The Economist/Statistician applies their knowledge and skills to conduct tasks and projects related to the lifecycle of data, research, and analysis, and to lead production, dissemination, and promotion of accurate and reliable mortgage and housing data and statistics. This includes demonstrated skills in research, analysis, assessment, programming, and data analytics with formal training in economics, statistics, or a related quantitative field.
Summary
The Economist/Statistician applies their knowledge and skills to conduct tasks and projects related to the lifecycle of data, research, and analysis, and to lead production, dissemination, and promotion of accurate and reliable mortgage and housing data and statistics. This includes demonstrated skills in research, analysis, assessment, programming, and data analytics with formal training in economics, statistics, or a related quantitative field.
The Division of Research and Statistics (DRS) serves as a leading source of informative research, accessible data, and recognized expertise in housing finance. DRS produces and disseminates high-quality data, research, statistics, and analysis to internal and external stakeholders. DRS executes life-cycle data management and provides agency-level data governance. Finally, DRS contributes economic expertise and analyses to policy, regulatory and supervisory decision-making.
DRS carries out its work through four main organizational areas - the Office of Research and Analysis (ORA), the Office of Data and Statistics (ODS), the Office of the Chief Data Officer (OCDO), and the Climate Change and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Branch. ORA is responsible for producing and disseminating high quality research and analysis related to housing market and housing finance. ODS is responsible for primary collection, development, production, management, validation, documentation, and dissemination of data and statistics over several key FHFA datasets. OCDO supports FHFA in managing and leveraging data as a strategic asset by improving data governance, lifecycle data management, analytics capabilities, and public data dissemination for DRS and throughout the Agency. The Climate Change and ESG Branch provides the coordination needed to achieve the Agency's Climate Change and ESG strategic objectives and leads the Agency's research on climate change.
Note: This is an interdisciplinary position classifiable in any one of the following series: Economist, EL-0110 or Statistician, EL-1530. The duties listed below are at the full performance level of the position. At grades EL-09 and EL-11 you will perform these duties with varying levels of difficulty and supervision.
Incumbent selected will perform the following major duties:
Performs various aspects of the lifecycle of data: design, development, collection, storage, production, validation, management, maintenance, documentation, dissemination, usage, and user support.
Conducts primary data collection of administrative and survey data, including mortgage, borrower, and property data. Examples include loan application, loan performance and appraisal data.
Conducts validation and quality assessment of data to produce and disseminate accurate and reliable data and statistics.
Conducts research, analysis, assessment, modeling, visualization, and programming to improve production and dissemination of housing and mortgage data and statistics using a variety of tools such as SAS, Stata, R, SQL, and Tableau.
Writes and disseminates technical documentation, technical reports, statistical blogs, analytical insights, and research papers, including internal and external presentations.
Develops, creates, and produces statistical products, including dashboards and other similar tools.
Provides support of internal and external users of the data and statistics produced and disseminated by the office.
Communicates with users of data and statistics to improve and further development data and statistics.
Monitors developments in data and quantitative methods and industry best practices in economics, statistics, housing finance, and credit, financial, and regulatory reporting to improve and further develop data production and dissemination.
Provides technical information and briefings to peers and senior staff in the agency, regulated entities, industry groups, and the public.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
This is not a remote position; you must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the Washington, DC duty location.
Qualifications
In order to qualify for the EL-09 Interdisciplinary Economist/Statistician, you must meet the basic education and experience requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts (official or unofficial) will be required as part of your application.
Basic Entry Requirements for an Economist (0110 series):
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.
Examples of qualifying experience include:
individual economic research assignments requiring planning, information assembly, analysis and evaluation, conclusions and report preparation;
supervisory or project coordination assignments involving a staff of professional economists, and requiring the evaluation and interpretation of economic information; or
teaching assignments in a college or university that included both class instruction in economics subjects and one of the following (1) personal research that produced evidence of results, (2) direction of graduate theses in economics, or (3) service as a consultant or advisor on technical economics problems.
Note: Experience in related fields that did not involve the use and understanding of economic principles and theories may not be used as qualifying experience for these positions. Special attention on this point should be given to certain types of work that may or may not have provided professional economic experience. The following examples of work require special care in such determinations:
economic statistics;
industrial surveys;
management of individual business enterprises, including farms;
industrial planning;
writing or editorial work in economic subjects; and
financial market analysis.
