Summary This position is assigned to the Enterprise Services and Secretary CCC, Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center (BC), Economic and Policy Analysis Division, Data Services Branch. Duties include, but not limited to: Identify and assess data science economics analytical challenges. Conduct routine testing of data quality and advanced sampling, data analytics and other methods. Serving as the senior data science economist on a diverse team of analysts, Responsibilities Conduct routine testing of data quality and that advanced sampling, data analytics, and other methods are used appropriately. Identify and assess data science economics analytical challenges and identifies and applies innovative or creative approaches, often in areas where no precedent exists. Serve as the senior data science economist on a diverse team of analysts in carrying out analytical functions. Innovate and expand upon the mission area’s advanced economics and data science analytics and computational research and offerings to support greater analytic capability in a cross-agency dimension. Develop new applications to the fields of economics, data science, and data management in the agricultural policy area. Stay abreast of developments in programs and policies, data management, and relational data systems, and analysis principles, methods, and techniques. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the 11/18/2024 of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. (e.g. one year at the GS-13 grade level for consideration for the GS-14 grade level and one year at the GS-14 grade level for consideration for the GS-15 grade level). Basic Requirement for the 0110 Series: 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: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience for the GS-14 Level: At the GS-14 level: To qualify for the GS-14 you must possess specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Specialized experience must demonstrate: initiating, formulating, developing, designing, performing, and documenting a broad range of economic analyses and assignments that provide systematic economic data collection, analysis, modelling, reporting and policy inputs, and associated timelines and costs for current or continuing or projected programs in one or more areas of economic activity. Documenting purposes, methods, assumptions and conclusions, and bases sound economic analyses on thorough parametric knowledge of subjects studied. At the GS-15 level: To qualify for the GS-15 you must possess specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Specialized experience must include: economic concepts, principles and practices that enable the incumbent to use experienced judgment; rely upon knowledge of new data scientist developments; bring creativity and innovation in solving problems and making decisions that result in the development of or significantly change important public policies or programs; outstanding creativity in generating new data science economic concepts and approaches; evaluating the effectiveness of economic scientific data methods, procedures, and systems, and developing strategies for making the necessary improvements THE SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE IS NOT QUALIFYING AT THE GS-14 AND GS-15 LEVEL. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/economist-series-0110/ 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 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 There is a basic education requirement for this occupational series. You must submit a copy of your transcripts showing a degree in economics that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus, with the degree awarded date. You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. 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. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information. Additional Information Locality Pay: The salary for each location may vary depending on locality. Locality tables may be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or, Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8 hour work day, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.