Duties

Summary

This position serves as the Treasury Department's top economist in the field of business and international taxation, including corporate, partnership, and sole proprietorship income taxes. As such, the Director for Business and International Taxation works closely with the Director and Chief Economist, Office of Tax Analysis, and Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax Analysis) in various phases of their activities.

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Responsibilities

The incumbent makes sure the Treasury Department furnishes in-depth, high quality analyses, reports, and other data to the: (a) Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives; (b) Finance Committee of the U.S. Senate;(c) Joint Committee on Taxation; and (d) other offices and departments within the Executive Branch, including, e.g., the National Economic Council.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Guides improvement in the models, data, methodologies, and theories used to analyze and evaluate international and business taxation policies. Initiates, plans, and directs a wide range of basic studies of the business taxation system of the Federal Government, including those of a pioneering, controversial, or precedent-setting nature. The business tax system as a whole is analyzed and evaluated with a view to making adjustments in a manner that will be fair to taxpayers, and which will minimize undesirable economic effects.

Analyzes and evaluates the need for, and directs analyses of specific tax proposals. This is done to: (a) determine their effects on particular groups of taxpayers and on the economy as a whole; and (b) avoid inequity among taxpayers in a particular group. Ascertains and develops methods for meeting the administrative and compliance problems of these proposals. These studies require in-depth analyses and evaluations of the anticipated or probable effects of tax changes on the domestic and international economy. In addition, coordinates studies with those of the International Tax Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, and other Treasury and Executive Branch offices and officials.

The Director for Business and International Taxation frequently is required to give technical advice and assistance to top level Treasury Department officials. Participates in the formulation of legislative programs in the area of business and international taxation. Makes substantive recommendations on ways to adjust the Nation's taxation system to changing economic conditions. Represents the Office of Tax Policy in dealing with other Federal agencies, typically on matters that are related to business and international taxation.

Supervises the Business and International Taxation Division, and performs related administrative functions. Helps determine and set objectives and priorities for the Business and International Taxation Division, and assigns work to the staff in accordance with those objectives and priorities. Reviews staff work for substantive content as well as proper format, and ensures that work is completed on schedule. Performs annual performance evaluations for each staff member, and maintains current position descriptions and performance objectives for each staff member. Aids in the recruitment and hiring of professional staff for the entire Office of Tax Analysis.

Advises U.S. delegation to international economic conferences on tax matters. In addition, the Director represents the United States at meetings of the Committee on Fiscal Affairs.

Aids in the professional development of the staff of the Business and International Taxation Division. Encourages written descriptions of work in a professional format for dissemination to other tax professionals. Also encourages participation in conferences and other formal and informal contacts with the professional tax community. Carries on own research and publication activities as an example to the staff.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Some travel may be required.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
ES

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• All groups of qualified individuals.
• Initial appointments are required to serve a probationary period of 1 year.
• Financial disclosure is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.

You must have one year of experience as an economist or econometrician at the GS-15 (or equivalent) level of difficulty in the Federal service or private sector, performing or managing the economic analysis of tax policy or public finance issues.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, candidates must possess specialized experience at a senior level which demonstrates ability to perform the duties described above; including progressively responsible supervisory or managerial experience demonstrating ability to manage people and resources. Candidates are strongly encouraged to address each Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ's) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ's) separately. Candidates who choose not to address both the ECQ's and MTQ's separately will not be disqualified; but must ensure their resume addresses each sufficient for evaluation. Your responses and/or resume must demonstrate possession of these qualifications; typically acquired through education, experience or training, and reflect progressive development and achievement in managing the business operations of a large organization. Please provide examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibility, the scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken, and level of contacts. All qualified candidates will be evaluated on the relevance of their experience, education, training, self-development, honors, awards, and outside activities.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): The ECQs describe the leadership skills needed to succeed in the Senior Executive Service (SES) and are in addition to the specific mandatory technical qualifications listed below. Additional information on the Executive Core Qualifications is available at ECQs . Your response must be limited to two pages for each ECQ.

ECQ 1 - Leading Change - The ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Competencies: creativity and innovation, external awareness, flexibility, resilience, strategic thinking, vision.

ECQ 2 - Leading People - The ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Competencies: conflict management, leveraging diversity, developing others, team building.

ECQ 3 - Results Driven - The ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Competencies: accountability, customer service, decisiveness, entrepreneurship, problem solving, technical credibility.

ECQ 4 - Business Acumen - The ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Competencies: financial management, human capital management, technology management.

ECQ 5 - Building Coalitions - The ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. Competencies: Partnering, political savvy, influencing/negotiating.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): The MTQs describe the necessary technical knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Experience must have been at a sufficiently high level of difficulty to show clearly that the candidate possesses the required professional and technical qualifications and core qualification set forth below. Your response must be limited to two pages for each MTQ.

MTQ 1-Expert financial economist: Diversified economic and/or econometric experience analyzing highly complex tax policy or pubic finance issues, that is, applied microeconomic research, with emphasis on the analysis of Federal income taxation. Demonstrated ability to make effective presentations, orally and in writing, regarding such analytical work as evidenced by outside professional activities and publications.

MTQ 2-Tax policy and tax reform expert: Comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of Federal tax policy, with emphasis on demonstrated skill and experience and outstanding ability to conduct complex economic analysis and studies of Federal tax policy. Demonstrated achievement of expert knowledge of statistical and econometric techniques applicable to the analysis of tax policy issues as evidenced by significant professional recognition, or substantial technical publications. Knowledge of the process of developing proposals to revise or reform the Internal Revenue Code, with emphasis on analyzing the structure and likely effects of existing and proposed tax policy provisions.

MTQ 3 - Organizational knowledge: A comprehensive understanding of the functions of the Office of Tax Analysis and its relationship to other offices within Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Council of Economic Advisors, and the Office of Management and Budget.

Please upload your responses to the ECQs and MTQs in the document section if addressing separately.

Education

You must possess either (a) a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in economics which includes at least 21 semester hours in statistics, accounting or calculus; or (b) a combination of education and experiences courses equivalent to a major in economics as shown in (a) plus appropriate experience or additional education.

You must have one year of experience as an economist or econometrician at the GS-15 (or equivalent) level of difficulty in the Federal service or private sector, performing or managing the economic analysis of tax policy or public finance issues.

Additional information

EEO Policy Statement: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.
Reasonable Accommodation: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Legal and Regulatory Guidance.
Privacy Act: Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
Signature: Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application. False Statements - If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. The materials you send with your application will not be returned. Send only those materials needed to evaluate your application. Please do not place your application in a notebook or binder. For further information pertaining to the SES, applicants are encourage to visit: SES
Financial Disclosure: All employees of the Federal Government are subject to the conflict of interest statutes and regulations, including the Standards of Ethical Conduct. Upon hire, and on an annual basis thereafter, the incumbent of this position will be required to file a public financial disclosure report. The incumbent may be prohibited from holding certain financial interests.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application will be evaluated on the basis of your resume and narrative statements reflecting the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience and education as they relate to the technical and executive qualifications described above. While you are NOT required to provide a narrative statement addressing the Technical Qualifications, candidates are strongly encouraged to address each Technical Qualification in separate statements. Candidates who choose not to address the technical qualifications separately will not be automatically disqualified. Candidates are NOT required to provide narrative response statements to address the Executive Core Qualifications when applying for this vacancy. However, the selectee will be required to address the ECQs before being appointed. Additional information on the Executive Core Qualifications is available.
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Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process

Required Documents

If you are a current, retired or former Federal employee, please provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, to verify your status. If you have successfully completed the SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) please provide a copy of your certificate. These documents may be required during the recruitment process.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.