Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Operations Support, Planning, Analysis, & Requirements Evaluation Directorate (PARE), CBP Statistical Tracking and Analysis (STAT) Division located in Washington, D.C.

This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first.

Duties

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This position starts at a salary of $143,913.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $187,093.00 (GS-14, Step 10).

In this Operations Research Analyst position you will serve as an expert and senior analyst using current analytical tools and techniques and is responsible for providing analytics expertise to programs within CBP and with inter-agency partners.

Typical Work assignments include:

• Serving as an expert and senior analyst in the use of advanced analytical tools and techniques to apply research/statistical mathematical methodologies to operational problems and projects.
• Consulting on and managing multiple data, analytics, modeling, and simulation projects for numerous program offices within CBP organizational elements.
• Identifying fruitful areas for the implementation of data and analytics processes and tools.
• Conducting projects of national importance using data and analytics (e.g., workforce model creation, policy outcome modeling, and data visualization dashboards),
• Developing new data and analytics techniques and technologies and where these fail, to develop new models for programs/systems involving critical/new technologies and techniques.

Requirements

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Qualifications

This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (Basic Requirement).

Basic Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below.

Degree: 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.

Evaluation of Education: The primary requirement of operations research work is competence in the rigorous methods of scientific inquiry and analysis rather than in the subject matter of the problem. Therefore, applicants should have sufficient knowledge of applied mathematics to understand and use the fundamental concepts and techniques of operations research methods of analysis. In addition, some positions may require knowledge of a specific subject area.

You qualify for this position if you meet the basic requirement listed above and possess the specialized experience, as described below:

Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Conducting operations research projects using advanced concepts of operations research, such as modeling and simulation, gap analysis, forecasting, identifying trends from large data sets, and making suggestions to leadership based on performance analyses;
• Developing, documenting, and implementing analytical tools, models, dashboards, or methodologies to support strategic planning, budgeting, and operational decision support for large, complex programs;
• Preparing and delivering detailed technical reports, briefings, and decision papers that translate complex findings into clear, actionable options for senior leaders and stakeholders;
• Serving as a technical advisor for complex analytical studies, including defining study objectives, developing study designs, identifying data requirements, executing analyses, validating results, and formulating data-driven recommendations for management.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). 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.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 07/31/2026.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

The vacancy questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions. This provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/[redacted]

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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.

Review our 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.