Agricultural Economist

Summary If selected, you will serve as an Agricultural Economist in the regional office and carry out enforcement of competitive and trade practice provisions of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, primarily by conducting investigations and analyses of economic impacts associated with the livestock, meat, and poultry industries. Learn more about this agency Duties The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to: Independently, or as a team leader, plans, organizes, and conducts complex economic investigations of anti-competitive, unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive practices. Applies economic theory as it relates to markets for livestock, live poultry, and meat. Performs independently, or as the leader of a team, investigations of the competitive impacts of marketing and procurement practices in the livestock, poultry, and meat industries. Identifies economic research objectives, the achievement of which might add to the body of economic knowledge available to the Agency for use in its surveillance and investigations. Maintains a current knowledge of structure, performance, marketing conditions, and behavior in the livestock, poultry, and meat industries. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a US Citizen or US National. Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information. Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/ All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions. Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. BASIC 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Evaluation of Experience: Examples of qualifying experience include: Individual economic research assignments requiring planning, information assembly, analysis and evaluation, conclusions, and report preparation. Supervisory or project coordination assignments involving a staff of professional economists and requiring the evaluation and interpretation of economic information or 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. Experience in related fields that did not involve the use and understanding of economic principles and theories may not be used as qualifying experience for these positions. Special attention on this point should be given to certain types of work that may or may not have provided professional economic experience. The following examples of work require special care in such determinations: economic statistics. industrial surveys. management of individual business enterprises, including farms. industrial planning. writing or editorial work on economic subjects; and financial market analysis In addition to meeting the basic requirement you must also me the specialized experience below: FOR THE GS-9 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-7 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Assisting in conducting economic impact evaluations in which all analytical steps are conducted, including using appropriate methodologies, determining relevant data requirements, collecting and analyzing information, Presenting results in a professional manner that are understandable to non-economists. Assisting in conducting benefit-cost analyses that integrate technical and economic information. OR 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in Economics or closely related degree field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Conducting economic analysis using statistical software and statistical methods; compiling and maintaining data sets used for market analysis. Performing analyses related to supply, demand, commodity prices, regulations, and current events that can affect the movement of agricultural commodities. Conducting economic literature reviews, preparing technical reports/policy briefings, and communicating research. OR OR Successful completion of 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Economics or a closely related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-9/11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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 Please see above for education qualification requirement information. Additional information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP 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/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection. This position is represented by a collective bargaining unit (union). 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: 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 RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA 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, based on your adjudication decision. 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 RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. You will occasionally be required work in conditions that some find uncomfortable. This position will require travel. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Fair Trade Practices Program (FTPP) Packers and Stockyards Division (PSD) promotes fair, transparent, and competitive markets for livestock, meat, and poultry. PSD administers and enforces the Packers and Stockyards Act by monitoring industry practices; conducting audits, reviews, and investigations; and taking appropriate enforcement actions to prevent unfair, deceptive, discriminatory, or anti-competitive conduct. Through these efforts, PSD helps safeguard payment protections for producers, maintains financial integrity in the marketplace, and supports a level playing field that benefits farmers, ranchers, businesses, and consumers. 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. 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.