Economist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This position is located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Chief Economist, (OCE) in Washington, DC. The position will reside within the Immediate Office of OCE and is responsible for evaluating the economic impact of policy options relating to complex issues that cut across agricultural trade and commodity areas, particularly related to commodity input markets.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help

• Responsible for developing appropriate research methods and evaluation techniques for OCE to analyze the economic impact of relevant policy options, particularly related to commodity input markets.
• Assists the Chief/Deputy Chief Economist in framing options in areas where differences of opinion may be sharp, political consequences great, and public understanding of the issue very limited, and may be asked to frame options acting alone.
• Responsible for providing advice and guidance to the Chief/Deputy Chief Economist on data and statistical issues involved in analysis of commodity input markets, agricultural policy, trade, and/or production.
• Plans, develops, organizes, and coordinates extensive multi-disciplinary analyses which lead to policy options for domestic agricultural and rural programs and, occasionally, international agriculture on the short and intermediate range.
• Analyzes and evaluates legislative proposals that cut across commodity input and trade areas for policy and program implications. Prepares reports on legislative proposals concerning policy issues that are required by Congressional committees.
• Responsible for the publication and/or presentation of various oral and written, formal, and informal reports and analyses pertaining to assigned area of analysis.
• Communicates orally and in writing to convey, in plain language, complex technical results and applications for use by both technical and nontechnical personnel.
• Develops for the Chief/Deputy Chief Economist or the Office of the Secretary economic analyses and interpretations which may cut across established organizational and functional lines of the USDA.
• Responsible for adequacy of data and analytical methods and for the relevance, completeness and reliability of results of policy and program studies, program evaluations, and economic impact analyses.
• Responsible for the interpretation, coordination, and technical application of research and analysis.
• Serves as a primary contact on cross-agency issues concerning agricultural commodity input markets and agricultural production.
• Reviews the institutional history of government policy efforts/past measures dealing with agricultural programs affecting U.S. agriculture, trade, agricultural/rural economy, and the financial well-being of farmers, taxpayers, and consumers.
• Compares the likely impact of alternative proposals; and identifies, develops, and evaluates various methods of implementing particular policy proposals.
• Leads personnel as assigned to the functional area, including personnel serving on committees, task forces and working groups assembled across agency lines to address agricultural policy and agricultural trade, and/or production issues.

Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including Basic Requirements and Minimum Qualification Requirements, as defined below.
Basic Requirements:
In addition to meeting the Minimum Qualification Requirements outlined in the following section, applicants MUST meet the following occupational series requirements:
A. Economist Series, 0110
Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
OR
Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Minimum Qualification Requirements: In addition to meeting at least one of the Basic Requirements outlined above, applicants must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements shown below. If qualifying based on experience, your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the specialized experience requirements.
Time in grade:
Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.
Specialized Experience:
GS-15: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped the candidate with the particular competencies to successfully perform as a Agricultural Economist, the specialized experience is having the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position described as experience in using advanced economic and statistical analysis and research techniques to evaluate the economic impact of policy options on complex issues affecting domestic and foreign agricultural policy, trade, and production; and experience providing authoritative advice and guidance in the development, implementation, and dissemination of those analyses to a variety of audiences to enhance understanding of the issues.
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
All applicants must meet at least one of the Basic Requirements as outlined in the above Qualifications section.
Additional information
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.
If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.