Industry Economist

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Economics and Analytics, 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.

Duties

• 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/or econometrics. The incumbent responds 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. In collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, the incumbent develops and implements meaningful data collections, processes the collected data for economic analyses, and undertakes such analyses to enhance understanding of competition and pricing in telecommunications markets, broadband deployment, spectrum allocation, and the technological deployment of communications services. The incumbent initiates and conducts complex economic research, analyses, and studies and develops analytical techniques for economic studies on regulation of the telecommunications markets, broadband deployment, spectrum allocation, and the technological development of communications services. The incumbent conducts and leads sophisticated analyses of major economic issues and policy questions, preparing reports and presenting results to audiences with varying levels of expertise. The incumbent collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to conduct and direct 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 develops economic models and applying econometric techniques to evaluate industry behavior and regulatory impacts.

Qualifications

Qualification Criteria Step 1. All candidates must first meet the educational qualification requirements. Educational requirements are as follows: 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 plus appropriate experience or additional education. Step 2. For candidates who meet the educational qualification requirements, their resumes will be sent forward to the subject matter experts for further review. Resumes will be reviewed to determine if candidates meet the required qualification criteria and the required competencies for each grade. GS-12 Qualification Criteria-SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Candidates must have one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as follows: 1. (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) focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation and/or (2) candidate has assisted senior economists in the teaching of economics courses focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation. and/or (3) candidate has contributed to agency policymaking involving microeconomics analysis focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation. GS-12 Competencies: Ability to serve as a technical advisor on economic issues in telecommunications and regulatory policy, displaying expertise in the areas of industrial organization, applied microeconomics, and/or econometrics; Ability to specify and implement processes and strategies to compile, clean, and verify economic data from primary and secondary sources--including direct interaction with survey respondents or data-generating entities; Ability to independently conduct comprehensive economic research and analyses involving technical and economic aspects and regulation of the telecommunications, wireless and/or media industries; Demonstrated skill with statistical or similar analytical software tools (e.g., Python, R, SAS, Power BI, Stata) needed to organize and summarize data; Ability to present to audiences with varying levels of expertise; Ability to independently develop narrative, statistical, and/or graphical reports of research and analysis, including policy recommendations by leveraging foundational knowledge of economic principles and concepts; Ability to collaborate with others and work with a multidisciplinary team to produce unified and comprehensive analyses; and Demonstrated ability to think critically and completely about the economic impacts of policy changes, legislation, and other events. GS-13 Qualification Criteria-SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Candidates must have one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to 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 focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation. and/or (2) candidate has significantly assisted senior economists in the teaching of courses in microeconomics or the relevant related fields mentioned above (specifically applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation), and/or (3) candidate has made significant contributions to agency policymaking involving microeconomics analysis focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation. GS-13 Competencies: Ability to serve as a technical advisor on complex economic issues in telecommunications and regulatory policy, displaying expertise in the areas of industrial organization, applied microeconomics, and/or econometrics; Ability to develop and co-lead processes to compile, clean, and verify economic data from primary and secondary sources-- including possible direct interaction with survey respondents or data-generating entities--following exact specifications and regulations. In-depth knowledge of statistical techniques and other requirements, processes, and systems; Ability to conduct and co-lead sophisticated analyses of major economic issues and policy questions, and ability to prepare reports and present results pertaining to this work. Demonstrated ability to think critically and completely about the economic impacts of policy changes, legislation, and other events and to present these findings to audiences with varying levels of expertise; Ability to apply knowledge of economics and statistics, especially as they relate to the telecommunications industry, and a strong grasp of industry trends. Ability to collaborate with others and work with a multidisciplinary team to produce unified and comprehensive analyses, including potentially leading these teams on specific projects; and Demonstrated ability to think critically and completely about the economic impacts of policy changes, legislation, and other events. GS-14 Qualification Criteria-SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Candidates must have one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to 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 focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation and/or (2) candidate supervised research or taught students in advanced undergrad and/or graduate courses in microeconomics or other relevant fields mentioned above (specifically applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation) and/or (3) candidate has played a lead role in analysis used in agency policymaking involving microeconomics analysis focused on applied microeconomics, industrial organization, or the economics of telecommunications or other network industries, including but not limited to industry-relevant technological innovation. GS-14 Competencies-See "Other Information". Step 3. Subject matter experts will conduct a scored, competency based resume review. Candidates must receive a score of 90 or above in order to move forward to the next stage of the hiring process, the scored structured interview. Step 4. For candidates who receive an initial score of 90 or above on the scored, competency based resume review, a scored structured interview will be conducted by the subject matter experts. For candidates who receive a score of 90 or above on the scored structured interview will be referred to the selecting official for hiring consideration.

Requirements

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.

Education

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 this announcement. Time in grade restrictions do not apply to Direct Hire procedures. Any/all educational requirements are listed and outlined within the "Qualifications" section.

How to apply

To apply to this announcement go to the website: https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?a=FC00&k=Federal%20Communications%20Commission As outlined in the "Required Documents Details" section of the announcement, resumes must meet be no longer than two pages in length and must meet the resume formatting requirements. Your application, including resume, all supplemental documents, registration information and answers to job specific questions must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern time of the closing date. For more information on applying federal jobs, please check this webpage: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/process If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Apply Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at [email protected] or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Apply Government Solutions Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST. NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission's automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date. Qualified applicants may be further reviewed and rated by Subject Matter Experts to determine the validity of on-line question. The Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) are programs designed to afford selection priority to well-qualified Federal employees who meet the definition of a “surplus” or “displaced” employee. To be eligible for consideration under CTAP, you must be a current FCC employee who has received an official notice stating that your position is no longer needed, or that you will be separated by reduction in force (RIF). To be eligible for consideration under ICTAP, you must be one of the following: Be a displaced Federal employee and have a current duty station within the local commuting area of this vacancy. You must submit a copy of the appropriate documentation such as a RIF separation notice, a letter from OPM or your agency documenting your priority consideration status with your application package. The following categories of candidates are considered displaced Employees: • Current or former career or career-conditional (tenure group I or II) competitive service employees who: 1. Received a specific RIF separation notice; or 2. Separated because of a compensable injury, whose compensation has been terminated, and whose former agency certifies that it is unable to place; or 3. Retired with a disability and whose disability annuity has been or is being terminated; or 4. Upon receipt of a RIF separation notice retired on the effective date of the RIF and submits a Standard Form 50 that indicates "Retirement in lieu of RIF", or 5. Retired under the discontinued service retirement option, or 6. Was separated because he/she declined a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area. • Former Military Reserve or National Guard Technicians who are receiving a special Office of Personnel Management (OPM) disability retirement annuity under section 337 (h) or 8456 of title 5 United States Code. • Be applying for a position at or below the grade level of the position from which you have been separated. The position must not have a greater promotion potential than the position from which you were separated. • Have a current (or last) performance rating of record of at least fully successful or equivalent. This must be submitted with your application package. (This requirement does not apply to candidates who are eligible due to compensable injury or disability retirement. • Occupy or be displaced from a position in the same local commuting area of the position for which you are requesting priority consideration. NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission's automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.