Summary
The Surface Transportation Board is an independent federal agency that is responsible for the economic oversight of the nation's freight rail system.
The position is located in the Office of Economics (OE) Section of Data Analytics and serves as an Operations Research Analyst (Data Scientist). You will serve subject matter experts to agency leadership by providing sound, scientific, and quantitative information on matters that pertain to data analysis.
This job is open to

• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens.This position is being filled through Direct Hire Authority.Traditional rating and ranking of applications Does NOT apply. Veteran's preference Does NOT apply.
Duties
This announcement may not be open for the full open period shown above.THIS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT has an applicant limit of 100. Therefore, the announcement will close the day 100 applicants hvae been received.
In this position, you will serve as an Operations Research Analyst (Data Scientist) in OE, serving as an expert in the applications of operations research, systems analysis and/or data science, using these theories, principles, methods and tools for identifying, analyzing, determining, defining and resolving a variety of data-driven opportunities across STB. You will work with diverse groups ranging from subject matter experts to agency leadership on defensible insights dervied from data and quantitative models.
As a Data Scientist in OE, you will perform the following duties:

• Serve as a liaison between the assigned office and other agency components to ensure that data science approaches are feasible given IT constraints and identifying approaches to overcome obstacles.
• Research advanced scientific, statistical and predictive techniques (e.g., regression analysis, statistical analysis, modeling, mathematical programming, machine learning, computational linguistics, auto encoding, and data visualization).
• Consult to staff within the assigned office and across the STB in these topics, providing input on methodologies, technical assistance, and concrete recommendations for applications of data science techniques.
• Identify and utilize a wide variety of internal and external data sources and collaborates with STB offices to identify and address potential barriers associated with accessing, analyzing and using the data.
• Advise management of the advantages and disadvantages of various data science approaches, as well as potential applicability of new techniques, including applications of analytic tools, computer languages, and methodologies.

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 06/24/2024. Please Note: Your application package will not receive consideration if it lacks any of the required documents under the "Required Documents" tab.
• Probationary Period: A 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 utilize the following date format MM/YY to MM/YY - or - MM/YY 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 clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Specialized Experience is defined as 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 1) utilizing a wide range of methods and techniques used in data analytics to recommend those suitable for producing explicit findings and evaluations; 2) providing technical advice to senior subject matter specialists and officials responsible for broad program operations; and 3) planning major developmental studies sufficient to significant and innovative recommendations for advancing programs and/or methods.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:

• Oral Communication
• Technical Credibility
• Planning and Evaluation
• Research
• Written Communication

*Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (i.e, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, etc ) and other 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.
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, such as .
A 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.
The lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be rated well-qualified by scoring 85 or better on the assessment. Please use this link to find out additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources.

• 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. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to accurately reflect the submitted documentation.
All applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements.
Please note, Applicants will not be rated or ranked for this position and Veteran's Preference does NOT apply.
All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.
DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume. If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.
Preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12424481.

• 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.
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  Please be advised, the following documents are required even if you are already a current Federal or STB employee:
  1. Resume that includes the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month and year, and hours worked per week, if part-time. Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.
  2. Responses to questionnaire.
  3. Transcripts
  4. Supporting documentation that will be used to verify your eligibility or any preference eligibility along with your application package. These documents may include, but are not limited to:
  
  • Veterans documentation: All veterans MUST submit a DD-214, MEMBER 4 copy, if you are currently on active duty, you must submit an official statement of service from your command or other official documentation that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions;
  • Preference eligible documentation: If claiming 10-point preference you must also submit a SF-15 and any other proof that you are eligible for 10-point preference if a job offer is extended to you, final VA letter including percentage (please do not include letter from VA noting specific private medical information);
  • ICTAP documentation: RIF separation notice along with last performance rating or appraisal; and
  • Transcripts are required due to this positionspositive education requirement.
  You may be asked to provide a writing sample as part of the interview process.
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
  schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply
  Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, which includes the submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on {INSERT DATE} to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
  
  1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
  2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
  3. Click the "Submit Application" button prior to 11:59pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
  4. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification.
  To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to "Update Application." This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
  To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account, all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an "Additional Application Information" page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
  You may preview the assessment questionnaire by clicking here: {insert assessment questionnaire}
  Agency contact information
  Tara Rauch
  Phone
  202-934-0302
  Email
  tara.rauch@stb.gov
  Address
  Surface Transportation Board
  395 E Street SW
  Washington, DC 20423
  US
  Next steps
  Once referred, you may be asked to complete a structured interview, written demonstration, and/or fit interview. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period.
  Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application.
• Fair and Transparent
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required Documents
Please be advised, the following documents are required even if you are already a current Federal or STB employee:
1. Resume that includes the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month and year, and hours worked per week, if part-time. Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.
2. Responses to questionnaire.
3. Transcripts
4. Supporting documentation that will be used to verify your eligibility or any preference eligibility along with your application package. These documents may include, but are not limited to:

• Veterans documentation: All veterans MUST submit a DD-214, MEMBER 4 copy, if you are currently on active duty, you must submit an official statement of service from your command or other official documentation that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions;
• Preference eligible documentation: If claiming 10-point preference you must also submit a SF-15 and any other proof that you are eligible for 10-point preference if a job offer is extended to you, final VA letter including percentage (please do not include letter from VA noting specific private medical information);
• ICTAP documentation: RIF separation notice along with last performance rating or appraisal; and
• Transcripts are required due to this positionspositive education requirement.

You may be asked to provide a writing sample as part of the interview process.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, which includes the submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on {INSERT DATE} to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
3. Click the "Submit Application" button prior to 11:59pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
4. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification.

To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to "Update Application." This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account, all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an "Additional Application Information" page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
You may preview the assessment questionnaire by clicking here: {insert assessment questionnaire}
Agency contact information
Tara Rauch
Phone
202-934-0302
Email
tara.rauch@stb.gov
Address
Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street SW
Washington, DC 20423
US
Next steps
Once referred, you may be asked to complete a structured interview, written demonstration, and/or fit interview. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request