Economist (STEM - Direct Hire)

Summary

This position is in the Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD), Policy Analysis Staff (PAS). The PAS is responsible for a wide variety of economic analyses concerning FSIS polices and regulatory activities. The incumbent will conduct policy analyses and regulatory (cost-benefit) analyses. Incumbent will also review food safety policy and identify areas requiring development and/or improvement of FSIS policies. Projects are complex, FSIS-wide, and may involve multiple agencies.

Duties

• •****Duties and responsibilities vary and may increase according to grade level****
• •Lead assigned economic analyses of FSIS policies and regulatory activities, defining problems and selecting fruitful lines of investigation with limited supervisory oversight.
• •Plan and manage the economic components of multiple projects; coordinate across disciplines to develop needed economic data and models.
• •Assess impacts of significant rulemaking and document results clearly; defend analyses under scrutiny and negotiate solutions with diverse stakeholders.
• •Serve as a technical advisor to FSIS officials at multiple levels; collaborate to provide informed interpretation of economic phenomena.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and education, as defined below. Qualifications BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE SERIES A. Degree: In 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Please refer to the Individual Occupation Requirements: Here SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-11: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09, or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience must include at least 3 of the 6 below in your resume: Drafting an analysis plan in an economic study when provided with guidance including research questions, methods, context and data; Implementing analysis and evaluation techniques in economic studies when provided with a research plan and examples of similar studies, utilizing existing methods and as a member of a team; Aggregating, managing and utilizing exiting data with guidance; Making discrete contributions as a member of a team conducting economic analyses; Documenting an economic study or research in a report to a general technical audience which may include formal research reports, conference proceedings, white papers, thesis or dissertations. Co-developing or developing a presentation of an economic study or research to team members or conference. GS-12: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience must include at least 3 of the 6 below in your resume: Drafting a research and analysis plan for an economic assignment when given examples of similar research questions, methods, context and data; Implementing economic research assignments when given examples of similar research, utilizing existing methods and acting as the sole economist; Contributing to the development and implementation of data collection, e.g. writing a questionnaire, conducting a survey, or compiling data sets. Serving as the sole or lead economist on an interdisciplinary team, responsible for applying quantitative and qualitative methods and models; Developing documentation and reports supporting the economic analysis of policy or regulation to technical and non-technical audiences. Presenting an economic study or research to interdisciplinary team. GS-13: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12, or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience must include at least 3 of the 6 below in your resume: Evaluating and planning assignments requiring the application of economics, preferably cost-benefit or regulatory analysis, when provided with a general framework, but when a novel approach may be required; Implementing economic research assignments by finding relevant examples of similar studies, utilizing existing methods and acting as the sole economist; Co-Developing research questions and recognizing additional or novel information may need to be collected or generated to complete an analysis, e.g. developing a questionnaire, conducting a survey, amending or expanding data sets; Leading or co-leading a team conducting research and analysis of regulation, policy, or other complex topics. Developing documentation and reports supporting the economic analysis of policy or regulation to technical and non-technical audiences. Presenting an economic study or research to first-level supervisors and internal leadership. 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 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

Education or a combination of education and experience may be used to qualify at the GS-11 grade level. Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. This education demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be determined from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as equivalent to 1 year of full-time study. (Must submit transcripts.) Combination: Combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience defined in the qualifications section above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed the qualifications section above; then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate education in excess of 2 years (36 semester hours) may be used to qualify. Note: This position has a positive degree requirement or education that forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience; transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. 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. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.