Duties

Summary

YOU MAY SUBMIT YOUR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION DIRECTLY TO Octavian.Carare@FCC.Gov

DIRECT HIRE: DIRECT HIRING AUTHORITY IS APPLICABLE.

Where is the job located? Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C.

Positions are located in the Office of Economics and Analytics.

RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID.

Whom may I contact for additional information? Larry Shields, Larry.Shields@fcc.gov,240-464-1475 OR Kristin Young at Kristin.Young@fcc.gov.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Applies sound economics in the drafting and review of FCC orders, rules, and notices related to or implementing auction processes and policy recommendations. The incumbent must logically explain both orally and in writing complex economic reasoning and auction procedures to internal audiences and external stakeholders (e.g., potential bidders) while ensuring consistency with internal procedures, policies, and other constraints. The incumbent provides economic advice to other teams' members including attorneys, analysts, engineers, and other staff in the Auctions Division and other areas of the FCC for drafting documents such as orders, options papers, auction instructions/educational materials, and memoranda concerning sensitive policy issues. These matters frequently must be completed within short time frames.
• Analyzes the public benefits and costs resulting from the implementation of alternative auction designs, including an evaluation of the complex and intricate computational processes underlying those designs, and a determination of the need for changes in auction procedures and formats. The incumbent provides economic advice for the development of the detailed requirements for software implementation of auction designs.
• Designs and evaluates econometric, experimental and other empirical models of auctions to test various hypotheses about bidding behavior in FCC auctions. The incumbent uses in-depth knowledge of global auctions, outcomes, and experiences to apply to FCC proposed auction procedures.
• Provides advice to integrated teams of individuals in different disciplines (e.g., lawyers, engineers, analysts, and IT professionals) and across multiple Bureaus and Offices to review and evaluate FCC rules, decisions, agenda items, etc. to determine their potential effects on the outcomes of auctions and other programs. The incumbent advises on policy recommendations and proposes modifications to current and future FCC rules and regulations for consideration by the Commission.
• Uses economic analysis to evaluate and respond to arguments and comments submitted by the public in response to orders, petitions, rulemakings, and other proceedings before the FCC.
• Assesses the current state of the FCC's regulatory and auctions programs to identify areas of adverse regulatory impact on the public, the industry, and on the economy as a whole.
• Keeps abreast of developments in economic theory, practice and empirical findings as relevant to the FCC's auctions programs. Proposes designs and assists in the implementation of programs that bring outside expertise, including from academia, to the FCC to weigh in on current issues in the Auctions Division.
• Responds to special requests for specific research and studies to use in preparation for Congressional testimony or presentations in other public forums, or in response to Congressional requests.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
• Must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy and/or eligibility questions. Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determine if you are to be among the best qualified.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement with the exception of those candidates requesting consideration at the GS-12 grade level based on completing a Ph.D. If you are a graduate student who will complete a Ph.D. by August 1, 2021, you may request GS-12 consideration. Verification of fulfillment of degree requirements will be required prior to appointment. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement in order to be considered for the position. Candidates must have held the next lower grade or have equivalent education and/or experience in the normal line of progression for this position for a least one year. Basic Requirements: A. Degree: 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 A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Additional experience and educational requirements: Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Specialized Experience: GS-12/13/14 :For this position, specialized experience involves a background in microeconomics and quantitative methods. Microeconomics fields must include microeconomic theory experience in auctions/game theory and experience in applied fields such as experimental economics or behavioral economics. Experience in quantitative methods must be in fields such as econometrics, statistics, or operations research and must include the application of appropriate estimation methods to the analysis of large data sets. Candidates will have undertaken research and/or analysis that require considerable planning and coordination and will have demonstrated an ability to work on a number of complex projects simultaneously. They will have demonstrated excellent writing skills, with an ability to express complex economic concepts concisely and logically for an audience of non-economists. Prior experience should include the full range of responsibilities, from initiation of the investigation and design of the economic research methodology, through the interpretation of findings and preparation of a final report. As independent professionals responsible for each step of the investigative process, economists are expected to be accountable for the thoroughness of their research and the validity of their interpretations and conclusions.

