Clarification from the agency

All current federal Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics employees with competitive status nationwide. CTAP eligible in the local commuting area.

This position is the Data Collection Center Manager in the Dallas Region and performs the following duties:

• Serves as liaison between the Data Collection Center and BLS national office as well as among other data collection centers. Communicates, on a continuing basis, with managers in the national office to develop and, where appropriate, revise plans to meet collection needs.
• Establishes, communicates, and monitors production goals and priorities for contract collection operations.
• Serves as primary BLS resource and technical expert for contract operations in the Data Collection Center and exercises leadership in overseeing its statistical/economic and management activities.
• The incumbent's leadership and decisions affect the quality of statistical and economic data and the effectiveness of the program for one of the Bureau's most important and highly visible statistical efforts.
• Oversees the contractor management of technology and associated operational and logistical issues to ensure full infrastructure capability to operate the Data Collection Center reliably and efficiently. Serves as the primary technical liaison with national system staff and as an expert on BLS operating systems. Assists in developing the requirements, testing, and implementing enhancements to the BLS processing systems.
• Thorough understanding of Computer Assisted Telephone Collection (CATI), Web collection, and other sophisticated establishment data collection techniques in order to serve as the primary technical liaison with national system staff and as an expert on BLS operating systems and to assist in developing the requirements development, testing, and implementing enhancements to the BLS processing systems.
• Supervise less than 25% of the time - Provides administrative and technical direction to a small staff of federal employees in
  the Data Collection Center. Assures that staff follows BLS Agency, Division, and Office policies, procedures, standards, and agency policy.
• The position is responsible for on-site technical, operational and quality control direction for the data collection program in the Data Collection Center.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the basic education requirements, eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service). These requirements must be met within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Economist, GS-0110:
A) Degree in 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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also meet the minimum qualifications to be considered.

For GS-13: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-12, in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must demonstrate a thorough understanding of economic principles and theories and a wide knowledge of current economic factors and their implications.

Specialized experience includes all of the following:

• Provides technical assistance and guidance in the collection, processing, estimating, analysis, and interpretation of economic data;
• Proficient at presenting materials of a technical nature to a diverse group and provides training to a diverse group;
• Recommends changes in technical procedures to improve program effectiveness and data adequacy; AND
• Reviews program plans and specifications and comments on their adequacies and expected impact.

For additional information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management Operating Manual for Qualification Standards, Group Coverage Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions. Individual Occupation Requirements for Economist Series GS-110.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your evaluation will be based on how well you meet the qualifications outlined in this vacancy announcement, as demonstrated through your resume and supporting documentation.

You may preview application questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12916626

USA Hire

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 information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, and volunteer, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.).

INFORMATION FOR CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. CTAP eligible(s) will be considered well-qualified if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date.

The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):

• AGENCY EMPLOYEES: Please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.

*WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.

• Resumes are required- provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of work hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
• Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. *In most cases, CTAP applicants must submit this document - see the CTAP link below for more details.

The following documents are required (if applicable):

• Displaced Employee Placement Documents: Only required if requesting priority consideration under Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibility. Click/Review this CTAP link to confirm what must be submitted as proof that the requirement has been met.
• Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - If you are using education as a basis for qualifying for this position, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, Ph.D., etc.). If specific coursework is required to qualify, you must supply an unofficial transcript from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit. You may upload your unofficial transcript(s) as one document with a maximum size limit of 5 MB.

NOTE: The OFFICIAL Transcript(s) MUST BE RECEIVED, if you are selected, and prior to receiving the firm offer with a start date.

Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.

Reference the Education Section for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.

Do not upload password-protected documents.

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary peiod during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, 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.

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