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Summary

This position is located in the Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), Various Divisions, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), located in Washington, DC.

RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID.  

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/30/2026 to 02/17/2026
Salary
$102,415 to - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - This is a full-time position. Work schedules, including telework, are at the discretion of the supervisor, consistent with agency policy.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14 - The full promotion potential of this position is GS-14.
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes - Financial disclosure required at the GS-14 grade level.
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This position is in the bargaining unit. The exclusive representative is NTEU Chapter 209.
Announcement number
DHA-OEA-2026-001
Control number
856091800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - Open to all U.S. Citizens. Individuals who typically apply for positions under other authorities may also apply competitively to this position. (e.g. VRA, Schedule A, Peace Corps, Students, Recent Graduates, Military Spouses, National Guard, Indian Preference, Land Management, Family of Overseas Employees, Federal Employees, Agency Employees, ICTAP) Non-citizens may be eligible for this excepted service position under certain circumstances.

Duties

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The incumbent serves as an expert and technical advisor on complex economic issues in telecommunications and regulatory policy, typically in the areas of industrial organization, applied microeconomics, and econometrics. The incumbent initiates and conducts complex economic research, analyses and studies, develops analytical techniques for economic studies; and conducts sophisticated analyses of major economic issues and policy questions, preparing reports and presenting results pertaining to this work.

The incumbent anticipates the need for, plans, conducts and directs studies on the economics of the telecommunications industry. The studies require a high degree of specialized knowledge of economics and statistics, especially as they relate to the telecommunications industry, and a strong grasp of industry trends. The incumbent should have an excellent understanding of the statistical techniques and other requirements, processes and systems necessary (1) to develop economically meaningful data collections, (2) to process the collected data for economic analyses, and (3) to undertake such analyses. The incumbent responds to special requests for specific analyses, research and studies for use in reports to inform policy making, and for preparation of testimony to be presented before Congressional Committees.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship.
  • Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
  • Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
  • Financial disclosure statement may be required upon assuming the position.
  • Resume must not exceed two pages and must meet resume format criteria.
  • Education-Transcripts Required

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions.  Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

Qualifications

Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement with the exception of those candidates currently completing a Ph.D.. Degree requirements must be complete by August 1, 2026. Verification of fulfillment of degree requirements will be required prior to appointment.

Time in grade restrictions do not apply to Direct Hire procedures.

To be deemed as qualified, candidates must meet the Basic Educational Qualification Requirement outlined in Part A and the Specialized Experience and/or Educational requirements outlined in Part B.

PART A-EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

A. Basic Educational Qualification Requirement

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

OR

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

AND

PART B-SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

B. Specialized Experience:

GS-12

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must demonstrate one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as follows:

(1) candidate has performed research used in publications in peer-reviewed journals (even if candidate is not an author of a peer-reviewed journal publication) and/or
(2) candidate has assisted senior economists in the teaching of economics courses and/or
(3) candidate has contributed to agency policy-making involving microeconomics analysis.

GS-13

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must demonstrate one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as follows:

(1) candidate has at least one credited publication in a peer-reviewed journal or has made significant contributions to one or more publications in peer-reviewed journals and/or
(2) candidate has significantly assisted senior economists in the teaching of courses in microeconomics or the relevant related fields mentioned above,and/or
(3) candidate has made significant contributions to agency policy-making involving microeconomics analysis.

GS-14

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must demonstrate one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as follows:

(1) candidate has at least two credited publications in peer-reviewed journals or has made significant contributions to two or more publications in peer-reviewed journals and/or
(2) candidate supervised research or taught students in advanced undergrad and/or graduate courses in microeconomics or other relevant fields mentioned above and/or
(3) candidate has played a lead role in analysis used in agency policy- making involving microeconomics analysis.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: 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.

Subject matter experts will review your application to determine if you meet the following required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's):

  • Ability to serve as an expert and technical advisor on complex economic issues in telecommunications and regulatory policy, typically in the areas of industrial organization, applied microeconomics, and econometrics.
  • Ability to initiate and conduct complex economic research, analyses and studies, and develop analytical techniques for economic studies.
  • Ability to conduct sophisticated analyses of major economic issues and policy questions, prepare reports and present results pertaining to this work.
  • Expert knowledge of statistical techniques and other requirements, processes and systems necessary.
  • Skill responding to special requests for specific analyses, research and studies for use in reports to inform policymaking, and for preparation of testimony to be presented before Congressional Committees.

If you are deemed to be qualified by the Subject Matter Experts, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for hiring consideration. Alternatively, if your application is not deemed as qualified by the Subject Matter Experts, your application will not be referred to the hiring manager for hiring consideration.

Education

Any/all educational requirements (if applicable) are listed and outlined within the "Qualifications" section.

Additional information

EEO Policy Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement

Veterans Information

Legal and Regulatory Guidance

Other:
-  Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.  The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application.  If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job.

-  If applicable, you will be required to serve a trial period of one year.

-  In order for you to be employed at the FCC, there are certain Commission and Federal laws governing the financial interests of you and members of your immediate family. If selected for the position, you must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.

*NOTE-This position is in the bargaining unit.  The exclusive representative is NTEU Chapter 209.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

As this position is being advertised under DEU and Merit Promotion hiring procedures, applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position using the hiring procedures outlined below.

Optional Four Essay Questions

At the time of application, applicants have the option of answering the following four short, free-response essay questions.

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Applicants will be required to certify that they are using their own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question.

All applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position.  The FCC determines the BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES based upon whether or not all of the qualification requirements have been met (education, basic experience requirements and specialized experience requirements).

As this position is being advertised under Direct Hire procedures, veterans preference does not apply.

A selecting official may make a selection from the list of candidates who are deemed as "Best Qualified".

Applicants under Merit Promotion will be considered in accordance with the agency's merit promotion plan and union agreement.

There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:

1.  Resume-Must address the specialized experience
2.  SF-50-For current federal employees
3.  Supplemental documentation (e.g., DD-214, SF-50, SF-15, cover letter), if applicable; and
4.  Unofficial or official transcripts

Applicants will be rated ineligible if they do not meet all of the qualification requirements (education, basic experience requirements and specialized experience requirements).


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