Transportation Specialist (Operations Research)

Details

Posted: 09-Apr-24

Washington DC, Full Time

Categories:

Engineering Management Engineering Management - Analytics Engineering Management - Management Science Engineering Management - Operations Research

Academic Designation:

Industry

Work Function:

Analysts Data Science/Mining Decision Analysis/Science Forecasting Operations Research Professionals Statistics

Preferred Education:

Doctorate

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is seeking candidates for a GS-13/14 Transportation Specialist (Operations Research) on the Transportation Policy and Strategy Analysis Team. The Transportation Policy and Strategy Analysis Team plans, conducts, manages, and monitors a broad program of studies concerning the total transportation needs and resources of the United States and translates these studies into Federal highway policies and programs. The team takes a data-driven and system modeling approach to understanding how policies and other factors affect transportation systems and virous performance measures across the country, and understanding the trends of technologies in the transportation sector. The incumbent takes a lead advisory role in initiating, developing, and shaping FHWA research activities to address critical issues and support FHWA’s mission to deliver world-class highway and streets programs that advance safe, efficient, equitable, and sustainable mobility choices for all while strengthening the Nation’s economy.

The ideal candidate for this position is a mid-career technical expert with strong analytical and research background. The candidate applies a deep knowledge of transportation engineering, operations research, mathematical modeling, and economy to formulate and guide transportation research projects and research teams to address policy questions, evaluate impacts of national level transportation policies on different transportation systems performance measure, and compare tradeoffs between different policy alternatives. The incumbent leads the development and operation of complex system level analysis tools and should be skilled in the application of such tools in developing materials for a variety of audiences, including reports to higher level leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develops and manages a program of applied research and systems analysis projects to understand transportation trends, evaluate transportation policies, and quantify their impacts on different transportation system performance measures. Leads research projects and works collaboratively with other team members on joint projects, coordinating activities with other units within FHWA.
• Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• Independently develops and implements new theoretical approaches, tools and models using in-depth knowledge and experience with transportation data and models, large-scale system optimization, economy, market designs, and advanced analytics to identify transportation trends and needs, and assess impacts of transportation policies considering differences in geographies and demographics.
• Independently develops and completes in-house studies which may include integrated literature reviews, complex statistical analysis, data interpretation and database manipulation, scenario development, and policy analysis.
• Applies findings from research projects and different scenario analysis to different policy questions, and independently prepare briefs, reports and presentations for different audience. Identifies best ways to simplify, visualize, and present complex research findings to audiences with different backgrounds.
• Maintains expert knowledge of transportation programs, policies, and regulations. Tracks key issues surrounding trends in transportation. Coordinates and conducts research on key transportation issues, themes, policies, and technologies. Provides expert policy analysis that can be relied by top-level policy makers in the FHWA, DOT, and other Federal agencies for use in national policy formulation.
• Graduate degree in a pertinent major is required.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position in GS 14 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to a GS-13, including the following:

• Experience formulating, conducting, and leading innovative research and research teams relating to quantifying policy impacts studies; AND
• Experience developing and applying operations research, transportation, and economic analysis techniques and tools to study transportation policy questions and lead development of appropriate system level models.

To qualify for this position in GS 13 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to a GS-12, including the following:

• Experience formulating and conducting research relating to quantifying policy impacts studies; AND
• Experience developing and applying operations research, transportation, and economic analysis techniques and tools to study transportation policy questions and develop system level models.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including costs and limits.
• Economics - Knowledge of economic policy, principles, and practices, market and non-market values, and the analysis and reporting of economic data.
• Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance
• Research - Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results
• Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience

How to apply

We are using the Direct Hire authority to fill this position. If you are interested in this position, please send your resume describing your work experience applicable to the primary duties and specialized experience of the position directly to by 11:59 (eastern) on Monday, May 6th, 2024 . . Please refer to “Transportation Specialist (Operations Research)” in the subject line .

Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information describing your work experience applicable to this position’s primary duties and responsibilities for us to make a qualification determination. Also, ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. To be eligible, applicant must be a Citizen, National or owe allegiance to the

Visit Us on the Web

About Federal Highway Administration/ DOT The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is an agency within the Department of Transportation that supports State and local governments in the design, construction, and maintenance of the Nation’s highway system (Federal-aid highway program) and various federally and tribal-owned lands (Federal Lands Highway Program). Through financial and technical assistance to State and local governments, the Federal Highway Administration is responsible for ensuring that America’s roads and highways continue to be among the safest and most technologically sound in the world.