Summary
*PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, UNITED STATES POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE AND POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION EMPLOYEES. OTHER APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Duties
Are you a good writer and do you love research? This announcement provides the opportunity for a reassignment/promotion to the position of Research Analyst position in our Research & Insights Solution Center (RISC), located in Arlington, VA. Bring your skills and voice to our team! Our unit conducts innovative research and analysis on economic, business, strategy, operational, and public policy issues affecting the Postal Service. Please view our white papers at Reports | Office of Inspector General OIG (uspsoig.gov). Look for RISC or RARC (before 2019) in the report name. The successful candidate will help gather and analyze qualitative and quantitative data related to postal issues, plan and conduct studies, organize and speak at events related to research topics, and write analytical reports and other materials about the postal industry, especially concerning the Postal Service's customers, products, strategies, regulatory environment, and business opportunities. Candidates will be evaluated on the skills that they possess that are directly related to the duties of the position and the experience, education and training that indicate the applicant's ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Only those candidates who meet all qualification and eligibility requirements and who submit the required information by 11:59 PM EST on 10/22/2026 will be considered. The USPS OIG uses a Pay Banding system, which is equivalent to the Federal GS scale. Grade and salary determinations will be made based upon a candidate's education and professional experience. This position is being advertised at the Journey Band level, equivalent to a GS-9 to GS-13. The salary range for this position is $70,623.00 - $158,322.00. The salary figures include locality pay. Career ladder to GS-13 equivalent is at management's discretion. Please note that the duties and responsibilities associated with this position may vary based upon the agency's needs at the time of hire. The following description of major duties and responsibilities is only intended to give applicants a general overview of the expectations. Conduct primary and secondary research and conduct data analysis on a wide range of postal issues. Apply public policy analysis, market research methods, quantitative techniques, data analysis and qualitative research to develop public white papers or other written materials in compliance with the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE Blue Book Standards for Inspection and Evaluation. Present research findings in public forums, conducts meetings with internal leadership, the Postal Service and other external stakeholders to discuss project plans and outcomes. Prepare and organize presentations and events that engage internal and external stakeholders and lead to the expression of new ideas. Contribute to the creation of diverse content formats, in addition to traditional white papers, for presenting research findings and reaching a wider audience. Formats may include digital stories, podcasts, and presentations at internal/external online and in-person events (e.g., webinars and expert panels).
Education
Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation here: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation. Special Instructions for Candidates with Foreign Education: Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in U.S. education programs. You must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. credential evaluation service to interpret equivalency of your education against courses given in U.S. accredited colleges and universities. For further information visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications.
How you will be evaluated
The Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications required for this position. You will no longer be considered for this position if you: Receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor Fail to attach all required documentation Submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit If your application materials indicate that you are not minimally-qualified for this position If you fail to qualify on the interview Only the top-rated candidates will be referred to a review official or the selecting official for further consideration. Top-rated applicants may be required to participate in an interview. Your rating may be further adjusted or rated as ineligible by the review official or the selecting official based on your interview performance. Once all applicant scores are finalized, the selecting official will make a final decision. NOTE: If you receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor or on the interview, you will be considered NOT MINIMALLY QUALIFIED for the position and rated ineligible. Applicants for this position may be interviewed one or more times as part of the hiring process. During interviews, applicants may not use any AI tool or virtual assistant (such as ChatGPT) to help them answer questions, except for accessibility tools used as part of a reasonable accommodation. Applicants who fail to follow these rules will be disqualified from the hiring process.