If you are ready to begin your new career or are looking for a place to make an impact, what better place than a top ranked agency in the federal government? We are looking for the best and brightest to join our team of dedicated professionals here at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), where we are ranked in the top 5 in the Best Places to Work in the federal government rankings.
Summary
If you are ready to begin your new career or are looking for a place to make an impact, what better place than a top ranked agency in the federal government? We are looking for the best and brightest to join our team of dedicated professionals here at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), where we are ranked in the top 5 in the Best Places to Work in the federal government rankings.
Our employees gain valuable work experience that provides them with the career boost that they are seeking. We need people like you to help us move the industry forward and continue to shape the future of energy policy. Join us and help make a difference! The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's role is to oversee various aspects of the energy industry, including transmission of electricity, natural gas and oil. We also analyze proposals to build liquefied natural gas terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines and license hydropower projects. To help support the modernization of the electric system here in the U.S., we are focusing on issues associated with a smarter grid.
This position is located in the Office of Energy Policy and Innovation (OEPI) at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The incumbent will work within the Division of Policy Development or the Division of Economic and Technical Analysis. OEPI develops and analyzes innovative energy industry policies for the Commission to enhance the operation of wholesale electric and natural gas markets; integrate distributed resources; facilitate reliable development of renewable resources; encourage greater efficiency and reliable utilization in the interstate and wholesale markets; and proactively engage industry and regulators on issues of first impression.
Major Duties include:
Develops or creates new economic analyses, often where little if any literature, economic analyses, or precedents exist, necessary to investigate and evaluate efficiency or market power issues in the industries regulated by the Commission.
Provides sound economic analysis or testimony on difficult issues. Such problems include estimating alternative supplies, competitive price levels, and efficient methods of dispatching energy.
Identifies, gathers and analyzes the best data available for economic analysis.
Applies quantitative methods to evaluate the economic efficiency of electricity market rules. Discusses with or forwards recommendations to the team leader or Group Manager, and on occasion to staff counsel for disposition of the problem together with such data as may be available on which a decision may be based.
Develops policy options consistent with the objectives of the Commission.
Prepares and rewrites complex drafts of economic analyses, reports, or testimonies that are fully responsive to the written and verbal comments and concerns of the Group Manager.
May serve as team leader (over other Office staff) on cases or assignments with a well-defined methodology or precedent.
Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service.
A background investigation is required.
Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Transcripts must be submitted at time of application. All required documents must be received by the closing date of this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: If selected for this position, you will be required to: - Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment. - Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer. - Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
Qualifications
This position is INCLUDED in the bargaining unit. Please note - Only your resume and cover letter will be forwarded to the selecting official. More than one selection may be made from this announcement and the office for that selection may vary.
For GS-11: Specialized experience is defined as: experience in reviewing and analyzing economic information to resolve issues associated with the regulation of the electricity or gas industries or network industries (e.g., telecom, transportation) OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree. ForGS-12: Candidates must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is defined as: (1) experience using statistical software (e.g., SAS, STATA, R) to conduct empirical analysis of large data sets associated with the regulation of the electricity or gas industries or network industries (e.g., telecom, transportation); OR (2) experience using optimization software (e.g., GAMS, AMPL, MATLAB, PROMOD, Pyomo) to simulate and analyze electricity markets or markets in network industries; OR (3) experience reviewing and analyzing economic policy issues directly related to the electricity or gas industries or network industries. For GS-13: Candidates must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is defined as: (1) experience using statistical software (e.g., SAS, STATA, R) to conduct empirical analysis of large data sets associated with the regulation of the electricity or gas industries; OR (2) experience using optimization software (e.g., GAMS, AMPL, MATLAB, PROMOD, Pyomo) to simulate and analyze electricity markets; OR (3) experience reviewing and analyzing economic policy issues directly related to the electricity or gas industries.
Education
For all grades, you must also show successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to: 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. You MUST submit your transcripts along with your application in order to be considered for these positions. For more information on education requirements, please visit: http://www.ferc.gov/careers/qualifications/0110.asp
Additional information
FERC is ranked in the top 5 among mid-size agencies in the Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings. FERC has consistently ranked number 1 in Work/Life Balance, as well. As a leader in Work/Life Balance FERC is proud to offer telework flexibilities in accordance with agency policy. Telework is not guaranteed and is offered on a case-by-case basis. FERC does not currently have any 100 percent telework positions.
When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval. You must submit all required information by the closing date. The materials you send with your resume will not be returned. If you are selected at a grade lower than the highest shown in this listing, you will be placed under a career development plan and can be non-competitively promoted when you successfully complete the requirements for the higher grade. Before entering on duty, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually. Relocation expenses will not be paid.
