Economist (Pathways Recent Graduate) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. FERC-RECG-2025-0001 Department Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Salary $55,924.00 to $88,926.00 Grade 07 to 09
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 12/2/2024 Close Date 12/16/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ranked within the top 5 mid-size agencies through the Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government Rankings! Our Pathways Recent Graduates Program provides first-hand developmental experiences in the energy industry, while gaining exposure to the Commission’s work. This position is in the Office of Energy Market Regulation (OEMR). For more information visit: OEMR

Duties

As  a Economist (Pathways Recent Graduate), some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • (GS-7) Assisting in the review and analysis of routine and moderately complex economic data and other regulatory documents associated with Commission filings to define basic economic issues and other factors affecting regulatory compliance.
    (GS-9) Analyzing and reviewing a variety of conventional regulatory data and documents associated with the regulation of natural gas/oil pipeline companies and/or electric utilities for matters within his/her designated area of responsibility.
  • (GS-7) Evaluating factual information and performing economic analysis, applying economic theory and formulating conclusions.
    (GS-9) Performing analyses of moderately complex regulatory issues associated with filings for the purpose of identifying trends, problems, or deviations from pertinent regulatory requirements or Commission policies.
  • Effectively communicating technical information orally.
  • (GS-7) Assisting in preparing economic and statistical summaries or studies for use by senior staff as an aid in decision making and for use in memoranda and orders
    (GS-9) Preparing Commission memoranda, notices, proposed orders, or other documents for cases that require consideration of issues common to the regulated industry or which are traditional or non-controversial

The Recent Graduate Program lasts for one (1) year. You may be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term (1 – 4 years in duration) position once you complete the program, without further competition.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required.
  • A background investigation is required.
  • **This is not a bargaining unit position.
  • Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • You must submit transcripts at the time of application.
  • Relocation expenses will not be paid.
  • You may be required to divest certain energy-related securities.

You must meet all eligibility and qualification (experience and/or education) requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

Eligibility: In order to be eligible for our Recent Graduates Program, you must:

  • Be a recent graduate who has completed, within the last two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, maters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution; AND
  • Meet the qualification standards (e.g., series and grade).

Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligations, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply. 

Qualifications: To view the qualification requirements of  a Economist (Pathways Recent Graduate), GS07-09-0110, please visit: Economist, 0110 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 

You can qualify based on your education, OR one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-05 level, OR have a combination education and experience. Specialized experience is defined as:

GS-7 : Experience, either through education or employment, collecting and analyzing technical information, including the formulation of policy recommendations. 8800165

GS-9: One full -year of experience analyzing and evaluating regulations and legislation, including the formulation of technical and policy recommendations. 8800164

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 any volunteer experience.

Please do not cut and paste  the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Education

This position has an education requirement (as referenced in the “Qualifications” section) and therefore, transcripts are required. Failure to submit this documentation at the time of application will result in your application being marked incomplete and you will not receive further consideration.

Additional information

Our employees ranked FERC as a top 5 mid-size agency in both Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) and Effective Leadership according to the Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government!  In addition, FERC was also ranked #1 in Work-Life Balance and we are proud to offer telework and workplace flexibilities in accordance with agency policy.

The duty location of this position is Washington, DC. Agency employees are eligible for telework and other workplace flexibilities. Telework days and waiting periods for eligibility are determined when an employee enters on duty.

When promotion potential is shown, future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
  • Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
  • Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC’s supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of these securities may be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment.
  • Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.

Benefits

For more information regarding Federal benefits programs, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

  1. Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your resume and any supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements for the position. Your resume must address the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities, and other characteristics):

    Regulations

    Research Analysis

    Oral Communication

    Written Communication

    Teamwork

  2. The online assessment is used to evaluate your relevant education and experience in relation to the required competencies for this position.
  3. If you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, your application will be further evaluated based on your answers to the vacancy questionnaire, using the Category Rating Method. This means you will be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified, depending on your responses. Your rating may be lowered if your responses are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your resume. Veterans’ preference is applied by listing preference eligibles ahead of non-preference eligibles within the same category in which they are placed. Qualified preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent (CPS and CP) will be placed at the top of the highest quality category (Best Qualified), ahead of all other preference and non-preference eligibles, regardless of the quality category in which they are placed as a result of the assessment of their qualifications (excepted for scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level and above). A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Qualified), provided no preference eligibles in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible.
  4. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. Please note - only your resume and cover letter will be forwarded to the selecting official.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

If you do not provide all required documents by the closing date of this vacancy announcement, you will not be considered for this position or receive special consideration/hiring preference (e.g. veterans’ preference, ICTAP/CTAP eligibility, etc.).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR ALL CANDIDATES:

  1. RESUME: Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire. You must ensure it contains the following information for each experience/position:
    • Position title
    • Name of employer
    • Beginning and ending dates of employment (Month/Day/Year format)
    • Hours worked per week
    • Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)
    • Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions)
    • If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying based on your education, you must list your education history, including the type of degree and your major of study.
  2. VACANCY QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit and complete the online eligibility and vacancy questions.
  3. TRANSCRIPTS: You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts to verify your eligibility. Unofficial copies are acceptable; however, if selected you will be required to provide official transcripts before your effective date.

OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT PREFERENCE OR ELIGIBILITY CLAIMS: 

  1. VETERANS’PREFERENCE (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.): If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. Ten-point preference eligibles must also submit an “Application for 10-point Veteran Preference” (SF-15), along with official VA letter and the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. For more information about veterans' preference, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.
  2. CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CTAP)/INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated “Well Qualified” for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information about CTAP/ICTAP, visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. The following documents are required:
    • Reduction in Force or RIF notice – written notice of your expected separation, or other documentation of priority consideration status;
    • Latest SF-50 noting your current position, grade level, and duty location;
    • Last performance appraisal, including your rating; and
    • Any documentation from your agency showing your current promotion potential.

How to Apply

The FERC Careers site provides detailed instructions on how to apply to our vacancies.  For more information visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits

Here are a few additional tips: 

  • When applying to a FERC vacancy announcement, please remember you must complete and submit your entire application (including your resume, vacancy questionnaire, and any applicable supporting documentation) no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Please note, it may take you longer to apply to some vacancy announcements than others. Starting your application late on the evening the vacancy closes is not recommended because you might not have enough time to ensure your application is successfully submitted and received.
  • When the specialized experience statement in the vacancy announcement requires experience presenting information to a large audience, your resume should include speeches or presentations you've given.
  • Make sure you verify that your resume clearly indicates possession of the competencies and specialized experience listed under the “Qualifications and Evaluations” and “How You Will Be Evaluated” sections of this announcement.
  • Remember to submit all required and supporting documentation listed under the “Required Documents” section of this announcement.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
FERC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact DisabilityManager@FERC.gov no later than 11:59 pm ET on the vacancy closing date.  The decision to grant a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

For more information on telework, click the following link: USAJOBS Help Center | What is telework?

For more information on remote work, click the following link: USAJOBS Help Center | What is a remote job?

Agency contact information

Valita Robinson
Address
FERC
888 First St NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20426
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. You will be notified of the status of your application up to four times throughout the application process, via your USAJOBS dashboard. To verify the status of your application, both during and after the announcement open period, log on to your USAJOBS account. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an option to “Track this application.” Your “Applicant status” will also appear along with the dates you applied to this position and when your application was last updated. To learn more about your specific job status and how this helps you track jobs and applications visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status

Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement.

More than one selection for similar positions may be made from this announcement and the program office for that selection may vary. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s).


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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