Industry Economist

Clarification from the agency

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - Open to all U.S. Citizens. Individuals who typically apply for positions under other authorities may also apply competitively to this position. (e.g. VRA, Schedule A, Peace Corps, Students, Recent Graduates, Military Spouses, National Guard, Indian Preference, Land Management, Family of Overseas Employees, Federal Employees, Agency Employees, ICTAP) Non-citizens may be eligible for this excepted service position under certain circumstances.

The incumbent serves as an expert and technical advisor on complex economic issues in telecommunications and regulatory policy, typically in the areas of industrial organization, applied microeconomics, and/or econometrics. The incumbent responds to special requests for specific analyses, research, and studies for use in reports to inform policymaking, and for preparation of testimony to be presented before Congressional Committees. In collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, the incumbent develops and implements meaningful data collections, processes the collected data for economic analyses, and undertakes such analyses to enhance understanding of competition and pricing in telecommunications markets, broadband deployment, spectrum allocation, and the technological deployment of communications services. The incumbent initiates and conducts complex economic research, analyses, and studies and develops analytical techniques for economic studies on regulation of the telecommunications markets, broadband deployment, spectrum allocation, and the technological development of communications services. The incumbent conducts and leads sophisticated analyses of major economic issues and policy questions, preparing reports and presenting results to audiences with varying levels of expertise. The incumbent collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to conduct and direct studies on the economics of the telecommunications industry. The studies require a high degree of specialized knowledge of economics and statistics, especially as they relate to the telecommunications industry, and a strong grasp of industry trends. The incumbent develops economic models and applying econometric techniques to evaluate industry behavior and regulatory impacts.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required upon assuming the position.
• Resume must not exceed two pages and must meet resume format criteria.
• Education-Transcripts Required

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions.  Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

Qualifications

Qualification Criteria

Step 1.All candidates must first meet the educational qualification requirements. Educational requirements are as follows: 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 plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Step 2.For candidates who meet the educational qualification requirements, their resumes will be sent forward to the subject matter experts for further review. Resumes will be reviewed to determine if candidates meet the required qualification criteria and the required competencies for each grade.

GS-12 Qualification Criteria-SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Candidates must have one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as follows: 1. 
(1) candidate has performed research used in publications in peer-reviewed journals (even if candidate is not an author of a peer-reviewed journal publication) focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation 

and/or 

(2) candidate has assisted senior economists in the teaching of economics courses focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation.

and/or 

(3) candidate has contributed to agency policymaking involving microeconomics analysis focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation. 

GS-12 Competencies: Ability to serve as a technical advisor on economic issues in telecommunications and regulatory policy, displaying expertise in the areas of industrial organization, applied microeconomics, and/or econometrics; Ability to specify and implement processes and strategies to compile, clean, and verify economic data from primary and secondary sources--including direct interaction with survey respondents or data-generating entities; Ability to independently conduct comprehensive economic research and analyses involving technical and economic aspects and regulation of the telecommunications, wireless and/or media industries; Demonstrated skill with statistical or similar analytical software tools (e.g., Python, R, SAS, Power BI, Stata) needed to organize and summarize data; Ability to present to audiences with varying levels of expertise; Ability to independently develop narrative, statistical, and/or graphical reports of research and analysis, including policy recommendations by leveraging foundational knowledge of economic principles and concepts; Ability to collaborate with others and work with a multidisciplinary team to produce unified and comprehensive analyses; and Demonstrated ability to think critically and completely about the economic impacts of policy changes, legislation, and other events.

GS-13 Qualification Criteria-SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Candidates must have one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as follows: (1) candidate has at least one credited publication in a peer-reviewed journal or has made significant contributions to one or more publications in peer-reviewed journals focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation.

and/or 

(2) candidate has significantly assisted senior economists in the teaching of courses in microeconomics or the relevant related fields mentioned above (specifically applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation), 

and/or

(3) candidate has made significant contributions to agency policymaking involving microeconomics analysis focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation. 

