This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/686862300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
This position is located in the Surface Transportation Board's Office of Economics. As an Economist, the position will be responsible for utilizing econometric and quantitative techniques. This will include conducting a full range of economic assignments.
This vacancy is also being announced under Direct Hiring Authority for non-status applicants under Job Announcement Number: STB-11687233-23-TR.
11/01/2022 to 11/22/2022
$74,950 - $164,102 per year
GS 11 - 14
3 vacancies in the following location:
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
No
Permanent -
Full-time -
Competitive
14
No
No
STB-11690461-23-TR
686862300
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
Current or former competitive service federal employees.
Status Candidates (this includes current or former competitive service federal employees, Land & Base Management, Veterans, Military Spouses, Schedule A, CTAP, ICTAP, Peace Corps, Vista, and Interchange Agreement Eligibles).
- Serve as a staff economist with proficiency in econometric and quantitative techniques.
- Work with econometric and statistical techniques such as predictive modeling, empirical cost models (for e.g. activity-based costing), event study analysis using time series, cross sectional, panel and transactional data.
- Study the economics and public policy challenges facing network industries
- Conduct qualitative and quantitative studies that evaluate a wide range of complex issues related to the economic regulation of the rail industry and other segments of the transportation industry subject to Board regulation.
- Plan and execute economic studies on a variety of topics, including transportation costing, infrastructure investment studies, and economic impact studies.
Conditions of Employment
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Individual Occupational Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet the additional grade level requirements. In addition, to meeting the educational requirements (SEE Education section of Job Announcement), you must also meet the specialized experience as outlined below:
Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position typically in or directly related to Economist and is equivalent to the work performed at the next lower grade level.
(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.
Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of the closing date of this announcement. If selected, the final transcript must be received before your start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
(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 these grade levels in your resume.
NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12, GS-13, or GS-14 grade levels.
To be qualified for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level of Federal service such as Performing general econometric and statistical techniques; individual economic research; conducting general studies that evaluate issues related to economic regulation of the rail/transportation industry.
OR
Performing general economic analysis, general experience with Microsoft Office or general experience with statistical software packages.
OR
3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
To be qualified for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level of Federal service such as Using significant econometric and quantitative techniques; working with econometric and statistical techniques; conducting significant studies related to the economic regulation of the rail/transportation industry; performing economic studies and economic impact studies.
OR
Performing significant economic analysis with significant experience with Microsoft Office or significant experience with statistical software packages; Research experience in microeconomics; applying various methods from research; applying micro econometric methods and/or machine learning to the investigation of complex issues.
GS-13: To be qualified for this position at the GS-13 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level of Federal service such as Serving as a staff economist with proficiency in robust econometric and quantitative techniques; extensive experience working with robust econometric and statistical techniques (such as predictive modeling, empirical cost models for activity-based costing, event study analysis using time series, cross sectional, panel and transactional data); conducting robust studies evaluating complex issues related to economic regulation of the rail/transportation industry; performing robust economic studies on transportation costing, infrastructure investment, and economic impact.
OR
Performing robust economic analysis, robust experience with Microsoft Office or robust experience with Sequel, and statistical software packages. Conducting microeconomics research and reviewing economic literature; adapting methods from research; manipulation of large datasets; adapting advanced econometric methods and/or machine learning to complex issues; advising on economic matters; and presenting on economic issues
For the GS-14: To be qualified for this position at the GS-14 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level of Federal service such as Conducting highly complex independent economic research in support of data analysis projects - economic impact analyses, cost benefit analyses, and development of decision support tools. Leads teams tasked with quantitative and qualitative analysis by using various highly complex economic research techniques - econometric analysis, market analysis, pricing, economic multiplier models, uncertainty and risk analysis, statistics, mathematical models, simulation, optimization, industry analysis, and game theory. Makes authoritative recommendations on policies that provides technical expertise to senior leadership on policy initiatives on economic analyses.
