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Recent Graduates - Economist

Department of Energy
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ranked within the top 5 mid-size agencies through the Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government Rankings! Our Pathways Recent Graduates Program provides first-hand developmental experiences in the energy industry, while gaining exposure to the Commission’s work. This position is in the Office of Energy Market Regulation. For more information visit: Office of Energy Market Regulation (OEMR).

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/14/2023 to 06/28/2023
Salary
$53,105 to - $84,441 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 07 - 09
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
FEW vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Some travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
FERC-DE-2023-0064
Control number
731668700

Videos

Duties

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As a Recent Graduate Economist, some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • (GS-7) Assisting in the review and analysis of routine and moderately complex economic data and other regulatory documents associated with Commission filings to define basic economic issues and other factors affecting regulatory compliance.
    (GS-9) Analyzing and reviewing a variety of conventional regulatory data and documents associated with the regulation of natural gas/oil pipeline companies and/or electric utilities for matters within his/her designated area of responsibility.
  • (GS-7) Evaluating factual information and performing economic analysis, applying economic theory and formulating conclusions.
    (GS-9) Performing analyses of moderately complex regulatory issues associated with filings for the purpose of identifying trends, problems, or deviations from pertinent regulatory requirements or Commission policies.
  • Effectively communicating technical information orally.
  • (GS-7) Assisting in preparing economic and statistical summaries or studies for use by senior staff as an aid in decision making and for use in memoranda and orders.
    (GS-9) Preparing Commission memoranda, notices, proposed orders, or other documents for cases that require consideration of issues common to the regulated industry or which are traditional or non-controversial.
  • Performing work as the lead or part of a team.

The Recent Graduate Program lasts for one (1) year. You may be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term (1 – 4 years in duration) position once you complete the program, without further competition.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required.
  • A background investigation is required.
  • This is a bargaining unit position.
  • Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • You must submit transcripts at the time of application.
  • Relocation expenses will not be paid.
  • You may be required to divest certain energy-related securities.

You must meet all eligibility and qualification (experience and/or education) requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

Eligibility: In order to be eligible for our Recent Graduates Program, you must:

  • Be a recent graduate who has completed, within the last two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, maters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution; AND
  • Meet the qualification standards (e.g., series and grade).

Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligations, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply. 

Qualifications: To view the qualification requirements of a Recent Graduate- Economist, GS-0110, please visit: Economist, 0110 .

For the GS-7: You can qualify based on your education, OR one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-05 level, OR have a combination education and experience. Specialized experience is defined as: experience, either through education or employment, collecting and analyzing technical information, including the formulation of policy recommendations.

For the GS-9:  You can qualify based on your education, OR one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-07 level, OR have a combination education and experience. Specialized experience is defined as: experience analyzing and evaluating regulations and legislation, including the formulation of technical and policy recommendations.

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 any volunteer experience.

Please do not cut and paste  the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Education

This position has an education requirement (as referenced in the “Qualifications” section) and therefore, transcripts are required. Failure to submit this documentation at the time of application will result in your application being marked incomplete and you will not receive further consideration.

Additional information

FERC is ranked as the #1 mid-size agency in both Teamwork and Effective Leadership in the Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work rankings!  In addition, FERC is ranked as a top 5 agency in Work-Life Balance and is proud to offer telework and workplace flexibilities in accordance with agency policy.

The duty location of this position is Washington, DC. Agency employees are eligible for telework and other workplace flexibilities. Telework days and waiting periods for eligibility are determined when an employee enters on duty.

When promotion potential is shown, 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.

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
  • Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice.
  • 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. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
  • Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC’s supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of these securities may be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment.
  • Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.

How you will be evaluated

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

  1. Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your resume and any supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements for the position. Your resume must address the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities, and other characteristics):

    Regulations

    Research Analysis

    Oral Communication

    Written Communication

    Teamwork
  1. The online assessment is used to evaluate your relevant education and experience in relation to the required competencies for this position.
  2. If you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, your application will be further evaluated based on your answers to the vacancy questionnaire, using the Category Rating Method. This means you will be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified, depending on your responses. Your rating may be lowered if your responses are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your resume. Veterans’ preference is applied by listing preference eligibles ahead of non-preference eligibles within the same category in which they are placed. Qualified preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent (CPS and CP) will be placed at the top of the highest quality category (Best Qualified), ahead of all other preference and non-preference eligibles, regardless of the quality category in which they are placed as a result of the assessment of their qualifications (excepted for scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level and above). A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Qualified), provided no preference eligibles in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible.
  3. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. Please note - only your resume and cover letter will be forwarded to the selecting official.

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