Economist (STEM - Direct Hire)

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service in Fort Collins, CO, seeks an economist in the Office of Policy and Program Development, Policy Analysis Staff, to perform policy and regulatory cost-benefit analyses and research. The incumbent will contribute to FSIS policy development and cross-agency regulatory work.

Responsibilities include reviewing food safety policy, identifying areas for policy improvement, and communicating findings to technical and non-technical audiences within the agency.

Qualifications

• Degree in Economics with 21 econ hours and 3 in statistics/calculus.
• Combo of education and experience allowed with relevant coursework.
• Specialized experience in economic analysis and policy research.

Skills

Economic analysis

Policy analysis

Cost-benefit analysis

Data interpretation

Education

Economics degree + statistics/calculus credits

Job description

Qualifications

This position is in the Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD), Policy Analysis Staff (PAS). The PAS is responsible for a wide variety of economic analyses concerning FSIS polices and regulatory activities. The incumbent will conduct policy analyses and regulatory (cost-benefit) analyses. Incumbent will also review food safety policy and identify areas requiring development and/or improvement of FSIS policies. Projects are complex, FSIS-wide, and may involve multiple agencies. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and education, as defined below.

BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR THE SERIES

A. Degree: In 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Please refer to the Individual Occupation Requirements: Here

Specialized Experience

GS-11

Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09, or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience must include at least 3 of the 6 below in your resume:

• Drafting an analysis plan in an economic study when provided with guidance including research questions, methods, context and data;
• Implementing analysis and evaluation techniques in economic studies when provided with a research plan and examples of similar studies, utilizing existing methods and as a member of a team;
• Aggregating, managing and utilizing exiting data with guidance;
• Making discrete contributions as a member of a team conducting economic analyses;
• Documenting an economic study or research in a report to a general technical audience which may include formal research reports, conference proceedings, white papers, thesis or dissertations.
• Co-developing or developing a presentation of an economic study or research to team members or conference.

GS-12

Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience must include at least 3 of the 6 below in your resume:

• Drafting a research and analysis plan for an economic assignment when given examples of similar research questions, methods, context and data;
• Implementing economic research assignments when given examples of similar research, utilizing existing methods and acting as the sole economist;
• Contributing to the development and implementation of data collection, e.g. writing a questionnaire, conducting a survey, or compiling data sets.
• Serving as the sole or lead economist on an interdisciplinary team, responsible for applying quantitative and qualitative methods and models;
• Developing documentation and reports supporting the economic analysis of policy or regulation to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Presenting an economic study or research to interdisciplinary team.

GS-13

Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12, or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience must include at least 3 of the 6 below in your resume:

• Evaluating and planning assignments requiring the application of economics, preferably cost-benefit or regulatory analysis, when provided with a general framework, but when a novel approach may be required;
• Implementing economic research assignments by finding relevant examples of similar studies, utilizing existing methods and acting as the sole economist;
• Co-Developing research questions and recognizing additional or novel information may need to be collected or generated to complete an analysis, e.g. developing a questionnaire, conducting a survey, amending or expanding data sets;
• Leading or co-leading a team conducting research and analysis of regulation, policy, or other complex topics.
• Developing documentation and reports supporting the economic analysis of policy or regulation to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Presenting an economic study or research to first-level supervisors and internal leadership.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.