Math Research Assistant Jobs in Springfield, VA (NOW HIRING)

Summary
The Postal Regulatory Commission has an exciting employment opportunity for a highly motivated Research Assistant.
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Duties
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• Assist in obtaining and compiling data from Postal Service and other sources into comparable formats to be used in analysis and evaluations.
• Identify, develop, and deploy technological solutions to data indexing and analysis problems.
• Verify the mathematical accuracy of financial, economic, marketing, and statistical data and statements submitted by the Postal Service.
• Research and analyze postal regulatory practices to identify practices and regulations that could inform the work of the Commission.
• Research and analyze studies on the postal sector to identify issues of interest to the Commission.
• Promote the exchange of best practices in postal regulation.
• Write reports and provide briefings on research findings with analyses of issues of potential interest to the Commission.
• Monitor and analyze documents on postal financial, regulatory, and policy issues.
• Assist in the response to special study requests from Congress.
• Identify trends and patterns within postal service data over time.
• Detect anomalies and discrepancies in postal service data, investigating the root causes and proposing corrective actions.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Citizenship Requirement: You must be a U.S. citizen or national to be eligible for this position.
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Status: Exempt
• e-Verify: All new hires must complete the I-9 form, this information will be processed through e-Verify to determine employment eligibility. If a discrepancy arises, you must take affirmative steps to resolve the matter.
• Background Investigation Requirement: You must successfully pass a background investigation. Failing to pass the background check may be grounds for removal or legal action. If hired, you may be subject to additional investigations at a later time.
• Direct Deposit: You will be required to have all federal salary payments electronically deposited into a bank account with a financial institution of your choice.
• Selective Service Registration: All applicants born male, on (or after) 12/31/1959, must be registered with the Selective Service System OR have an approved exemption. Visit www.SSS.gov for more info.
• This position may require you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) upon entry and annually thereafter.
• You will be required to serve a probationary period of 1 year.
• Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Qualifications
To be eligible for consideration, your application materials must demonstrate that you have experience that has equipped you with the ability, skill and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of the position described above.

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Economics, Data Analysis, or Statistics
• Strong knowledge of data analytics software, such as Python and R
• Demonstrated ability to develop interactive data apps
• Ability to draft reports and presentations explaining complex and technical projects
• Experience performing data analysis on large data sets (over 1 million observations)

To be eligible for consideration, your application materials must demonstrate that you have experience that has equipped you with the ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of the position described above. Typically, experience will be related to legal or regulatory work at a level similar to this position and may encompass 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.
Education
Bachelors or Masters degree in Economics, Data Analysis, or Statistics
Additional information
Ethics Requirements: The Commission is committed to government ethics. As a Commission employee, you will be subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch and the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Commission employees are also subject to Commission-specific ethics rules (39 C.F.R. subpart A of part 3001 and supplemental standards of ethical conduct [5 C.F.R. part 5601]). The supplemental standards prohibit Commission employees, as well as their spouses and dependent children, from owning any securities issued by entities that are identified on the Commission's annually published prohibited securities list. As an employee of the Commission, you must complete initial ethics training within three months of your appointment and, depending on your position, complete required financial disclosure forms within 30 days of your appointment.
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. The Commission may offer Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
Work Environment: This position is in the Office of Accountability and Compliance (OAC). This Office is responsible for promoting United States Postal Service transparency and accountability by establishing and maintaining a modern system to regulate rates, ensuring Postal Service compliance with the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA), making recommendations based on the analysis of financial reports from the Postal Service, and by preparing annual and periodic reports to Congress. The Office of Accountability and Compliance serves the Commission and Commissioners, the Postal Service, mailers, the U.S. Department of State, and the American public. This position is eligible for telework.
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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.
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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.