STATISTICIAN Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. DE-12570295-25-BE Department Federal Trade Commission
Salary $55,924.00 to $88,926.00 Grade 7 to 9
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/22/2024 Close Date 11/4/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The FTC seeks candidates for the position of Statistician within the Bureau of Economics (BE). The position of Statistician is for an initial term of 14 months and is renewable up to four years. In this role, you will gain real-world experience working alongside economists to protect consumers and promote competition in the US economy.

Duties

The specific duties of a Statistician within the Bureau of Economics at the Federal Trade Commission include, but are not limited to:

  • Identifying, documenting, organizing, and summarizing government and third-party data relevant to antitrust and consumer protection investigations.
  • Demonstrates an ability to update analytical skills and learn new software packages quickly.
  • Processes, stages, and manipulates large, complex, disparate, or unstructured data sets.
  • Performs a variety of tasks for analysis, including data cleaning, data summaries, database management, diagnostics for model assessment, model evaluation, and simulation algorithms.
  • Conducts statistical, econometric, and data analysis such as regression analysis, modeling, machine learning, mathematical programming, or Natural Language Processing in the context of antitrust or consumer protection litigation maintaining a high level of quality under extremely tight and moving deadlines.
  • Writing programs in Stata, SAS, R, Python, SQL Server, including interfacing with distributed computing programming applications (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
  • Using scripting tools in ArcGIS, R, or similar software to geocode data, calculate distances between locations of interest, and prepare maps.
  • Preparing clear and accurate graphs, tables, and other visualizations that effectively summarize data and results of analyses.
  • Collaborate with others in the agency to develop effective solutions to accommodate the efficient processing and analysis of extremely large data sets.
  • Communicating professionally and respectfully with colleagues - both orally and in writing.
  • Listening, clarifying ambiguities, and acting on guidance from economists and supervisors.
  • Working effectively and proactively with minimal supervision.

Statisticians perform these duties under the supervision of, and with guidance from, staff economists in the Bureau of Economics.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
  • Position is subject to a background investigation.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
  • You may serve a one-year probationary period under this appointment.
  • Résumé and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
  • This position is in the bargaining unit.
  • This position has an education requirement, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

A. Degree: that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology, etc. Credit toward meeting statistical course requirements will be given for courses in which 50 percent of the course content appears to be statistical methods, e.g., courses that included studies in research methods in psychology or economics such as tests and measurements or business cycles, or courses in methods of processing mass statistical data such as tabulating methods or electronic data processing.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience - courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.

In addition to the above, you must meet the requirements described below:

For the GS-07 Level: To qualify for the GS-07, you must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-05 level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience is defined as:
  • Assisting in preparing statistical data for analysis;
  • Assisting in analyzing statistical data using statistical software (e.g. Stata, SAS, etc.)
  • Analyzing large-scale structured data using appropriate software (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS, SQL Server, R, Python); AND
  • Utilizing statistical analysis and statistical software to assist in producing reports.
OR

One (1) year of graduate-level education directly related to the position or superior academic achievement in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Note on Superior academic achievement (S.A.A.) - S.A.A. recognizes students who have achieved superior academic standing as evidenced by one of the three methods described below. In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership:1.Class standing-- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.)-- Applicants must have a grade-point average of:a.3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or b. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. (Grade-point averages will be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.) 3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society-- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed in the following link: Honor Societies (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=General-Policies)

OR

A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as listed above.

The ideal candidate has:
  • A strong interest in and intuition for applied microeconomics;
  • Proficiency in programming languages widely used in economics, statistics, and/or data science such as Stata, R, or Python;
  • Excitement about conducting data analysis on a wide range of datasets in support of consumer protection and competition missions of the FTC;
  • Interest and aptitude in working with PhD economists on economics research projects that serve the mission of the FTC; and
  • A desire to grow and build on skills in data analysis and microeconomics.

For the GS-09 Level:

To qualify for the GS-09, you must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-07 level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience is defined as:
  • Assisting in preparing statistical data for analysis;
  • Assisting in analyzing statistical data using statistical software (e.g. Stata, SAS, etc.);
  • Analyzing large-scale structured data using appropriate software (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS, SQL Server, R, Python); AND
  • Utilizing statistical analysis and statistical software to assist in producing reports.
OR

Two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the position.

OR

A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as listed above. 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 experience.

The ideal candidate has:
  • A strong interest in and aptitude for applied microeconomics, data analysis, and computer programming;
  • Proficiency in programming languages widely used in economics, statistics, data science, and/or computer science such as Stata, R, Python, SQL, or C++;
  • Excitement about analyzing terabyte size datasets to support competition and consumer protection policy and law enforcement;
  • Experience conducting statistical, econometric, or data analysis tasks such as regression analysis, model evaluation, machine learning, or Natural Language Processing.
  • The ability to learn new software packages quickly and apply new analytical skills under tight deadlines.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to receiving an official offer.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Additional information

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: VETERANS GUIDE

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see SELECTIVE SERVICE).

Career Transition Assistance Programs: 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 with a score of 87 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: CAREER TRANSITION.

Non-competitive Appointment Authorities:

For more information on non-competitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
- Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
- Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
- Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
- Other Special Appointment Authorities

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category.

Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies.

Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies.

Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Information Management, Mathematical Reasoning, Oral Communication, Problem Solving, Reading, Reasoning, and Writing

  • Information Management
  • Mathematical Reasoning
  • Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Reading
  • Reasoning
  • Writing


To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12570295.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:
- Cover Letter, (REQUIRED)
- College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education (REQUIRED)
- Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
- Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
-Schedule A required docs

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.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  • Follow the prompts to select your rsum and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

Riandra Bates
Address
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Suite H-723
Washington, DC 20580
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.


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


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