Basic Entry Requirements for a Statistician (1530 series):
A. Degree: that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology.
-OR-
B. Combination of education and experience: courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.
In addition to meeting the basic entry requirements the EL-09 Economist/Statistician, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education as described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts (official or unofficial) will be required as part of your application.
Qualifying experience for the EL/GS-09 level includes one year of specialized experience equivalent to the EL/GS-07 which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled, and has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position successfully.
Examples of specialized experience include the following:
(1) demonstrated work experiences with financial institutions associated issues and industry practices related to the data analysis; and/or
(2) demonstrated work experiences in researching, analyzing, and summarizing data and information; and/or
(3) and/or demonstrated work experiences with federal laws applicable to the type of financial institution involved; and/or
(4) experience effectively dealing with institution representatives, co-workers, and the general public; and/or
(5) experience with data visualization.
-OR-
Education: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.
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.
Education
ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
FHFA may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position ; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.
FHFA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability (physical or mental), age (40 years of age or over), genetic information, parental status, marital status, prior protected EEO activity, political affiliation, or other non-merit factors.
REASONABLE ACCOMODATION:
FHFA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, except when doing so would pose an undue hardship on the Agency. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify FHFA. The Agency's decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Ethics: FHFA employees are subject to government-wide ethical standards of conduct, financial disclosure requirements, and post-employment prohibitions. In addition, certain FHFA employees are prohibited from accepting compensation from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for a two-year period after terminating employment with FHFA. Furthermore, to avoid financial conflicts-of interest or the appearance of conflicts-of-interest, FHFA employees may need to divest or sell certain assets they, their spouse, or minor children own or control, including securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Home Loan Banks. Employees who work on Federal Home Loan Bank issues may need to sell or divest financial interests with any of the Federal Home Loan Bank members, which may include stock in bank holding companies, insurance companies, and other financial services firms. Questions regarding these requirements and prohibitions should be directed to the Office of General Counsel at (202) 649-3088.
Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
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.
This position is being filled through Federal Housing Finance Agency's hiring authority granted by the Housing Economic Recovery Act (HERA). All applicants meeting the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration. Candidates with Veteran's preference, who meet the specialized experience and education requirements for this vacancy, will be given priority consideration over non-preference candidates.
All of the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references or through other means, such as the interview process. This verification could occur at any stage of the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible.
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.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. College Transcript(s) REQUIRED, if qualifying based on education
2. Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
SF 50, optional
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/03/2023 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). Once logged in, there you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: https://www.usajobs.gov. On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Devin Hinkle at devin.hinkle@fhfa.gov or (202) 860-6514 to obtain an alternative application.
Division of Research and Statistics
Constitution Center
400 7th Street
Washington, DC 20219
US
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, we will review your materials to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided in his/her resume and the completed Occupational Questionnaire. Applicants deemed best-qualified may be contacted for an interview. We anticipate making a final job offer for this position within 45 days after the deadline for applications. All candidates will be notified of the final disposition.
***There is currently one vacancy available. However, should additional vacancies become available within three months from the opening date of this announcement, eligible applicants for this position may be referred for consideration for the additional position(s).
FHFA may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. College Transcript(s) REQUIRED, if qualifying based on education
2. Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
SF 50, optional
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/03/2023 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). Once logged in, there you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: https://www.usajobs.gov. On the Home page, scroll down and locate your job application. Once the job has been located, click the "Track this application" link on the right under the application date. The page will refresh to display the Agency's Application Information page where you can scroll down and review any notifications the agency has sent you. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Devin Hinkle at devin.hinkle@fhfa.gov or (202) 860-6514 to obtain an alternative application.
Division of Research and Statistics
Constitution Center
400 7th Street
Washington, DC 20219
US
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, we will review your materials to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided in his/her resume and the completed Occupational Questionnaire. Applicants deemed best-qualified may be contacted for an interview. We anticipate making a final job offer for this position within 45 days after the deadline for applications. All candidates will be notified of the final disposition.
***There is currently one vacancy available. However, should additional vacancies become available within three months from the opening date of this announcement, eligible applicants for this position may be referred for consideration for the additional position(s).
FHFA may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
