RAAS) DIVISION?

A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions

Vacancies will be filled in the following specialty areas: Research, Applied Analytics and Statistics

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level of the GS-13:
  • Independently conducts, leads, or participates in studies of complex problems requiring considerable ingenuity to determine the approach and identify the relevant factors for analysis. The incumbent is responsible for defining the problems involved, formulating the overall concepts, evaluating findings, and recommending solutions.
  • Selects and applies mathematics, economics, econometrics, and/or statistics appropriate to solving research problems, such as the development of computerized mathematical resource allocation models (e.g., simulation), regression models, econometric projections, or workload forecasting models.
  • Consults with supervisor, other research analysts, and subject-matter specialists to ensure that appropriate techniques and procedures are being used in conducting research studies.
  • Conducts research using innovative analytical approaches and applying techniques in a creative manner to solve very difficult problems, enhance performance, or increase efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Performs special studies of Service operations to identify mathematical applications to improve or enhance existing programs. Responsibilities in conducting these studies include determining 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
This position has career progression. If you are selected at a grade level lower than the full working level, you may be non-competitively promoted as your career progresses. For example, you may be hired as a GS-05, but if the position has career progression to GS-11, then you may move from a GS-05 to a GS-11 in as little as three years.

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level of the GS-14.
  • Independently conducts, leads, or participates in studies of complex problems requiring considerable ingenuity to determine the methodological approach and identify the relevant factors for analysis. Responsible for defining the problems involved, formulating the overall concepts, evaluating findings, and recommending solutions.
  • Selects and applies mathematics, economics, and/or statistics appropriate for solving operations research problems, such as the development of resource allocation models, data profiling, trend analysis, simulation, econometric projections, or classification models.
  • Performs special studies of Service operations to identify mathematical applications to improve or enhance existing programs. Responsibilities in conducting these studies include determining 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.
  • Conducts operations research using innovative analytical approaches and applies techniques in a creative manner to solve very difficult problems, enhance performance, or increase efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Develops and applies research techniques for problem solving using data obtained from a variety of sources, both from within and outside the Service. Formulates methodological approaches in mathematical terms so they can be statistically tested to predict the probable impact on programs, processes, or resources.
Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

Qualifications will be determined based on the particular knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for the position you are selected for. In addition to meeting the qualification requirements below, if qualifying based on specialized experience, you must also meet the specialized experience requirements of the specialty area you are selected for, as outlined in the assessment questionnaire.

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement OR time of referral:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS (All Grades)

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.

Evaluation of Education:

The primary requirement of operations research work is competence in the rigorous methods of scientific inquiry and analysis rather than in the subject matter of the problem. Therefore, applicants should have sufficient knowledge of applied mathematics to understand and use the fundamental concepts and techniques of operations research methods of analysis. In addition, some positions may require knowledge of a specific subject area.

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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

GS-11: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level that demonstrated accomplishment of mathematical reasoning/statistical project assignments that required a range of knowledge of operations research requirements and techniques. For example, assignments would show a good understanding of operations research processes, procedures, and rules. accomplishments normally involve the following, or the equivalent: Experience utilizing knowledge of mathematical methods and scientific principles in order to accomplish studies, develop a variety of mathematical models and provide management with solutions or recommendations. Experience utilizing basic knowledge of multivariate techniques and knowledge of pertinent mathematical, simulation, economics, econometric and statistical operations research techniques. Researching and gathering data from a wide variety of sources and use it to analyze technical projects and program areas.
OR
Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field of study such as: operations research; or a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic, science, or subject-matter courses requiring substantial competence as described in the basic requirements.
OR
A combination of graduate education and experience as described above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-12: In addition to meeting the basic requirements you must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level. Qualifying experience is experience that demonstrated accomplishment of operations research project assignments that required a wide range of knowledge of mathematical reasoning requirements and techniques pertinent to the position to be filled. This knowledge is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant analyzed a number of alternative approaches in the process of advising management concerning major aspects of mathematical methods and scientific principles utilized to accomplish complex studies to provide management with viable solutions or recommendations.
OR
Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field of study such as: operations research; or a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic, science, or subject-matter courses requiring substantial competence as described in the basic requirements.
OR
A combination of graduate education and experience as described above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-13: In addition to meeting the basic requirements you must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12 level. Qualifying experience is experience that demonstrated accomplishment of operations research project assignments that required a wide range of knowledge of mathematical reasoning requirements and techniques pertinent to the position to be filled. This knowledge is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant analyzed a number of alternative approaches in the process of advising management concerning major aspects of complex mathematical methods and scientific principles utilized to accomplish complex studies to measure program effectiveness and efficiency and to identify probable causes of cost/workload variance.
OR
Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field of study such as: operations research; or a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic, science, or subject-matter courses requiring substantial competence as described in the basic requirements.
OR
A combination of graduate education and experience as described above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-14: In addition to meeting the basic requirements you must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13 level. Qualifying experience is 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 identifying the probable causes of cost/workload variances and procedures for resolving variances and selected and applied mathematics, economics, econometrics and/or statistics appropriate to solving operations research problems, such as the development of computerized mathematical resource allocation models (e.g. simulation), regression models, econometric projections or workload forecasting models.

Please see Education for continuation:

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

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