Address
Form of workSummary
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.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
United States Citizens
This position is also advertised under ST-MP-12197388-24-TR for Federal Employees and those who meet special hiring authorities. To be considered for both announcements, you must apply to BOTH.
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
OR
Transportation
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
Conditions of Employment
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
OR
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
OR
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
Additional information
A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. In addition, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has work/life-balance flexibilities that may be right for you.
We offer Flexible Work Schedule options.
This position is Telework eligible based upon the STB Telework policy.
Fitness Center: STB employees, at no cost, have access to the fitness center conveniently located in the building; and
A monthly transit subsidy for a portion of your commuting costs to help defray the commuting costs of employees who use mass transportation, including commuter bus, Metrorail or Metrobus, or commuter rail systems.
More than one position may be filled from this announcement.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job.
All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment measures the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:
Creative Thinking, Data Management, Research, Technical Competence, and Transportation
The Category Rating Process does not add veteran's preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veteran's preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positi...
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.
This job is open to
- Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee. - The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
United States Citizens
This position is also advertised under ST-MP-12197388-24-TR for Federal Employees and those who meet special hiring authorities. To be considered for both announcements, you must apply to BOTH.
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
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- All qualification requirements must be met by 12/20/2023. Please Note: Your application package will not receive consideration if it lacks any of the required documents under the "Required Documents" tab.
- Probationary Period: One-year probationary period may be required.
- Required to participate in the Direct Deposit program.
- Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/
- E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form 1-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. The STB is an E-Verify Participant.
- Employment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a Federal suitability clearance. If selected, you may be offered a tentative offer until the background investigation has been adjudicated.
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
Additional information
A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. In addition, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has work/life-balance flexibilities that may be right for you.
We offer Flexible Work Schedule options.
This position is Telework eligible based upon the STB Telework policy.
Fitness Center: STB employees, at no cost, have access to the fitness center conveniently located in the building; and
A monthly transit subsidy for a portion of your commuting costs to help defray the commuting costs of employees who use mass transportation, including commuter bus, Metrorail or Metrobus, or commuter rail systems.
More than one position may be filled from this announcement.
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job.
All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment measures the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:
Creative Thinking, Data Management, Research, Technical Competence, and Transportation
The Category Rating Process does not add veteran's preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veteran's preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positi...
