Cyber Operations Research Analyst

Cyber Operations Research Analyst
JOA#: GS 2023-1515-72R (C4 & Information Programs Division)
Overview:
Department: Department of Defense
Agency: Office of the Secretary of Defense
Hiring Organization: Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
Salary Range: $132,368 to $183,500 Per Year
Open Period: November 20, 2023, to December 15, 2023
Pay Scale & Grade: GS-14/15
Series: 1515 Operations Research
Appointment Type: Permanent - Schedule B Excepted Service. A current Federal Career or Career-Conditional employee selected must voluntarily relinquish his or her competitive status prior to appointment to this position.
Work Schedule: Full Time
This job is open to All US Citizens
Clarification from the agency: This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection.
Location: Pentagon, Arlington, VA
Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
Telework Eligibility: As determined by Agency Policy.
Duties:
Summary
This position is in the Office of the Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE). The Director, CAPE is the principal staff advisor and assistant to the Secretary of Defense for planning, analysis, and evaluation of the Defense Program, including formulating the force planning, fiscal, and policy guidance upon which DoD force and program projections are based; analyzing and evaluating planned and proposed military forces, weapons systems and major programs; preparing independent cost analyses of major DoD programs and weapon system acquisitions; evaluating U.S. and foreign force capabilities; developing and evaluating alternative forces and programs; and identifying the key issues and developing information and analyses for use by the Secretary of Defense in decision-making.
The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Cyber Operations Research Analyst in the C4 and Information's Program Division. The C4IP Division supports the Department of Defense (DoD) leadership's decision making by providing analytic insights on the Department's ability to achieve its priority objectives. The C4IP division is responsible for multiple portfolios including Cyber Operations, cyber security, communications, command and control, NC3, artificial intelligence, and information technology. Specifically, the C4IP division is seeking subject matter experts in Cyber Operations or cyber security.
Objective Memoranda to ensure compliance with DoD guidance or to better align a program with the defense strategy.
Responsibilities May Include:

• Leading a Program Review team to consider changes to a Defense Component's Program
• Designing and/or conducting studies and analyses of the effectiveness of critical DoD missions such as Cyber Operations (preferred) or cyber security (preferred), nuclear command and control, and satellite communications.
• Assessing the cost of cyber tools and systems as well as the technological and acquisition risk associated with developing and fielding these capabilities.
• Applying a variety of analytical approaches to solve mission focused policy, methodological, and/or administrative problems in a fast-paced environment.
• Generating and presenting the findings of analytical products to senior leaders and nontechnical audiences, clearly and concisely.
• Ensuring the techniques used are valid and appropriate to the problem or issue identified. Executes analysis per approved/valid/appropriate methodologies.
• Conducting analysis in a programming or statistical software suite such as R, Python, Excel, AI/ML techniques, MATLAB, ArcGIS (specific requirements may vary).
• Performing independently and within a team setting.
• For consideration as a GS 14 or 15, expected to be a subject matter expert advising senior leaders on methodological or analytical issues.