GS-12: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have 1 year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. The level of experience in the economic field of microeconomics and quantitative methods is demonstrated by experience in designing or implementing two or more complex and/or high value (over $10 million) auctions. Experience is defined as either (1) the candidate having experience working for an auction company, or as a consultant or other advisor related to the design, creation of software requirements, or monitoring of an auction or competitive bidding program and/or (2) candidates working for an agency, financial institution or other organization employing complex auctions. Experiences in either role may be combined to total experience in two or more auctions. Specialized experience may also include candidates that have performed research used in publications in peer-reviewed journals (even if the candidate is not an author of a peer-reviewed journal publication related to complex auctions/game theory. GS-13: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have 1 year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. The level of experience in the economic field of microeconomics and quantitative methods is demonstrated by experience in designing or implementing three or more complex and/or high value (over $10 million) auctions. Experience is defined as either (1) the candidate having experience working for an auction company, or as a consultant or other advisor related to the design, creation of software requirements, or monitoring of an auction or competitive bidding program and/or (2) candidates working for an agency, financial institution or other organization employing complex auctions. Experiences in either role may be combined to total experience in two or more auctions. Specialized experience may also include candidates that have at least one credited publications in peer-reviewed journals or have made significant contributions to at least one publications in peer-reviewed journals related to complex auctions/game theory.GS-14: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have 1 year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. The level of experience in the economic field of microeconomics and quantitative methods is demonstrated by experience in designing or implementing three or more complex and/or high value (over $10 million) auctions. Experience is defined as either (1) the candidate having experience working in a senior role for an auction company, or as a consultant or other advisor related to the design, creation of software requirements, or monitoring of an auction or competitive bidding program and/or (2) candidates working in a senior role for an agency, financial institution or other organization employing complex auctions. Experiences in either role may be combined to total experience in two or more auctions. Specialized experience may also include candidates that have at least two credited publications in peer-reviewed journals or have made significant contributions to two or more publications in peer-reviewed journals related to complex auctions/game theory.

Education

Must have completed a 4 year course of study leading to a degree in economics that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

Additional information

EEO Policy Statement Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement Veterans Information Legal and Regulatory Guidance

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:
1. the core questions
2. supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, SF-15, transcripts), if applicable; and
3. your resume or C.V.
Applicants will be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job specific questions, provide supplemental documents and submit resume. For more information, please click on the Rating Process.
You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs):

Technical Competence - Knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform, understand, and evaluate technical information related to the job and to advise others on technical issues.

Reasoning - Skill in identifying rules and principles that explain facts, data, or other information; ability to analyze information and make correct inferences and/or draw accurate conclusions.

Organizational Awareness - Knowledge of organization's mission and functions and how its programs,policies, procedures, rules, and regulations work and operate effectively.

Oral Communications

Written Communications

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

***Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Some positions require supplemental document(s). All required supporting documents MUST be received in the FCC'S Human Resources Office by midnight U.S. Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Additionally, you may not receive the special consideration, e.g. Vet's Preference, for which you may be eligible without the appropriate supporting documentation. Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to either upload the documents or print fax coversheets to fax the documents. The fax number will be listed on this sheet. If faxing, supplemental document(s) required should be faxed separately on the fax coversheet provided. Once faxed, you should receive an email confirmation within an hour. If you do not receive an email confirmation, your fax has not been successfully received and you should fax again. If you are unable to fax the required documentation, contact the Human Resources Office at 202-418-0130 prior to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.***

Hardcopy Supplement (electronic submission or email is fine as well) Documents Required:

1. When the area of consideration is "Government-Wide" or "All U.S. Citizens." current Federal employees, including those eligible for noncompetitive transfer or reassignment, must provide a legible hardcopy of Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade along with your most recent annual performance appraisal.

2. ICTAP eligible candidates must submit a copy of their most recent annual performance appraisal (at least "Meets or Exceeds" or equivalent) and proof of eligibility such as a RIF separation notice or letter from OPM, or your agency documenting your priority consideration status. You must be rated fully qualified (a score of 80 or above) for the position.

3. If applying for consideration under a non-competitive appointment such as Schedule A, Excepted Service, all documentation establishing your eligibility must be provided.

4. University Transcripts (For Positive Education Required positions and if qualifying based on education and or experience and education.), if applicable.

5. Three letters of recommendation and a writing sample/job market paper.

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.