Data Analyst

Summary

This announcement is issued under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) to recruit for positions for which there is a critical hiring need. Selectee(s) will receive a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service and may be required to serve a one year probationary period. The official title of this position is Operations Research Analyst, GS-1515-11/12.

Duties

The Infrastructure Security Division (ISD) focuses on protecting critical infrastructure from all hazards by managing risk and enhancing resilience through collaboration with the critical infrastructure community, which includes private sector owners, operators, and employees; State, local, tribal, and territorial officials; and other Federal agencies. Typical work assignments GS-12 include, but are not limited to: Assisting in conducting quantitative research studies by supporting study design, data collection, data preparation, and evaluation of analytical findings. Analyzing statistical data to identify patterns, trends, relationships, and anomalies that support program, policy, research, or operational assessments. Organizing, maintaining, and retrieving structured and unstructured data to support analytical activities, reporting requirements, and evidence-based decision-making. Appling data standards, data models, and quality checks to improve data consistency, accuracy, and usability for analysis and reporting. Reviewing technical documentation, data dictionaries, analytical guidance, and related materials to understand requirements and apply appropriate analytical methods. Preparing, reviewing, or contributing to written reports, dashboards, visualizations, and briefing materials that communicate analytical findings to stakeholders. Evaluating analytical outputs using logical reasoning and statistical interpretation to ensure findings are accurate, relevant, and aligned with research objectives.

Qualifications

Do NOT copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Your resume must describe your work and experience, in your own words. To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Basic Requirements AND Minimum Qualification requirements as listed below. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Degree: Bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited institution that included a major field of study in Operations Research; OR a degree with 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. IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS ABOVE, YOU MUST ALSO MEET EITHER THE FOLLOWING SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS OR EDUCATION TO SUBSTITUTE IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED: You qualify at the GS-11 grade level, if you have: EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level (or equivalent) performing all the following duties: Assisting with data analysis using a programming language (e.g., Python, R, Scala) to clean, organize, analyze, or summarize data. Contributing to written reports, presentations, dashboards, or other materials that communicate analytical findings. AND Developing analytical project ideas by helping translate organizational problems or challenges into questions that can be answered with data. OR EDUCATION: A. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution in Operations Research;OR a Ph.D. or equivalent degree with at least 24 semester hours of coursework 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. OR B. Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited institution that included major study in the field of study described in statement "A" above. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: To combine education and experience, determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage by dividing your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then determine your education as a percentage by dividing the total number of completed graduate education beyond the second year (total graduate education minus 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours) by 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours. Finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify at this grade level. You qualify at the GS-12 grade level, if you have: EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level (or equivalent) performing all the following duties: Performing data analysis using a programming language (e.g., Python, R, Scala) to clean, organize, analyze, or summarize data. Contributing to written reports, presentations, dashboards, or other materials that communicate complex analytical findings. AND Developing analytical project ideas by helping translate intricate organizational problems or challenges into questions that can be answered with data. 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. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

For positions with an education requirement, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. If you are qualifying for a position by substituting education or training for experience, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. Education must be from an accredited 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. Graduate Education: One academic year of graduate education is the number of credits hours 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: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the qualification requirements. You must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. educ