Or
Leading teams employing highly complex economic analysis, mastery of Microsoft Office or mastery of statistical software packages. Conducting independent economic research in support of projects - economic impact analyses, cost benefit analyses, and development of decision support tools. Conducts analysis using various economic research techniques including econometric analysis, market analysis, pricing, economic multiplier models, uncertainty and risk analysis, statistics, mathematical models, simulation, optimization, industry analysis, and game theory. Makes authoritative recommendations on policies that provides technical expertise to senior leadership on policy initiatives.
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:
This position has a basic education requirement.
As mentioned, above in the Qualifications section, in order to qualify for this position, applicants must meet the specialized experience* and you must have completed the following educational requirements for this series:
For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months, years, and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the length of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.
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.
Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation.
This position is eligible for telework in accordance with STB's telework policy.
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. In addition, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has work/life-balance flexibilities that may be right for you. We offer:
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants will be evaluated on their resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job.
Candidates who are eligible under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are best qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided. Highly Qualified candidates may be referred if there is an insufficient pool of candidates in the Best Qualified group.
Candidate who apply under Noncompetitive and Special Hiring Authorities procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume, supporting documentation submitted and their responses to the assessment questionnaire.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. Well-qualified means you must meet the basic qualification standards and eligibility requirements for the position, including medical, suitability, and minimum educational and experience requirements; meet all selective factors where applicable and appropriate quality ranking factor levels; be physically qualified, with reasonable accommodation where appropriate, to perform the essential duties of the position; meet any special qualifying condition(s) that OPM has approved for the position; and be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.
Veterans' Preference: If you are claiming veteran's preference, you must submit documentation described in the "Required Documents" section. For more information regarding veterans' preference please go to http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
Preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11690461.
Please be advised, the following documents are required even if you are already a current Federal or STB employee:
1. Resume that includes the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month and year, and hours worked per week, if part time. Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.
2. Responses to questionnaire.
3. Supporting documents verifying your eligibility or any preference eligibility along with your application package.
These documents may include, but are not limited to:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
The complete application package must be submitted before the announcement closes. The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date.
To begin your online application:
You must create a login.gov account, if you don't already have one. You must:
-Create a login.gov account - you only need to do this once.
-Enter an email address during the account set up - use the same email address you use for USAJOBS (your primary or secondary email address).
-Create a new password.
-Have a working phone number (mobile or landline) near you - login.gov will send you a security code.
-Finish setting up your login.gov account.
Once you've finished setting up your login.gov account, you'll go back to USAJOBS to finish the process. Double check your USAJOBS Profile to make sure all of your information is accurate. You must use your login.gov email address, password, and security code every time you want to sign into USAJOBS. Follow the prompts in USAJOBS to take the online questionnaire and submit the required documents. See Required Documents section for more details.
Note: We recommend you don't use a .gov, .mil or .edu email address. Instead, use a personal (non-government) email address when you create your login.gov account. Please do not use an email address you share with someone else.
** For any issues signing into login.gov, go to https://login.gov/contact/
This and other STB positions may be filled using Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102(u). Schedule A is an excepted service hiring authority used to appoint persons with severe physical disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. Such individuals may be converted to permanent status after two years of satisfactory service. Documentation of disability is required, that is, a Schedule A Letter, which is used to verify that the applicant qualifies under Schedule A. This documentation must be provided at the time of application. A Schedule A letter can be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. A VA letter does not qualify as a Schedule A letter. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation for the application process, please include the accommodation request with your Schedule A letter. Reasonable accommodation requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Because this vacancy announcement is a competitive announcement, in order to be considered under Schedule A, you must email your Schedule A documentation and resume directly to Nilsa Grange at Nilsa.Grange@stb.gov, instead of applying through USAJobs.
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications.The best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and a possible interview. Highly Qualified candidates may be referred if there is an insufficient pool of candidates in the Best Qualified group. All applicants will be notified of their status by email throughout the process.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/686862300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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