It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual’s employment experience will be used only to determine the person’s qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual’s personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination. Please use the following link for additional information: Mythbusters of Federal Hiring Policies.
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.
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.
We will review your resume, responses to the questionnaire and required documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your resume must address the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in the Qualifications Section. If you meet basic qualification requirements, your application will be further evaluated based on your answers to the on-line assessment. Your responses to the on-line assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for the position. You are being evaluated under the category rating method which means, if you are determined to be qualified, you will be placed into the 'Best Qualified', 'Well Qualified', or 'Qualified' Category. We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than what is supported by your application materials, your responses may be excluded from consideration for this job. We will evaluate your qualifications and eligibility and notify you if you meet minimum qualification requirements. NOTE: We do not require a separate statement responding to the competencies, also referred to as Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). However, your resume should clearly show possession of these competencies. The Occupational Questions are used to evaluate your relevant educational and work experience. The questions are related to competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities such as:
Skill in evaluating policy options for effects on incentives, competition and cost/benefit to stakeholders through the use of appropriate economic analysis techniques.
Knowledge of economics generally, and knowledge of organized wholesale electric power markets specifically.
Skill in encouraging and facilitating cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; skill in fostering commitment and team spirit; ability to work with others to achieve goals.
Skill in recognizing or using correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; ability to produce written information, which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience
Ability to express information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); skill in making clear and convincing oral presentations; skill in listening to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
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.
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.
Please note that if you do not provide all required information by the closing of the announcement, as specified in this announcement, you will not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration, e.g. Vet's Preference, for which you may be eligible). ICTAP PRIORITY PROVISIONS: Current or former Federal employees who are or were on career or career conditional appointments may have special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To receive this consideration, applicants must be well qualified for the position to which applying. To be well qualified, applicants must fall within the Best Qualified category. You will need to provide the Federal Agency Name and date of your Reduction in Force notice, what your most recent performance rating was and your position, grade level and duty location of your last SF-50. At time of appointment, you will be required to provide a copy of agency Reduction in Force notice, a copy of most recent performance rating and a copy of most recent SF-50. You must provide a statement of eligibility at the point of application. VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. 10 point preference eligibles must also submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, along with the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. An SF-15 may be found at: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf. For more information on veterans' preference, go to the Vet Guide at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
You are strongly encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application for this position. Please click on the following link for detailed instructions on how to apply: How To Apply
Tips for Applying For example, if the specialized experience requires presenting information to a large audience, your resume might include speeches or presentations you've given. -Verify your resume clearly indicates possession of the competencies and required specialized experience listed under the Qualifications and Evaluations section of this announcement. -Submit all requested documentation; e.g., SF-50, performance appraisal, transcripts
FERC
888 First Street, NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20426
United States
Next steps
Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your application up to four times throughout the application process. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My Account" tab and clicking on "Application Status." We also recommend you opt to receive status change emails through USAJOBS by logging into "Notification Settings." Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate, or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Please note that if you do not provide all required information by the closing of the announcement, as specified in this announcement, you will not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration, e.g. Vet's Preference, for which you may be eligible). ICTAP PRIORITY PROVISIONS: Current or former Federal employees who are or were on career or career conditional appointments may have special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To receive this consideration, applicants must be well qualified for the position to which applying. To be well qualified, applicants must fall within the Best Qualified category. You will need to provide the Federal Agency Name and date of your Reduction in Force notice, what your most recent performance rating was and your position, grade level and duty location of your last SF-50. At time of appointment, you will be required to provide a copy of agency Reduction in Force notice, a copy of most recent performance rating and a copy of most recent SF-50. You must provide a statement of eligibility at the point of application. VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. 10 point preference eligibles must also submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, along with the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. An SF-15 may be found at: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf. For more information on veterans' preference, go to the Vet Guide at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
You are strongly encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application for this position. Please click on the following link for detailed instructions on how to apply: How To Apply
Tips for Applying For example, if the specialized experience requires presenting information to a large audience, your resume might include speeches or presentations you've given. -Verify your resume clearly indicates possession of the competencies and required specialized experience listed under the Qualifications and Evaluations section of this announcement. -Submit all requested documentation; e.g., SF-50, performance appraisal, transcripts
FERC
888 First Street, NE
Washington, District of Columbia 20426
United States
Next steps
Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your application up to four times throughout the application process. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My Account" tab and clicking on "Application Status." We also recommend you opt to receive status change emails through USAJOBS by logging into "Notification Settings." Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate, or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
