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Research Economist - DIRECT HIRE

Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

You will serve as a research economist in the Injury Prevention Research Division. The Office has national responsibility for conducting behavioral research on the role of drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and motorcyclists In traffic safety and uses the research to develop and refine strategies for reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries by deterring unsafe behaviors and promoting safe alternatives.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
03/22/2022 to 04/11/2022
Salary
$74,950 to - $116,788 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Position may require some travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NHTSA.NPD-2022-0007
Control number
644177500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Duties

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As a Research Economist, you will:

  • Participate with the Division Chief and with members of the Division in formulating and executing evaluation, long-range research, and strategic plans to accomplish the Division's objectives relating to improved traffic safety.
  • Conduct and manage several key research projects. The incumbent must analyze these complex projects and develop feasible strategies for accomplishing project objectives, often requiring innovative scientific methods or management techniques.
  • Conducts projects of vital interest to the Office, Research and Program Development and the Agency when developing foundations for future research initiatives or when time considerations preclude using contract researchers.
  • Prepare descriptions of Division projects and activities for controls, action assignments, and information requests. The incumbent keeps the Division Chief informed of the status of these administrative activities and the occurrence of any significant events that might result in the need for redirection of program plans

The ideal candidate should have strong academic credentials and experience as a research economist with solid experience in planning, designing, conducting, and managing research or evaluation studies involving behavioral countermeasures or intervention programs. The candidate should also have strong experience in collecting, analyzing and/or synthesizing data from a variety of data sources and have experience using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in applied research or an evaluation project outside of an educational environment. An understanding of traffic safety and/or public health issues, such as occupant protection, distracted driving, and/or older and/or younger drivers, and experience working with Federal agencies, State and local governments, national organizations, research firms, public health officials, community groups and grassroots organizations would be helpful. The candidate should have strong organizational, analytical, interpersonal, and communications skills.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
  • Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
  • Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-11, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the following:

  • Experience with quantitative analysis techniques including evaluative research methods, sampling statistics, and/or economic analyses to apply these techniques.
  • Experience conducting research and evaluation in behavioral economics, injury prevention, or traffic safety.
  • Experience using one or more computer software packages that create spreadsheets, work with databases and perform statistical analyses.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:

  • Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
  • 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree
  • A LL.M., if related

You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience.  This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.  

To qualify for the GS-12, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the following:

  • Experience in project and organizational management.
  • Experience evaluating long range plans.
  • Experience preparing articles, program briefings, and other products to disseminate research and evaluation findings

You cannot qualify on education at this level, you must have experience. 

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:

  1. Demonstrated work experience in planning, designing, conducting and managing research or evaluation studies.
  2. Knowledge and/or training in the theory and principles of behavioral economics, injury control, and/or public health.
  3. Knowledge, experience, and/or training in data analysis, statistics or epidemiology, and computerized statistical analysis.
  4. Demonstrated communication skills including experience in making presentation; critically analyzing reports and options; and writing reports, articles and summaries.

For all types of consideration, 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/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Basic Requirements

  1. Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

    or

  2. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Additional information

PLEASE NOTE: 

  • This is not a Bargaining unit position.

COVID VACCINATION: If selected, you will be required to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will referred to the hiring manager.

How you will be evaluated

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

For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational requirements.  Applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.

Applicants will not be rated or ranked.  Veteran’s Preference does NOT apply.

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.  WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.  All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume.  If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.

Ultimately, the Automated Staffing Office is response provides enough detail to support the qualifications of the vacancy. 


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