Operations Research Analyst (Economist) – Economic and Manpower Analysis Division (EMAD)
JOA#: GS 2026-1515-117
Overview
Department: Department of War (DOW)
Agency: Office of the Secretary of War (OSW)
Hiring Organization: Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
Open Period: 6/23/2026 to 7/7/2026
Pay Scale & Grade: GS 12/13/14/15
Salary Range: $102,415 to $197,200
Series & Appointment Type: 1515 Operations Research, Permanent - Schedule B Excepted Service
Location: Pentagon, Arlington, VA
Work Schedule: Full Time
Clearance Requirements: Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI
Citizenship Requirement: Open to all US Citizens
Relocation expenses reimbursed: No
Clarification from the agency: This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection.
Promotion Potential: 15
Summary:
The Office of the Secretary of War Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (OSW CAPE) seeks an Economist to develop objective policy analysis and advice provided directly to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of War. CAPE is a multi-disciplinary organization covering a wide range of defense-related concerns. This role offers unique opportunities to have a substantial, direct impact on the United States budget and national security.
The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an Operations Research Analyst (Economist) within the Economic and Manpower Analysis Division (EMAD). EMAD applies economic theory and quantitative methods to the Department’s most pressing resource allocation and policy challenges.
Current organizational priorities requiring in-depth economic insights and quantitative rigor include the Defense Industrial Base, in particular assessing market structures, production constraints, and vulnerabilities within critical defense supply chains. Other topics covered by EMAD are the Military Health System, civilian and military personnel, and defense-wide programs as directed.
Preferred skills include at least one of econometrics, industrial organization (IO economics), applied microeconomics, or macroeconomic modeling, alongside the ability to communicate complex quantitative analysis effectively to senior, non-technical decision-makers.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
Your resume and application materials should reflect the depth and breadth of your competencies for the position. Do not submit a separate written statement addressing the KSAs below. Your experience must be relevant. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
Specialized Experience: You must have at least one year (equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week) of demonstrating the duties and competencies for each GS level to qualify:
NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS13-15 levels.
Volunteer Work Experiences: You can also receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Volunteer work refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social).
Part-time or Unpaid/volunteer work experience:
Background Checks and Security Clearance
You will be required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret or Top Secret/SCI security clearance. For more information regarding security clearances click here.
How to Apply:
Required Documents:
1. Resume:
a. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, BE CLEAR, SPECIFIC AND DETAILED. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
b. You must include name, address, contact information and the hours worked per week and the dates of employment/volunteer experience (i.e., hours per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 2,087 hours or 52-weeks of 40 hours/week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies". For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
c. Do not include any photos and Personally Identifiable Information (i.e., Social Security Number, Birthdate) on your resume.
d. Resume must be limited to 2 pages and a minimum size 10 font. Please save your resume as a PDF file to preserve the 2-page length.
2. Transcripts: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications requirements. Copies of a diploma alone are not sufficient.
a. 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 conventional U.S. education program.
3. Veterans Preference:veteran eligibility documentation (DD-214 Member #4 Copy, VA Letter, Standard Form (SF) 15 as applicable). Please note: If you are a veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency to receive Veterans Preference under the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.
4. SF-50: Your latest SF-50 (if applicable) showing your tenure, grade and step, and type of position occupied. Remove all Personally Identifiable Information (Social Security Number and Birthdate). If you receive an updated SF-50 after initially applying, please provide the updated document to CAPE to be added to your application.
5. Free Response Essay Questions: Optional section to demonstrate your commitment to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passion about the ideals of our American republic, and commitment to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. You will not be scored against your responses for this section.
Please visit the CAPE Careers website for more information on CAPE, our benefits and more.
Agency contact information:
Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE)
Email:
osd.pentagon.cape.mbx.esd-support@mail.mil?subject=CAPE%20ORSA%20Application
Conditions of Employment
How You Will Be Evaluated
The qualifications for this position will be evaluated by Subject Matter Experts prior to a referral. If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application will be evaluated under a multi-hurdle assessment approach, culminating in a ranking and referral.
Resume Review (First Hurdle):
Qualifying Structured Interviews (Second Hurdle):
Ranking and Preference:
Selection Process:
Additional information
Additional Information:
Priority consideration programs will continue under their current operating procedures:
Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
NOTE: Military spouses are eligible for one permanent noncompetitive appointment using their preference eligibility for the duration of the active duty sponsor's assignment to a permanent duty station, as long as the military spouse has not declined or accepted a permanent Federal or non-appropriated fund position in the commuting area of the sponsor's current duty location. If you certify that you have not used your preference at your sponsor's current duty location and it is discovered to be untrue, you may be subject to loss of MSP and possible disciplinary action.
Supporting Documentation: You must include a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP, such as PCS orders/verification of duty location assignment and a copy of marriage certificate or license.
Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
You are eligible for this hiring category if you:
• Are a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty for more than 180 days other than for training; OR
• Are a spouse of a 100 percent disabled service member injured while on active duty; OR
• Are the un-remarried widow or widower of a service member who was killed while performing active duty.
Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your eligibility for E.O. 13473 which may include:
• verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage);
• verification of the member's 100 percent disability; and/or
• verification of the member's death while on active duty.
Additionally, you may need to submit a Standard Form-15 (SF-15), an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, and applicable supporting documents as noted on the form.
To obtain a copy of SF-15, go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf.
Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist.6.
Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist.7.
Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist
Schedule B Excepted Service Public Notice: Under this recruitment procedure, applications will be accepted, and selections are made for vacancies as they occur. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.
Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants.
Selective Service: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information, click here.
Employment Eligibility Verification: Washington Headquarters Services uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify
Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.
Schedule B
This is a Schedule B Excepted Service Public Notice, under this recruitment procedure application(s) will be accepted, and selections are made for vacancies as they occur.
A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.
Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants):
Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.
Selective Service:
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information, click here.
E-Verify
Washington Headquarters Services uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
Nepotism:
Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.
Agency contact information:
Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
Email:
osd.pentagon.cape.mbx.esd-support@mail.mil?subject=CAPE%20ORSA%20Application
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 extremely rewarding. Learn 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.
Fair & Transparent
The federal hiring process is setup to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:
You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application, hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Learn more about disability employment and reasonable accommodations or how to contact an agency.
Legal and Regulatory Guidance