Economist

Summary

This vacancy is for an Economist in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration within the Department of Commerce.

Duties

As an Economist, you will perform the following duties: Serves as an authoritative technical advisor and ensures that high-level policy makers are provided with accurate, meaningful, and properly evaluated economic analysis and advice. Conducts economic studies which gather, analyze, and interpret economic information specific to the mission of NTIA, which impacts the economic wellbeing of our society. Formulation, programming, and guidance of projects or continuing programs involving economic issues affecting spectrum management and/or telecommunications. Utilizes knowledge on how to value and price scarce spectrum resources, related to legislation, potential repurposing, auctions and associated spectrum transitions, leasing, and secondary markets. Plans, coordinates, drafts, edits, and presents major reports that address short and long-term policy needs associated with spectrum and/or telecommunications issues related to, for example, regulatory procedures and governance, market-based alternatives, technical standards, incentive-based approaches, incumbent rights and responsibilities, spectrum valuation, and wireless broadband deployment. Develops and presents for review new ideas and models for analysis and presentation of spectrum-orientated economic data. Conducts targeted research and analysis. Identifies particular problems to explore; assesses the adequacy of existing programs; and recommends and implements changes. Conducts policy-oriented research and development of innovative approaches to existing and new problems in spectrum management and/or telecommunications policy. Constructs analytical models based on research of economic and societal value of spectrum resources. Investigates and analyzes the cost structures that affect wireless systems and how these cost structures are expressed in governmental and private-sector budgetary environments. Understands and articulates the full scope of spectrum valuation factors, including non-monetary value. Prepares and presents well-organized and well-written reports documenting cost and valuation models reflecting these economic and political realities. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Economist GS-0110-14, GS-14 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location or local commuting area with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. Experience refers to 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. To qualify at the GS-14 level you must meet the Basic Requirements and Specialized Experience as described below. BASIC REQUIREMENTS A. Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus. OR B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience: Conducting economic analysis or research related to organizational programs; Developing methodologies and approaches for research; AND Analyzing major economic developments and determining applicability to the agency's major programs.

Education

See Qualifications Above. NOTE: Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.