The Surface Transportation Board is an independent federal agency that regulates various modes of surface transportation, including certain aspects of intercity passenger rail. The position is located in the Office of Passenger Rail (OPR) and serves as an Operations Research Analyst (OPRA). The OPRA will support the OPR's identification, analysis, and evaluation of reasonable measures to improve the service quality and address the on-time performance (OTP) of intercity passenger rail.

Duties

In this position, you will serve as an OPRA in OPR, you will be instrumental in supporting OPR's identification, analysis, and evaluation of reasonable measures that relate to STB's recommendation for improving the service, quality, and OTP of intercity passenger rail. As an OPRA in OPR, you will perform the following duties: Data Analytics Develop and create hypotheses and test such hypotheses through science-based data studies. Identify, develop, adapt, and apply science- and technology-based processes, both standardized and specialized in nature, to create solutions for streamlining, conducting, and resolving investigations and adjudications. Collaborate with legal and other subject matter experts to assess OTP data accuracy and to evaluate the methods that are used by rail employees and corporate management to (a) document train delays and OTP, and (b) apply internal control procedures to assure the transparency, accuracy, fairness, and consistency of such documentation. Draft decisions as part of the Board's review process. Other duties as assigned. OR Transportation Develop, test, and implement methodology and design methods for analyzing transportation data to streamline the STB's adjudication of OTP proceedings. Conduct investigations including analyzing records and compiling case files. Identify and test operational, infrastructural, technological and institutional modifications and betterments that might result in improved transportation service. Draft decisions as part of the Board's review process. Other duties as assigned. YOU MUST PROVIDE TRANSCRIPTS TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Requirements

Qualifications

You must meet the Mandatory Education Requirements listed in the "Education Requirements" section and the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for this series as described below. All applicants are required to submit a resume with your application. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list month/year to month/year or month/year to present and the number of hours worked per week for each period of employment/experience listed in your resume. Your responses to the questionnaire must be supported/demonstrated in your resume. If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and experience, your rating may be lowered to reflect the submitted documentation more accurately. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or education. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume. https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ Specialized experience must meet 52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade level. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Specialized Experience is the experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position of the Operations Research Analyst, 1515 series. To qualify for this position, you must meet the Mandatory Education Requirements and Specialized Experience outlined below for the Operations Research Analyst, as described below. 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. AND GS-14 To be qualified for this position at the GS-14 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-13, in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector or volunteer experience) demonstrated by performing, within one of two the groupings below (Data Analytics or Transportation), at least two of the following types of tasks: Data Analytics Writing and presenting comprehensive technical reports based on research. Developing new methods and approaches for using data to solve problems. Performing scientific research involving complex data that results in a written product that is disseminated to a venue such as a publication, peer-reviewed publication, or government report. Problem-solving using applied mathematics, economics, or statistics. Solving operations research problems using tools such as computerized mathematical models. OR Transportation Conducting research on rail transportation involving a data-driven approach Developing transportation plans and systems using computerized modeling Teaching at a college level or training professionals in the field of logistics and/or transportation Problem-solving using applied mathematics, economics, or statistics Using analytical methods and techniques to evaluate laws, policies, guidelines, or rules related to transportation GS-15 To be qualified for this position at the GS-15 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-14, in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector or volunteer experience) demonstrated by performing, within one of the two groupings below (Data Analytics or Transportation), at least four of the following types of tasks: Data Analytics Writing and presenting comprehensive technical reports based on research. Developing new methods and approaches for using data to solve problems. Performing scientific research involving complex data that results in a written product that is disseminated to a venue such as a publication, peer-reviewed publication, or government report. Problem-solving using applied mathematics, economics, or statistics. Solving operations research problems using tools such as computerized mathematical models. OR Transportation Conducting research on rail transportation involving a data-driven approach. Developing transportation plans and systems using computerized modeling. Teaching at a college level or training professionals in the field of logistics and/or transportation. Problem-solving using applied mathematics, economics, or statistics. Using analytical methods and techniques to evaluate laws, policies, guidelines, or rules related to transportation. "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. OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-1515 series can be found at the following website: Operations Research Series, 1515 (opm.gov). You may be asked to provide a writing sample as part of the interview process.

Education

All grades for the 1515 series have a positive education requirement that must be met.

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.

You must provide your transcripts to support your educational claims. Transcripts may be unofficial copies, but they must come from an accredited college or university, and they also must include the courses' names and number of credit hours. To search the database of accredited institutions visit: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

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 the 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 U.S. accredited college or university. For further information visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address Surface Transportation Board 395 E Street SW Washington, DC 20423 US
• Name: Tara Rauch
• Phone: 202-934-0302
• Email: [email protected]