Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection.

This series covers positions that manage, supervise, lead, or perform scientific work or provide professional consultation in applying quantitative or qualitative analysis of adversarial economic systems and organizations of larger projects pertaining to the energy sector or to a sub-sector of it.  Assignments involve the initiation, formulation, planning, execution and control of economic analysis or continuing projects; require the modification and adaption of a variety of methods or the development of new research techniques and procedures. 

As an Economist, at minimum you may:

• Conceive, plan, formulate, originate, initiate, execute, coordinate, develop, design, perform and document a broad range of economic analyses and research assignments involving current and projected pricing, production, supply, distribution patterns, and other conditions and problems pertaining to Energy and bring such studies to meaningful conclusions.
• Evaluate impact of new technologies, systems, policies, and international market forces. Documents study purposes, methods, assumptions, and conclusions, and briefs high-level officials. Acquires thorough parametric knowledge of subjects to perform sound, authoritative economic analyses.
• Obtain, compile, organize, and analyze economic data. Select critical elements of real world systems for inclusion in models and applies economical techniques in innovative ways.
• Monitor and conduct special studies important to agency decision makers. Analyze in innovative ways, the effects of different policies and advises high level managers of positive and negative effects of the different policies and policy options.
• Generate ideas for new programs, policies, studies and approaches in assigned subject areas. Brief study sponsors and high level officials on findings and conclusions of studies, and on relationships of conclusions to existing and proposed policies and policy options. Apply extensive knowledge of issues, problems, and subjects studies to assure results reflect real world environments.
• May serve as a project leader, assuming responsibility for the development of project planning, coordination of overall team efforts, and maintaining appropriate lines of communication. Initiate, formulate, plan, and execute analytic research projects and researches the quality of methodologies and measures pertaining to the assessment of the subject matter being studied. Projects include specification of research questions, selection of databases or other software appropriate to the problem, development of a plan of analysis incorporating advanced statistics, execution of the analysis, and interpretation and dissemination of the findings.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• See "Other Information" section regarding Selective Service requirements.
• Telework may or may not be eligible depending on the position requirements
• May be required to complete a Financial Disclosure Statement

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

These positions are to be filled under the OPM Government-Wide Direct Hire Authority Certain STEM Positions for grades GS 11-15. This serves as a public notice for the use of the Direct Hire Authority in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3327 and 3330 and 5 CFR 330.  Under this recruitment procedure, applications will be accepted for each location/ installation identified in this Public Notice. There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application.

Positions are located agency-wide and may be filled as permanent, term, or temporary with a full-time or part-time work schedule. Pay will vary by geographic location.

Appointments made with this authority may be processed as a new appointment into the Civil Service.

The vacancies filled through these appointments have varying levels of background investigative requirements, up to a Top Secret - DOE "Q" clearance.

Status and Non-Status applicants from outside DOE selected under this authority are required to serve a mandatory one (1) year probationary period. A DOE career status employee selected for this position may be required to serve a new one (1) year probationary period, pursuant to 5 CFR 315.802.

A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.

All positions are subject to satisfactory security and suitability determinations.

Positions may be designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) and subject to testing for illegal drug use. A negative drug test must be obtained prior to being appointed into these positions and will be subject to random testing thereafter.

Qualifications

You must meet the Basic Requirement listed in the Education Requirements section below and/or "Specialized Experience" to qualify for this series as described below. 

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

The specialized experience listed are the minimum requirements for the series, each particular vacancy may have additional experience necessary to meet the applicable grade level.

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for these positions are defined as:

For the GS-11, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes applying quantitative methods and techniques used to evaluate information concerning mathematical, statistical, or economic factors related to energy market conditions or energy industry practices; and drafting reports and/or written results.

OR

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 level.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-13 level.

GS-14: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes initiating, formulating, developing, designing, performing, and documenting a broad range of economic analyses and assignments that provide systematic economic data collection, analysis, modelling, reporting and policy inputs, and associated timelines and costs, for current or continuing or projected programs in one or more areas of economic activity. Documenting purposes, methods, assumptions and conclusions, and bases sound economic analyses on thorough parametric knowledge of subjects studied. 

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-14 level.

GS-15: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Experience includes providing analyses, interpretations, and opinions to officials internal and external on a broad variety of cases and issues that include economic and policy positions on very complex and difficult matters requiring a high order of original and creative economics endeavor that will broaden or restrict activities, or have a very important impact on energy and related industries and the public. Assessing the readiness level, quality of output and outcomes, and the organizational support for the broad function of economics study necessary to create and maintain the highest level of professionalism and efficacy in the economics discipline.  Reviewing and commenting on proposed legislation, rulemaking and regulatory activities of agencies to ensure adequate consideration of  concerns and to assess the impact of those activities on statutory missions or policies

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-15 level.

OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-0110 series can be found at the following website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/economist-series-0110/

1. Skill in formulating, planning, executing, coordinating one or more specialized areas of economics sufficient to apply new analytical developments, methodologies and research findings to broad studies of an unprecedented nature and bring such studies to meaningful conclusions.
2. Knowledge of the energy industry.
3. Skill in coordinating extensive projects in assigned areas of responsibility. Projects are characterized by high visibility, unusual urgency or program criticality.
4. Ability to use advanced techniques and the modification and extension of theories, precepts and practices of economics and related sciences and disciplines.
5. Knowledge of complex subjects and industrial operations and practices under study so that conclusions reflect real world environments

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

This public notice may be used to fill multiple positions as needed; therefore, applicants must meet the qualifications at the time the applications are reviewed.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Under this Direct-Hire authority, applicants are required to meet minimum qualification requirements at the grade level(s) of interest. Veteran's Preference, Schedule A, Category Rating, and other methods of consideration DO NOT APPLY under Direct-Hire Authority regulations.

Appointments made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Civil Service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the Civil Service. Status and Non-Status applicants from outside DOE selected for this position may be required to serve a mandatory one (1) year probationary period. Selected applicant may also be required to serve a mandatory one (1) year supervisory probationary period, if not already completed.

 
If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.