Agricultural Economist

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy will be filled using the Office of Personnel Management's Direct-Hire Authority. Veterans' preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this announcement.

• Identify, analyze, and interpret supply and demand factors for federally insured crops to develop price projections (price elections) for the upcoming crop year.
• Develop relationships and collaborate with universities, research organizations, commodity groups, handlers, other government agencies, producers, and processors to gather data and information about crops and crop markets.
• Plan and direct special studies on price elections quality adjustment factors, distribution of liability for various crops, and other factors needed to evaluate actuarial adequacy and equity.
• Serve as a resource and spokesperson of the Prices Branch at Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), senior management, producer group, and insurance and agricultural lenders meetings
• Ensure that price elections and corresponding data for insured crops are entered into databases accurately to guarantee accurate population of all relevant insurance offers. This will require developing knowledge of large and complex databases
• Write reports containing background research, program analysis, data and information sources, relevant agricultural economic principles, market structure and dynamics, price projection methodologies, and results of any statistical analysis.
• Reports will also include conclusions regarding how all this information culminates in expectations for the future and the expected impact on prices. Submission of reports must adhere to strict deadlines.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US 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. If selected, you may be sent instructions on obtaining fingerprints. Please note we are unable to reimburse for any fees incurred.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and we may consider: your performance and conduct, the needs and interests of the agency, whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government, and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• 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 e-verify.gov.
• This position is designated as mobile work. Mobile work is a condition of employment and is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.

Basic Requirement:
GS-0110 Series:

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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Experience

Examples of qualifying experience include:

1. individual economic research assignments requiring planning, information assembly, analysis and evaluation, conclusions and report preparation;
2. supervisory or project coordination assignments involving a staff of professional economists, and requiring the evaluation and interpretation of economic information; or
3. teaching assignments in a college or university that included both class instruction in economics subjects and one of the following (1) personal research that produced evidence of results, (2) direction of graduate theses in economics, or (3) service as a consultant or advisor on technical economics problems.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement

For the GS-11 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience regularly researching and composing written reports on commodity markets, covering at a minimum, the major fundamental factors that influence price movement. Experience includes developing external contacts, determining research and analytical methods, compiling and analyzing data, interpreting findings, making recommendations, and compiling all of this into a research report as part of your normal job duties on a recurring basis.

OR

Education at the GS-11 grade level: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: economics or a related field from an accredited university.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience as listed above.

For the GS-12 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience composing written agricultural commodity market research reports related to price forecasting or price movement on a frequent recurring basis with minimal, if any, oversight or assistance. These reports communicate background research, policy/program analysis, data and information sources, relevant economic principles, market structure and dynamics, price forecasting methodology options, results of any statistical analysis, decision criteria, and conclusions regarding how all this information culminates in expectations for the future and the potential impact on future prices. The process includes initiating and conducting research, acquiring and reaching out to contacts for market information, compiling and analyzing data, evaluating alternative methods, interpreting findings, and making recommendations.

For the GS-13 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience independently composing agricultural commodity market research and price forecasting reports as part of your normal job duties on a frequent recurring (weekly or monthly) basis. These reports communicate background research, policy/program analysis, data and information sources, relevant economic principles, market structure and dynamics, price forecasting methodology options, results of any statistical analysis, decision criteria, and conclusions regarding how all this information culminates in expectations for the future, the resulting potential impact on price, and your price forecast. The recommendations in these reports are used for risk management purposes, market speculation, or some other purpose where financial decisions are made based on these recommendations. The process for creating such reports includes independently initiating and conducting research, acquiring and reaching out to contacts for market information, compiling and analyzing data, evaluating alternative methods, interpreting findings, and making recommendations.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION IS NOT PERMISSABLE AT THE GS-12 AND GS-13 LEVELS.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any specialized experience and/or selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, your application is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. Veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning
• Attention to Detail
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Teamwork

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13037582

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

• Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.
• If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

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