Summary

This vacancy is for an International Economist in the International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce.

Duties

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As an International Economist, you will perform the following duties:

• Conducts economic research and analysis, develops methodologies and approaches for research.
• Plans and carries out a project for collecting detailed economic data which requires that complete understanding of the broad research plans and goals and the principles and policies governing analysis, tabulation, and reporting.
• Prepares reports and recommendations regarding important program aspects.
• Advises work group members and responding to inquiries from the public and senior agency officials.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other International Economist GS-0110-11/12/13, FPL GS-13 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location or local commuting area with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• This position requires a SECRET CLEARANCE: Any required investigations and clearances must be completed before the selectee can be placed in the position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• A probationary period may be required.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): No
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: will not be paid
• License required: Incumbent is required to operate a motor vehicle and must possess a current active state issued Driver's license. No
• Drug Test Required: Yes, This position is subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-SeriesApplicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: The below represents the Economist 0110 series education requirement:

A. Degree: A bachelor's or higher 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: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND

To qualify at the GS-11 level you must meet one of the following:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Conducting detailed economic research; analyzing economic data and trends; and/or developing findings to support economic analyses, reports, or recommendations; AND
• Utilizing computer data processing tools and economic research techniques to analyze and interpret economic data; AND
• Conducting economic and statistical analyses using primary and secondary data sources and statistical techniques.

OR-

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

-OR-

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of experience and graduate level education to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements.

To qualify at the GS-12 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Conducting detailed economic research; analyzing economic data and trends; and/or developing findings to support economic analyses, reports, or recommendations; AND
• Utilizing computer data processing tools and economic research techniques to analyze and interpret economic data; AND
• Analyzing data and preparing reports to present findings and conclusions; AND
• Presenting controversial findings and recommendations to a wide range of audiences.

To qualify at the GS-13 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Conducting comprehensive economic research and analysis to evaluate economic trends, issues, and impacts and develop findings and/or recommendations; AND
• Developing economic research methodologies and analytical approaches to address significant program issues and objectives; AND
• Participating in or serving as an advisor to interagency workgroups addressing economic, policy, or program issues; AND
• Analyzing data and preparing reports to present findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Education

See Qualifications Above.

NOTE:

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

Additional information

The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

1. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
2. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
3. Military Spouse Non-Competitive Hiring Authority

ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition

Military Spouse The spouse of a member of the armed forces seeking eligibility under the non-competitive hiring authority of certain military spouse MUST submit various required documentation by the closing date of the announcement in accordance with one of the three below eligibilities:

• 1.) Spouse of a member of the armed forces serving on active duty,
• 2.) Spouse of service member who incurred a 100% disability, or
• 3.) Un-remarried widow or widower of a service member killed while performing active duty.

Please review the "Required Documents" Section for specific documents pertaining to each of the above eligibilities that MUST be included with your application, if you are applying as a Military Spouse.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Benefits

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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.

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.

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.

Review our 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.