Business Automation Engineer
Apply NowCompany: Universal Strategy Group, Inc.
Location: Washington, DC 20011
Description:
Welcome to Universal Strategy Group Inc (USGI)! USGI is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business. USGI was founded in 2007 with the single focus of preserving and promoting American security. Our mission is to provide the best-in-class personnel who provide tailored analytical, operational, and technical solutions to our Nation's most complex national security challenges while exceeding customer expectations.
USGI is committed to recruiting, nurturing, and retaining top talent that set us apart from our competition. USGI is an experienced, team-oriented, dynamic, and expanding company that values exceptional performance! USGI understands that well-cared for and motivated personnel are the key to the successful accomplishment of any mission, and toward that end, USGI takes exceptional care of our team.
USGI is seeking a Business Automation Engineer who shall be ready to assist with the development and maintenance of automated processes that support data collection and input into INL's performance monitoring database for foreign assistance projects. The position will directly support INL's ability to manage its foreign assistance projects, monitor results, and report impacts to Congress, the White House, and other stakeholders. The Business Automation Engineer will work within a team of data scientists and social scientists, performing the following types of duties: 1) work with end users to design and improve forms to collect inputs; 2) develop and improve automated workflows and processes using R, Python, or Microsoft Power Platform tools; 3) develop and improve tools to produce automated reports that monitor automated workflows and user interaction with the database; and 4) support non-technical users as needed. The position requires the ability to collect business requirements from non-technical users, build, troubleshoot, and maintain automated workflows, and produce visually appealing analytic reports. This position also requires a commitment to customer service and an ability to help users who are not comfortable or proficient with IT tools, primarily including implementers of foreign assistance projects (e.g., staff from foreign and domestic non-government organizations (NGOs), other U.S. government agencies, and international organizations).
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State's mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous, and secure world.
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) keeps Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.
INL's Office of Knowledge Management (INL/KM) seeks to continuously improve the design, implementation, and results of assistance aimed to improve criminal justice capacity abroad by providing programmatic and policy guidance, expertise, and training informed by experience and evidence. The position is located in the Division of Design and Learning (INL/KM/DDL), which focuses on program design, monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
CLEARANCE:
A Secret security clearance is required for this position; work may begin with an interim Secret security clearance.
POSITION HOURS/LOCATION:
Hours for this full-time position will be the core hours of INL/KM/DDL: Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week, 8 hours per day. The physical work location is the INL/KM/DDL offices located in State Annex -1, Columbia Plaza, 2401 E St. NW, Washington, D.C.
GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT
DOS will provide office space, computer, phone, and other required equipment and supplies necessary to complete all job requirements. DOS will own and maintain all government furnished property.
TELEWORK
This is a hybrid position that allows for a combination of in-office presence and regular telework. The incumbent's actual in-office and telework schedule will be determined by the COR and CO, based on INL policy of the total numbers per pay period/week, and is subject to change.
TRAVEL
Travel is authorized for this position in accordance with the award and shall not exceed the designated ceiling.
TRAINING
This BPA Call provides for mandatory training for DOS-specific equipment, systems, and processes (reference 13 FAM 300 Agency Mandated Training), which shall be completed promptly and in accordance with Department policy. These trainings do not require INL Contracting Officer (CO) approval.
Travel related training (i.e., FACT (CT650), HTSOS-C etc.), may be required, if applicable. The contractor's Program Manager (PM) shall coordinate with INL/EX/GAPP to determine if applicable and if INL CO's approval is required prior. All other training requires INL CO approval.
USGI offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including health, dental and vision benefits, life insurance, AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance, 401(k) plan with company match, plus generous PTO offerings to include vacation/sick days, bereavement leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays. USGI is an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
USGI is committed to recruiting, nurturing, and retaining top talent that set us apart from our competition. USGI is an experienced, team-oriented, dynamic, and expanding company that values exceptional performance! USGI understands that well-cared for and motivated personnel are the key to the successful accomplishment of any mission, and toward that end, USGI takes exceptional care of our team.
