Industry Economist

Summary This position is in the Load Forecasting and Analysis (MSL) organization of Customer Support Services (MS), Business Management & Development (M), Chief Operating Officer (K), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The incumbent serves as an expert Load Forecasting Economic Analyst in analysis activities associated with electrical consuming equipment, consumer behaviors and choices associated with economic theory for residential, commercial, industrial and irrigating consumer sectors. Learn more about this agency Duties About the Position - Portland This position is located in Portland, OR which boasts huge spans of amazing trees, foliage, landscape, and everywhere you look you can appreciate beautiful greenery! It is known as the most bike-friendly city in America, has a train system that greets you at the airport spanning across the city, and is home to the Portland International Rose Garden, the oldest in the country! Portland is the one place where you will find lively festivals, energetic music, mouthwatering food, and for you basketball fans, the Portland Trail Blazers are a 7 minute walk from the HQs building! There is always something new to experience in this eco-friendly town! As an Industry Economist, you will: Initiate, formulate, plan, and execute broad or in-depth economic studies based on analysis of loads associated with a subset of requirements customers (including customers with dispatchable generation), and representing those customers with the most complex issues. Support revenue forecasting, rates, and power and transmission planning, and for interactions with customers regarding these aspects of utility operations. Provide timely and high quality subject matter expertise and support as requested on Customer Core Teams and periodically attending Core Team meetings as needed. Develop load forecasting models for Medium Term (hourly, out 18 months); and, Long-Term (monthly, out 20 years) for the incumbent's assigned customers. Research and analyze regional, market, business entity, or consumer behaviors and actions that drive electricity use on an hourly basis and develop electricity forecasting models that incorporate this information to reflect changing electricity patterns over time and the impact on BPA practices and or policies to drive cost effective and/or efficiency improvements to keep BPA as a low cost provider in the northwest. Provide Customer Service Engineers, system planners, systems operations, and others with timely and high quality load analyses to ensure system availability and reliability and cost-effective capital investments. Requirements Conditions of employment In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration. When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully. Key Requirements: You must be a United States Citizen. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements. Conditions of Employment: Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation. May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. You will be required to report in person to the official duty location. Qualifications BASIC REQUIREMENT: A. Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus. - OR - B. Have a 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: 1. Individual economic research assignments requiring planning, information assembly, analysis and evaluation, conclusions and report preparation; 2. Supervisory or project coordination assignments involving a staff of professional economists, and requiring the evaluation and interpretation of economic information; or 3. 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. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: GS-11: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-09, in the Federal service. Specialized Experience at the GS-11 grade level is defined as: 1) Assisting with economic analysis of electrical consuming equipment, consumer behaviors, and economic theory to support revenue forecasting, rates, and planning across sectors; and 2) Developing and maintaining economic data using secondary research and advanced analytics (e.g., machine learning, statistical modeling) to identify trends, monitor consumption effects, and contribute to load forecasting models. GS-11: You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. - OR - Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited). GS-12: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-11, in the Federal service. Specialized Experience at the GS-12 grade level is defined as: 1) Performing economic analysis by evaluating, modeling, and statistically describing how economic factors and choices impact electricity load, creating or verifying models to explain cause-and-effect relationships; and 2) Developing and maintaining economic data using secondary research and advanced analytics (e.g., machine learning, statistical modeling) to identify trends, monitor consumption effects, and recommend model inclusions. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level. GS-13: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-12, in the Federal service. Specialized Experience at the GS-13 grade level is defined as: (1) Perform complex economic analysis on varying conditions to track developments affecting related organizations (e.g. regulatory body) and customers with most complex problems, and to enhance reliability of utility services; and (2) Develop database and forecasting models, using existing approaches and by developing novel approaches, to determine load forecasting performance and efficiency, prepare a variety of interpretive reports and make recommendations as required. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-13 grade level. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education This vacancy has a positive education requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible". Additional information EEO Policy: USAJOBS Center | Equal employment opportunity policy Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. USAJOBS Center | Reasonable accommodation policy Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Veterans Information: USAJOBS Center - Veterans Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Telework: https://www.opm.gov/telework/ Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations. BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment. We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.? Expand Hide  additional information 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. 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. 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.