Operations Research Analysts
Salary Range - $39,857 to $63,384
U.S. Citizenship Required

The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) is a federal, fee-for-service organization within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Our mission is to improve the nation's transportation systems through the development of innovative transportation system solutions.

The Motor Carrier Safety Division within the Volpe Center is seeking Operations Research Analysts with varying levels of experience to join a team of Analysts and IT Specialists in conducting assessments of the effectiveness of safety regulations and programs and developing approaches to measure the effectiveness of agencies in meeting their organizational safety goals, improving safety information systems and increasing safety awareness.

The analyst contributes to broad based analytical studies related to transportation systems analysis and evaluation. The focus is on the development and application of operation research methodologies to transportation problems, including implementation of these methodologies in web-based and other appropriate software environments. Some examples of specific duties for entry-level Operations Research Analysts include:

• Formulating problems in accordance with established scientific standards.
• Data gathering and data analysis using a variety of specified analytical techniques (including literary reviews)
• Analyzing data sources to determine overall data quality and developing summary statistics.
• Applying mathematical modeling and simulation techniques to help optimize transportation systems and to assess impacts of proposed actions.

The ideal candidates are critical thinkers with strong analytical and excellent writing and verbal communication skills. Candidates must be able to work well independently and on project teams. Transportation-related experience is a plus.

Qualification Requirements - All applicants must meet basic qualifications; in addition are specific requirements for each grade level.

Basic Qualifications:
All applicants must be U.S. Citizens and meet one of the following requirements:

• a Bachelor's Degree in Operations Research from an accredited college/university; OR
• a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college/university that included at least 24 semester hours in a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic or science; at least 3 of the 24 semester hours must have been in calculus.

Qualifications for each Grade Level:
GS-7 applicants must meet one of the following requirements (in addition to the basic qualifications):

• a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall or 3.5 in Major-specific courses; OR
• one year graduate-level education in Operations Research or a closely related area such as industrial engineering, mathematics, statistics, etc.; OR
• one year of experience in operations research or a related field;

GS-9 applicants must meet one of the following requirements (in addition to the basic qualifications):

• two years of experience in operations research or a related field; OR
• a Masters Degree in Operations Research or a closely related area such as industrial engineering, mathematics, statistics, etc.

How You Will be Evaluated: Applicants will be evaluated to determine that they meet the qualifications required above and to determine possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities as defined in (a) and (b) below.

How to Apply:
All interested applicants must submit the following documentation by May 27, 2008, to Liz Turner at the address listed below. Please reference announcement number VNTSC-08-20 somewhere on your application.

1. Resume
2. A cover letter
3. Copy of college transcripts (unofficial transcript is acceptable)
4. Writing sample (1 - 2 pages) describing how you posses the following knowledge/skills (either through classes or experience):
1. Ability to gather and analyze information
2. Skill in analyzing processes to help optimize systems and assess impacts of proposed actions.

Submit application package via email, fax, or
US Postal service to Liz Turner, at:
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
Attn: Liz Turner, RTV-3E
55 Broadway, Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02142-1093
Fax: 617-494-2429 - turner@volpe.dot.gov

This position will be filled through the Federal Career Internship Program. For more information on this program please visit http://www.opm.gov/careerintern/

Benefits: Promotion potential/career ladder, vacation time, health insurance (including dental and vision), life insurance, flexible schedules, 401(k)-type plan, retirement, etc.

Questions:
Please contact Liz Turner at: turner@volpe.dot.gov or 617-494-2608.

OR/MS Today copyright © 2008 by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences. All rights reserved.


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