This position is on the Regulatory Impact & Benefit-Cost Analysis Team and the primary focus is advancing the benefit-cost analysis (BCA) program. The candidate will coordinate with the USDOT Office of the Secretary to evaluate applications for discretionary grants for infrastructure projects and will also collaborate with senior Economists on the development and application of advanced benefit-cost methods and models to enhance assessments of cost-effective future transportation investments.
As an Economist, you will:
- Serve as an economic expert representing the agency on Federal, and interagency task forces, collaborating with other DOT economists and providing advice and technical assistance for project planning and analysis.
- Design, build, maintain, and utilize the models and datasets necessary to understand how geospatial socio-demographic and economic patterns affect government and user transportation costs, cost-effective modal and network options, and overall system performance.
- Estimate the key economic factors shaping transportation patterns and future trends, including personal and freight user costs; available transportation options; and the impact of land costs, labor markets, and other socio-economic factors.
- Estimate the impact of demographic and economic geographic patterns on the economic viability of transportation modes and service options.
- Estimate the potential for technology, demographic, geographic, and economic trends to re-shape the economics of transportation options and demand; identify uncertainty bands or alternative future assumptions to reflect unknown attributes of future trends.
- Develop policy options to enhance transportation performance or cost-effectiveness. Evaluate the impact of these policies on transportation options and economics, including changes in demand patterns and the value/costs to users by socio-demographic, economic, and geographic characteristics.
The ideal candidate has a strong background in directing and overseeing the application of economic principles reflected in Executive Order 12893, "Principles for Federal Infrastructure Investments." The ideal candidate for this position also enjoys and excels at applied, data-driven research. Flexibility, creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to take initiative will help to find--or to create--the projects that analyze data using relevant economic methods, such as market assessment, benefit-cost, or other economic analysis, and identify implications of the findings as they relate to a transportation-related issue. The flexibility to adjust your analyses in your policy conversations with your leadership and others involved will ensure your research is effective in shaping policy choices. Good time-management skills to enable you to juggle inevitably competing and changing demands and priorities in a dynamic economic policy environment.
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.
(1) All applicants must meet the basic requirements under A or B to qualify for applying to a position under series 0110:
A. Successful completion of 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 which includes courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
For additional reference, please refer to the OPM qualifications standard for GS-0110: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/economist-series-0110/
(2) Upload the appropriate document(s) to your application for verification purposes.
(3) Specialized Experience: To further determine eligibility, review the following grade specific details. You will be asked a few questions as part of your application but make sure to verify how you meet the grade level in your resume.
For the GS-13 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:
• Experience in analyzing data using economic methods, such as market assessment, benefit cost or econometric analysis, and identifying implications of the findings as they relate to a transportation-related issue; and/or experience presenting research summaries and other technical reports to a variety of groups and individuals, such as making project presentations to clients/sponsors or to audiences at conferences or workshops.
For the GS-14 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include:
• Experience conducting economic research in support of various projects (i.e. impact studies, cost-benefit analysis, equilibrium analysis, etc.); analyzing data using statistical procedures, econometrics, and computer methodology to develop solutions to analytical problems; and performing policy oriented research in the development of innovative approaches to new and existing problems in economics.
Although you must meet the mandatory education requirement for the series, you cannot qualify for GS-12 and above grades based solely on education, you must meet the specialized experience for the grade, which is cited above.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
• Requires mastery knowledge on a professional level of economic planning concepts, principles and practices, combined with a thorough knowledge of related engineering and scientific disciplines, in order to plan and coordinate projects.
• In-depth knowledge of project planning and project management principles and practices, to coordinate the development of project plans and proposes.
• Thorough knowledge of economic practices and requirements to assess the feasibility of plans and proposals in meeting the needs of project planning.
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.
For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/
All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
See the Qualifications section for Mandatory Individual Occupational Requirements.