GS-13 Competencies: Ability to serve as a technical advisor on complex economic issues in telecommunications and regulatory policy, displaying expertise in the areas of industrial organization, applied microeconomics, and/or econometrics; Ability to develop and co-lead processes to compile, clean, and verify economic data from primary and secondary sources-- including possible direct interaction with survey respondents or data-generating entities--following exact specifications and regulations. In-depth knowledge of statistical techniques and other requirements, processes, and systems; Ability to conduct and co-lead sophisticated analyses of major economic issues and policy questions, and ability to prepare reports and present results pertaining to this work. Demonstrated ability to think critically and completely about the economic impacts of policy changes, legislation, and other events and to present these findings to audiences with varying levels of expertise; Ability to apply knowledge of economics and statistics, especially as they relate to the telecommunications industry, and a strong grasp of industry trends. Ability to collaborate with others and work with a multidisciplinary team to produce unified and comprehensive analyses, including potentially leading these teams on specific projects; and Demonstrated ability to think critically and completely about the economic impacts of policy changes, legislation, and other events.

GS-14 Qualification Criteria-SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Candidates must have one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as follows: (1) candidate has at least two credited publications in peer-reviewed journals or has made significant contributions to two or more publications in peer-reviewed journals focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation

and/or

(2) candidate supervised research or taught students in advanced undergrad and/or graduate courses in microeconomics or other relevant fields mentioned above (specifically applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation) 

and/or

(3) candidate has played a lead role in analysis used in agency policymaking involving microeconomics analysis focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation.

GS-14 Competencies-See "Other Information".

Step 3. Subject matter experts will conduct a scored, competency based resume review. Candidates must receive a score of 90 or above in order to move forward to the next stage of the hiring process, the scored structured interview.

Step 4. For candidates who receive an initial score of 90 or above on the scored, competency based resume review, a scored structured interview will be conducted by the subject matter experts. For candidates who receive a score of 90 or above on the scored structured interview will be referred to the selecting official for hiring consideration.

How you will be evaluated

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

As this position is being advertised under DEU and Merit Promotion hiring procedures, applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position using the hiring procedures outlined below.

Optional Four Essay Questions

At the time of application, applicants have the option of answering the following four short, free-response essay questions.

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Applicants will be required to certify that they are using their own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question.

***Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Some positions require supplemental document(s).  All required supporting documents MUST be received by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload the documents.  If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.***

Merit Hiring Plan Resume Requirements

In compliance with Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service resumes must not be longer than two pages in length. The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement.

Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:

Contact Information

Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number.

Relevant Work Experience

• Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
• Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 –08/2022)
• The number of hours you worked per week

Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.

Resumes must be formatted as outlined above. If the two page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration.

The FCC is providing the following applicant resume resources: 

• Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit
• USAjobs-How to Write a Federal Resume

Required Documentation for CTAP and ICTAP eligibles

1. An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or other official documentation, which shows that you were declared displaced or surplus while serving as a career or career conditional competitive service employee, in tenure group 1 or 2, OR are a current or former Executive Branch agency employee in the excepted service serving on an appointment without time limit, at grade levels GS-15 or equivalent and below, and who has been conferred noncompetitive appointment eligibility and special selection priority by statute for positions in the competitive service.
2. An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or other official documentation which shows the position you may be or are being separated from has the same or higher promotion potential as that of the vacancy.

Additionally for CTAP eligibles

A copy of your Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice;
- A notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area;
- A Certificate of Expected Separation; your agency's 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).

Additionally for ICTAP eligibles

- A copy of your RIF separation notice, a notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local commuting area;
- An OPM notice that your disability annuity has been (or will be) terminated;
- Certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or
- Certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for a disability retirement and will receive the special OPM annuity.
- A copy of a current (or last) performance rating of record of at least fully successful or equivalent (not required if you are an ICTAP eligible due to compensable injury or disability retirement).

For more information on CTAP and ICTAP download a copy of The Employee's Guide to Career Transition at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf

Next steps