Travel Required: Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Supervisory status: No
Promotion Potential: 15
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
U.S. Citizenship is required.
Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
Required to participate in the direct deposit program.
Position is subject to random drug testing.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret or a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
This position may require travel away from your normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
Employee may be required to submit an annual financial interest statement.
Recruitment incentives may or may not be authorized.
Per National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of fiscal year (FY) 2017. Section 1111 modifies 5 United States Code (U.S.C.) 3326; Veterans who are retiring within 180 days of the appointment effective date may require a 180-day waiver package.
Qualifications:
Basic Requirements:
A 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.
Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Click here on the following link to view education and/or experience requirements for this position.
Click here to view occupational requirements for this position.
Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements by the closing date of the announcement. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Your resume and application materials should reflect the depth and breadth of your competencies for the position. Do not submit a separate written statement addressing the KSAs below. Your experience must be relevant and within the past 5 years as your qualifications will be evaluated based on level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Quantitative Analytics: Mastery of mathematical reasoning that involves designing, developing, and applying Operations Research, mathematical, statistical, and/or other scientific research methods. Demonstrated experience in using quantitative analytics to solve complex problems with innovative solutions sufficient to receive recognition as an authority in a particular subject. Includes ability to develop new methodologies and/or theories where current approaches are obsolete or do not support evolving directions and strategies.
• Enterprise Programs: Knowledge of DoD Cyber Operations and cyber security programs and concepts such as Zero Trust, including their contribution to successful accomplishment of critical DoD mission sets. Ability to create and innovate new concepts, analysis and alternatives to improve the cyber portfolio.
• U.S. Defense Policies and Programs. Thorough knowledge of U.S. defense policies and programs allied military capabilities, and projected threats to U.S. interests. Ability to review DoD planning documents (National Defense Strategy, Defense Planning Guidance, etc.), evaluate impact on cyber force, Cyber Operations, or cyber programs.
• PPBES: Thorough knowledge of DoD's Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution System. Demonstrate knowledge of how DoD broadly aligns defense strategy to resources. Demonstrate familiarity with procedures used to aid decision makers in making choices through independent, objective, and fact-based analyses.
• Building Coalitions: Ability towork with and collaborate with individuals across a broad spectrum of internal and external organizational representatives. Demonstrate ability to independently work across organizations, successfully navigate a complex bureaucracy, to share and obtain information, and to influence outcomes. Must have the ability to develop an expansive professional network with other organizations and to identify the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization.
• Communication: Ability to translate complex concepts, findings, and limitations into concise, plain language through varied types of written communication to include emails, memos, PowerPoint briefs, white papers, and full reports. Oral communications may include formal presentations or briefings in front of large groups of senior officials and could occur with little to no forewarning and may require communicating on matters with opposing views. Must be able to explain, advocate, and express facts and ideas in a convincing manner, and to negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally.

Specialized Experience:

• GS-14: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to GS-13) experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties and responsibilities of the position listed above.
• Your experience includes formulating and conducting independent research programs; defining and selecting basic problems for investigation; interacting with individuals across organizational boundaries to reach a common understanding of issues and data; and reporting results to management and non-technical audiences.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-14 level.

• GS-15: You MUST have at least a year demonstrating accomplishment of the duties and competencies described below. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week.
• Specialized experience includes: Leading teams in a teaming environment, performing complex statistical analyses; evaluating large and complex military programs using quantitative analytic techniques; performing complex analyses in the absence of defined goals and outcomes, providing expert consultation and technical expertise to agency senior leaders on studies and analysis, and effectively communicating with senior officials, internal and external colleagues, scientific organizations, and industry stakeholders.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-15 level.
Part-time or unpaid experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
Part-time or Unpaid/Volunteer Work Experiences:
Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Background Checks and Security Clearance:
You will be required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret or Top Secret/SCI. For more information regarding security clearances click here.
How to Apply
To be considered for this position, you must submit your completed application no later than 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. Requests for extensions will not be granted, so please begin the application process allowing yourself enough time to finish before the deadline. Submit a completed application package to CAPE via website @ https://www.cape.osd.mil/).
Required Documents: The following documents are required and must be provided with your application for this announcement:
1. Resume:
a. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR, SPECIFIC AND DETAILED. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
b. You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies". If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient, and you will not receive consideration for this position.
c. If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, you will not be considered for this vacancy. Do not include any Personally Identifiable Information (i.e., Social Security Number, Birthdate).
2. Assessment Questionnaire - You must select an answer to each question. https://www.cape.osd.mil/files/OperationsResearchAnalystGS1515GeneralQuestionnaire.pdf
3. Transcripts: An unofficial transcript can be submitted, but if selected an official transcript will be required.Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications requirements. Therefore, provide only proof of attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Copies of a diploma alone are not sufficient. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least...