Agricultural Economist

Summary

This position is located in the USDA, Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) which is responsible for conducting advanced economic analysis and analyzing policy options related to complex domestic and global agricultural issues. The position requires authoritative expertise in agricultural economics and substantial experience analyzing policy and legislative options for complex issues, particularly related to agricultural input markets, international agricultural trade, and/or biofuel markets.

Duties

• Serves as a senior agricultural economist and principal authority on the economic analysis of policy options of complex issues, specializing in agricultural input markets, international agricultural trade, and/or biofuel markets.
• Responsible for developing appropriate research methods and analytical techniques for OCE analyses of the economic impact of relevant policy options.
• Applies mastery of advanced economic theory, quantitative methods, econometric techniques, and interdisciplinary analysis to resolve problems of exceptional difficulty and national significance.
• Plans, develops, organizes, and coordinates extensive analyses, which inform the development of policy proposals, legislative initiatives or regulations, related to commodity input markets, international trade and biofuels.
• Compares the likely economic impact of alternative proposals; independently initiates, plans, and executes analyses.
• Assists the Chief/Deputy Chief Economist in framing options in areas where differences of opinion may be sharp, political consequences great, and public understanding of the issue very limited, and may be asked to frame options acting alone.
• Coordinates personnel serving on committees, task forces and working groups assembled across agency lines to address agricultural inputs, agricultural profitability, trade, biofuels, and/or production issues.
• Analyzes and evaluates legislative proposals that cut across agriculture and trade areas for policy and program implications.
• Prepares/delivers authoritative papers, briefings, speeches and reports articulating economic and policy implications of key issues for leadership, interagency partners, Congressional audiences and external stakeholders.
• Communicates orally and in writing to convey complex technical results and applications for use by both technical and nontechnical personnel.
• Develops for the Chief/Deputy Chief Economist or the Office of the Secretary economic analyses and interpretations which may cut across established organizational and functional lines of the USDA.
• Responsible for adequacy of data and analytical methods and for the relevance, completeness and reliability of results.
• Responsible for the interpretation, coordination, and technical application of research and analysis.
• Provides authoritative advice so that interpretations and recommendations can be grounded in rigorous economic analysis.
• Provides authoritative guidance on data and statistical issues involved in analysis of agricultural policy, agricultural input markets, trade, biofuels, and/or production.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Requirements: In addition to meeting the Minimum Qualification Requirements outlined in the following section, applicants MUST meet the following occupational series requirements: A. Economist Series, 0110 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, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Minimum Qualification Requirements: In addition to meeting at least one of the Basic Requirements outlined above, applicants must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements shown below. If qualifying based on experience, your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the specialized experience requirements. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Specialized Experience: GS-15: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped the candidate with the particular competencies to successfully perform as a Senior Agricultural Economist. The specialized experience is having the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position: (1) experience in using advanced economic and statistical analysis and research techniques to analyze the economic impact policy of options on complex issues affecting domestic and foreign agricultural policy, commodity input markets, trade, biofuel markets, and production; (2) experience providing authoritative advice in developing, implementing and disseminating those analyses; and (3) a strong ability to communicate economic findings and concepts to non-technical audiences.

Education

All applicants must meet at least one of the Basic Requirements as outlined in the above Qualifications section. How You Will Be Evaluated

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., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority (DHA), veteran's preference does not apply. While veterans' preference does not apply to the DHA, veterans are encouraged to submit their documentation. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable and who are otherwise eligible to apply for the position, will be referred for selection consideration. For more information on OPM's authorization for DHA, please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/ Applicants who are displaced Federal employees within the local commuting area who are requesting priority consideration under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) must be determined Well Qualified using the below evaluation criteria and USA Hire Assessment score. Well Qualified: Meets the minimum qualifications of the position and is proficient in some, but not all, of the relevant competencies. Qualified: Meets the minimum qualifications of the position but is not proficient in the relative competencies to a substantive degree. All applicants are required to complete the online USA Hire assessment administered by OPM in order to be considered for this vacancy. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Economic Analysis Leadership Communication Organization Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. 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. Any selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current Federal employees would therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service and new probationary period required. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13073897 Other Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Reasonable Accommodation (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, based on your adjudication decision. 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 here. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use. If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report. Direct Hire Authority: This announcement is issued under the direct-hire authority to recruit for positions for which there is a critical need. Category rating, veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this public notice. Any selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current Federal employees would therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service and new probationary period required. Incentives may be authorized.