Summary
This vacancy is for an Economist (Research) position in the Department of Commerce located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station.
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Economist (Research), 0110, 12/13, FPL GS-13 positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
Clarification from the agency
All qualified United States citizens.
Duties
- Perform economic analysis and/or research relative to the program(s) of the organization to which assigned.
- Plan and carry out activities related to collecting, editing, reviewing, and analyzing data from household surveys which requires understanding of the broad goals, principles, and polices governing survey methods, analysis, tabulation, and reporting.
- Plan and carry out complex studies and analyses including determination of: data needed to complete assignments; sources, reliability, and availability of such data.
- Identify research topics and questions and plans and conducts analyses.
- Communicate complex technical issues to a variety of audiences orally.
- Communicate complex technical issues to a variety of audiences in writing.
Conditions of Employment
- Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- U.S. Citizen
- Suitable for Federal employment.
- Registered for Selective Service if applicable. (www.sss.gov)
- Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by closing date.
- A one-year probationary period may be required.
- This is a BARGAINING unit position.
- This is an open continuous announcement. The initial cutoff date for referral is 12/18/2023. After this date, the cut off dates are as follows: 1/18/2024, 2/20/3024, 3/18/2024, 4/18/2024, 5/20/2024.
Qualifications
Minimum Education Requirement:
A. Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education
AND
Specialized Experience: For the GS-12, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes:
Experience conducting independent economic research in applied microeconomics, in fields such as health, income, poverty, labor economics, and econometrics or macroeconomics; Using statistical packages to analyze household survey microdata or administrative record data; Applying econometric techniques in the analysis and interpretation of economic research questions; Providing written analysis to communicate economic findings; Presenting research findings to professional organizations or academic audiences.
OR
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
For the GS-13, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service.
Experience for this position includes: Conducting independent, original economic research in the fields such as health, income, poverty, labor economics, econometrics or in macroeconomics, leading to publications in peer-reviewed academic journals; Formulating research questions, surveying the relevant literature, assembling and documenting the required data, conducting analyses, writing research papers and presenting the results; Performing economic analysis and/or research relative to an assigned organization; and Serving as a technical expert to identify shortcomings in existing surveys to conduct research aimed at improving survey activities; and leading or guiding others in conducting empirical economic research.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position. Under the provisions of the Direct-Hire Authority (DHA), rating, ranking and veterans' preference does not apply; therefore, your responses to the questionnaire will not be used to determine a scored rating. All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as defined in the job opportunity announcement, will be referred for selection consideration. While veterans' preference does not apply in DHA, preference eligibles are encouraged to submit their supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.).
Applicants applying as CTAP or ICTAP candidates, and are determined CTAP or ICTAP eligible, must exceed the minimum qualification requirements to be referred under this selection priority placement program by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. For those deemed eligible and who meet the minimum qualifications, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles who are not determined well-qualified by scoring at least 85 will not be referred under the CTAP/ICTAP selection priority placement program; however, will be referred for selection consideration with other minimally qualified applicants. The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies, please do not provide a separate written response.
The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:
- Economic Research
- Oral Communication
- Reasoning
- Technical Competence
- Writing
We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.
Do NOT include the following types of information in your application:
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Date of Birth (DOB)
- Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position)
- Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
You may view the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12199313 for this vacancy.
A complete application consists of the following:
- Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume must list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. If applying under CTAP/ICTAP your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).
- Education Documentation: If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also includes Census Bureau employees. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information.
You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
CTAP and ICTAP candidates:
CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
- A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
- A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location;
- A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
- Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
- A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement.
- A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade/band level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc.;
- A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
- Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 05/20/2024.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
USAJOBS Help Center | How to see your application and job status
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov/ and click on "Applications." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application."
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online; however, if you are unable to apply online, please contact:
Kristen Wahlgren; kwahlgren@doc.gov
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov, and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding positions. The four points of notification are:
- Application Received or Application Incomplete;
- Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;
- Referred or Not Referred; and
- Selected or Not Selected.
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).
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