International Economist

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/

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

• Performing economic analysis and research on foreign investments or trade issues; and
• Monitoring and evaluating foreign economic issues for impact on U.S. programs and policies; and
• Assisting in providing advice and preparing reports on economic issues.

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

• Plans and carries out economic studies and analyses of foreign investments or trade including determination of data needed to interpret findings, (such as sources, reliability, and availability of such data; method of collections, and evaluation techniques); and
• Prepares briefings and reports to senior officials on economic issues and studies; and
• Presents research data and findings to senior officials.

To qualify at the GS-13 level:

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

• Conducting economic analysis or research on foreign investments or trade issues; and
• Developing methodologies and approaches for research options; and
• Making recommendations to resolve unprecedented or unusual economic activities and policies; and
• Developing reports and briefings based on research analyses and findings on economic data.