USGI is seeking a Business Automation Engineer who shall be ready to assist with the development and maintenance of automated processes that support data collection and input into INL's performance monitoring database for foreign assistance projects. The position will directly support INL's ability to manage its foreign assistance projects, monitor results, and report impacts to Congress, the White House, and other stakeholders. The Business Automation Engineer will work within a team of data scientists and social scientists, performing the following types of duties: 1) work with end users to design and improve forms to collect inputs; 2) develop and improve automated workflows and processes using R, Python, or Microsoft Power Platform tools; 3) develop and improve tools to produce automated reports that monitor automated workflows and user interaction with the database; and 4) support non-technical users as needed. The position requires the ability to collect business requirements from non-technical users, build, troubleshoot, and maintain automated workflows, and produce visually appealing analytic reports. This position also requires a commitment to customer service and an ability to help users who are not comfortable or proficient with IT tools, primarily including implementers of foreign assistance projects (e.g., staff from foreign and domestic non-government organizations (NGOs), other U.S. government agencies, and international organizations).
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State's mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous, and secure world.
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) keeps Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.
INL's Office of Knowledge Management (INL/KM) seeks to continuously improve the design, implementation, and results of assistance aimed to improve criminal justice capacity abroad by providing programmatic and policy guidance, expertise, and training informed by experience and evidence. The position is located in the Division of Design and Learning (INL/KM/DDL), which focuses on program design, monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work within a team and with external stakeholders to collect business requirements and user feedback on existing workflows and processes.
- Create new or improved models of workflows and processes based off the requirements and feedback.
- Translate models into technical requirements.
- Use the technical requirements to develop or improve automated workflows and processes using R, Python, or Microsoft Power Platform tools, where appropriate.
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and continuously improve automated workflows and processes, with emphasis both on user experience and efficiency/accuracy.
- Produce analytic reports about process flows and outputs, with a focus on where we can improve.
- Communicate any problems or opportunities for improvement to the team and management.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- U.S. Citizen
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Business Analytics or related field
- Six to ten years' experience (in total - not for each task):
- Conducting business analysis, process automation, or software development
- Using programming languages such as R and Python for statistical computing and graphics
- Developing automated processes using Microsoft Power Automate or equivalents
- Designing and optimizing workflows for efficiency, effectiveness, and ease-of-use; and
- Teaching or providing assistance to others, especially but not limited to assistance with IT tools
- Demonstrated knowledge of Federal regulations in regard to area of specific need
- Note: applicants may demonstrate knowledge by consulting 18 FAM 301.4 prior to submitting their application
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Demonstrated experience facilitating organizational change
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Analytic Skills:
- Demonstrated ability to understand and translate business requirements into technical specifications
- Demonstrated experience conducting needs assessments, gap analyses, and process mapping
- Demonstrated excellent analytic and problem-solving skills to troubleshoot and optimize automated workflows
- Demonstrated ability to identify and implement improvements to existing processes
- Communication Skills:
- Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills to interact with stakeholders and document processes clearly
- Demonstrated ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences
- Advanced degree in relevant field or specialized certifications (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Power Platform, R or Python certification)
- Demonstrated proficiency in R, Python, or equivalents, with experience in writing scripts and developing applications to automate tasks
- Demonstrated experience with API integration and developing custom connectors for automation tools
- Demonstrated experience with data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) processes
- Demonstrated experience working at the U.S. Department of State or another federal agency
CLEARANCE:
A Secret security clearance is required for this position; work may begin with an interim Secret security clearance.
POSITION HOURS/LOCATION:
Hours for this full-time position will be the core hours of INL/KM/DDL: Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week, 8 hours per day. The physical work location is the INL/KM/DDL offices located in State Annex -1, Columbia Plaza, 2401 E St. NW, Washington, D.C.
GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT
DOS will provide office space, computer, phone, and other required equipment and supplies necessary to complete all job requirements. DOS will own and maintain all government furnished property.
TELEWORK
This is a hybrid position that allows for a combination of in-office presence and regular telework. The incumbent's actual in-office and telework schedule will be determined by the COR and CO, based on INL policy of the total numbers per pay period/week, and is subject to change.
TRAVEL
Travel is authorized for this position in accordance with the award and shall not exceed the designated ceiling.
TRAINING
This BPA Call provides for mandatory training for DOS-specific equipment, systems, and processes (reference 13 FAM 300 Agency Mandated Training), which shall be completed promptly and in accordance with Department policy. These trainings do not require INL Contracting Officer (CO) approval.
Travel related training (i.e., FACT (CT650), HTSOS-C etc.), may be required, if applicable. The contractor's Program Manager (PM) shall coordinate with INL/EX/GAPP to determine if applicable and if INL CO's approval is required prior. All other training requires INL CO approval.
USGI offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including health, dental and vision benefits, life insurance, AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance, 401(k) plan with company match, plus generous PTO offerings to include vacation/sick days, bereavement leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays. USGI is an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.