Operations Research Analyst (Recent Graduate)

This position is part of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office. The Recent Graduates Program is a dynamic, one-year developmental program that promotes careers in the Federal Government to recent graduates. Participants in the Program receive training and professional development and are assigned a mentor. Recent Graduates who successfully complete Program requirements may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a term or permanent position in the civil service. You must meet the eligibility and qualifications by the closing date of this announcement. This series does have education requirements which are listed in the Education Section. To be eligible for the Pathways Recent Graduate program you must be a: Recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program that awards a recognized postsecondary credential (such as a Registered Apprenticeship Program or Job Corps). -OR- Students who have graduated by the closing date of this announcement will meet the education requirements and will have graduated with a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program. A student may not be appointed to a position until they have graduated. -OR- Preference eligible veterans who have been precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their two-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed six years after degree or certificate completion. You MUST submit a copy of the DD214 showing the duration and dates of service that precluded you from applying due to the military service obligation. For the GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience for this position at the GS-11 includes: Synthesize data from multiple different sources using spreadsheet software (such as Microsoft Excel) to create functional databases, charts, graphs, or tables.; AND Write briefs, research papers, or presentations to explain data findings and market developments to teammates, management, or stakeholders.; AND Track and analyze how supply, demand, pricing, or shipping impacts a market (such as energy, commodities, finance, or business). OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-11 BASED ON EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-11 BASED ON COMBINATION: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours), may be combined to be considered for qualifying education. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. CONVERSION REQUIREMENTS: DOE has the option to non-competitively convert a Recent Graduate to a permanent or term position upon successful completion of program requirements. This is not automatic, nor guaranteed. Conversion is at the discretion of the hiring manager and employing office. To be eligible to be converted to a permanent or term position you must: Be a US Citizen or National Be recommended for conversion by your manager or supervisor. Complete all training and development requirements within the 1-year appointment period. Successful completion of 1 year of continuous service. Demonstrate successful job performance of at least a "Fully Successful" or equivalent on performance appraisal. Meet the Office of Personnel Management's qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted (which may include a positive education requirement). Operations Research Series 1515 A Recent Graduate may be converted to the highest General Schedule (GS) grade level qualified for at time of conversion. Recent Graduates converted to a term position in the competitive service may subsequently be non-competitively converted to a career or career-conditional appointment without further competition. WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM? For additional information regarding the Pathways Program, please refer to the following website: USAJOBS Help Center | Students & recent graduates The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office's (HGEO's) Office of Petroleum Reserves advances the President's goal of filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to its maximum capacity and maintaining drawdown readiness throughout management of the SPR program. The Office also manages the Northeast Home Heating Reserve and environmental remediation of the Naval Petroleum Reserve. Its key objectives are to: Maintain Operational Readiness to drawdown crude oil within 13 days of Presidential direction. Establish and execute an integrated strategy to fill the SPR to capacity. Efficiently maintain SPR infrastructure for reliability, safety, and flexibility. This position is offered through the Recent Graduates Program and has a target grade of GS-13. Because you are entering at a developmental grade level (GS-11), this role is designed to support your professional growth. You will receive structured training, mentorship, and hands-on experience to help you progressively build your skills and successfully complete the full GS-11 duties outlined below. As a GS-11 Operations Research Analyst, you will: Analyze petroleum market data: Gather and monitor domestic and international data on production, trade, storage, and pricing. Build and apply analytical models: Learn and use operations research techniques, such as regression analysis, to evaluate energy sector trends. Develop spreadsheets and tools: Use Microsoft Excel to merge different datasets and create charts, graphs, and tables for stakeholders. Perform data quality checks: Review research data for errors, gaps, or inconsistencies to ensure the accuracy of analytical tools. Draft reports and presentations: Write clear market summaries, briefs, and slides that translate technical findings for decision-makers. Coordinate on team projects: Work with multidisciplinary teams to plan research assignments, track project deadlines, and share findings. Education Basic Education Requirements for the 1515 series: Degree in Operations Research 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. Other degrees acceptable for qualifying for operations research positions may have been taken in departments other than Operations Research, e.g., Engineering (usually Industrial Engineering), Science, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Management Science. Qualifying coursework for the 24 hours may include, but is not limited to: Quantitative & Analytical Methods: Optimization, mathematical modeling, queueing theory, econometrics, biometrics, psychometrics, or experimental psychology. Applied Sciences & Engineering: Engineering, physical chemistry, industrial process analysis, or physics (excluding general survey or descriptive courses). Business, Economics & Systems: Managerial economics, computer science, measurement for management, mathematical models in social phenomena, or systems design. Applied Operations Research: Courses applying operations research methodologies to practical problems in management, marketing, or other specialized fields. Other Quantitative Studies: Any comparable course in quantitative analysis that requires college-level mathematics or statistics as a prerequisite. 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 equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to OPM Instructions. What constitutes a valid certificate program: The Pathways Programs regulation (see 5 CFR 362.102) defines certificate program as post-secondary education at either: A qualifying educational institution (trade or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, or graduate or professional school) equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.; OR A qualifying career or technical education program of at least one year that awards a recognized postsecondary credential. What types of programs would meet the eligibility criteria for a qualifying career or technical education program? Three types of programs meet these criteria: Federally administered educational programs that provide rigorous academic content, technical skill proficiency, and a recognized postsecondary credential to prepare the individual for further education and/or a career in a current or emerging profession.; Registered Apprenticeship Programs; and Federally administered local, state, national, or international volunteer service programs. What is a Federally administered career or technical education program? A Federally administered career or technical education program is subject to programmatic oversight by a federal agency that includes: The nature and scope of work to be performed by participants, The type(s) and scope of training to be provided to participants, The types of skills participants will acquire or develop during the program (e.g., teaching, environmental, business, scientific, public health/health care, languages), The level and extent of mentoring participants will receive, and The metrics for successful completion of the program. Programmatic oversight may be reflected in partnership or cooperative agreements.