Economist

Summary

This vacancy is for an Economist in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration within the Department of Commerce.

Duties

As an Economist, you will perform the following duties: Serves as an authoritative technical advisor and ensures that high-level policy makers are provided with accurate, meaningful, and properly evaluated economic analysis and advice. Conducts economic studies which gather, analyze, and interpret economic information specific to the mission of NTIA, which impacts the economic wellbeing of our society. Formulation, programming, and guidance of projects or continuing programs involving economic issues affecting spectrum management and/or telecommunications. Utilizes knowledge on how to value and price scarce spectrum resources, related to legislation, potential repurposing, auctions and associated spectrum transitions, leasing, and secondary markets. Plans, coordinates, drafts, edits, and presents major reports that address short and long-term policy needs associated with spectrum and/or telecommunications issues related to, for example, regulatory procedures and governance, market-based alternatives, technical standards, incentive-based approaches, incumbent rights and responsibilities, spectrum valuation, and wireless broadband deployment. Develops and presents for review new ideas and models for analysis and presentation of spectrum-orientated economic data. Conducts targeted research and analysis. Identifies particular problems to explore; assesses the adequacy of existing programs; and recommends and implements changes. Conducts policy-oriented research and development of innovative approaches to existing and new problems in spectrum management and/or telecommunications policy. Constructs analytical models based on research of economic and societal value of spectrum resources. Investigates and analyzes the cost structures that affect wireless systems and how these cost structures are expressed in governmental and private-sector budgetary environments. Understands and articulates the full scope of spectrum valuation factors, including non-monetary value. Prepares and presents well-organized and well-written reports documenting cost and valuation models reflecting these economic and political realities. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Economist GS-0110-14, GS-14 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location or local commuting area with the same qualifications and specialized experience. Requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. This position requires a SECRET CLEARANCE: Any required investigations and clearances must be completed before the selectee can be placed in the position. You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. A probationary period may be required. Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/). If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Bargaining Unit Position: No Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): No Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will not be paid License required: No Drug Test Required: Yes, This position is subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter. Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the GS-14 level you must meet the Basic Requirements and Specialized Experience as described below. BASIC REQUIREMENTS 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: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience: Conducting economic analysis or research related to organizational programs; Developing methodologies and approaches for research; AND Analyzing major economic developments and determining applicability to the agency's major programs.

Education

See Qualifications Above. NOTE: 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. 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. How You Will Be Evaluated

Under the provisions of the Direct-Hire Authority (DHA), rating, ranking and veterans' preference does not apply. 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.). You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., two-page resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire and the result of the USA Hire assessment required for this position. Applicants who meet the qualification requirements, as defined in the job opportunity announcement, will be referred for selection consideration. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. The technical assessment will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response: Reasoning Decision Making Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Econimics Knowledge Management Creative Thinking Research Written Communication Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume/application. If any are included, you will be deemed INELIGIBLE for consideration. Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. To preview the questionnaire, click the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13102757 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. 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. Other Information

The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible 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 ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Reasonable Accommodations (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.