Senior Economist

Summary

This position is located in the Directorate for Economic Analysis, Office of Risk Reduction (EXRR), in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The Directorate studies the effect of CPSC actions on consumers and businesses, including the impact on competitive structure and commercial practices. EXRR collects and analyzes data on deaths and injuries associated with consumer products and develops both voluntary and mandatory standards.

Duties

This position is officially titled Economist. The working title is Senior Economist. As a Senior Economist, the selectee will serve as an authoritative expert in matters concerning economic impacts of Commission actions or proposed actions. The Senior Economist will use a thorough knowledge of the economic literature and the methods used by other agencies, and other information to plan, carry out, or manage studies to improve the Directorate's analysis of the societal costs of injuries and benefits assessment. The Senior Economist will plan, organize, and carry out major studies of the financial and economic impacts of product safety standards or other Commission regulatory, compliance, or litigation actions, including the effect on production and distribution costs, prices, employment, marketing, competition and industry structure, business practices, consumer behavior, financial conditions of firms and foreign trade. The Senior Economist will be responsible for: Maintaining a broad understanding of benefits estimation methodologies in the economic literature. Maintaining and improving the Directorate's methods of estimating the societal cost of injuries and deaths for purposes of regulatory analysis. Conducting regulatory and other analyses of product safety rules and other areas of major Commission importance. Developing the model and research methodology to be used in the studies, consulting with supervisors, other economists, and attorneys as necessary. When appropriate, conducting special research and studies of high visibility for use in the preparation of reports. These efforts may include multiple regression analysis, design of surveys, or other theoretical and applied approaches to problem solving. When required, preparing oral and written depositions and court testimony and serving as expert witness for the Commission on matters relating economic, statistical and financial analyses issues in litigation actions. When directed, serving as the representative to meetings, conferences, etc., which relate to the economists area of expertise.

Qualifications

In addition to the mandatory education requirement, all applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: GS-14: 1) The development of studies of the economic, financial, or other impacts of product safety standards or other regulatory or litigation actions; 2) the use of various research and analysis techniques when assessing economic or other data; and 3) service as a technical authority on economic or financial impacts or issues. Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). 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. Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Mandatory Education Requirement. All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify: A. Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus. OR B. A combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon appointment. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. All education claimed by applicants will be verified.