Duties

Summary

The incumbent of this position serves as a Senior Research Economist in the Office of Tax Analysis (OTA). As a Senior Research Economist, the incumbent is the authoritative economic expert on a number of issues regarding Federal taxation and the Administration's tax policies.

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Responsibilities

• Directs: Analyzes, evaluates the need for, and initiates, plans, and develops a wide range of special economic and econometric studies under tight deadlines. These studies consider the complex interrelationships of economic variables and generally involve complex micro-simulation modeling, econometric analysis, and/or general equilibrium modeling, in part, to capture and better understand a wide range of behavioral responses to changes in tax policies. These studies are the basis for Special Analyses prepared by OTA and required for Federal tax regulations. Joins in discussions and collaborates with the Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax Analysis), the OTA Director, and OTA division directors in planning these studies, and lawyers in the Office of Tax Policy and the Internal Revenue Service to implement the Administration's tax policies. Reviews Special Analyses for eventual publication with the Federal tax regulations.
• Estimates: Plans for and coordinates the estimation of economic effects, compliance costs, and revenue effects (frequently under pressure of immediate deadlines) of Federal tax regulations for publication as Special Analyses. Reports on and provides briefings regarding such estimates to the Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy) and deputies, the OTA Director, other interested or affected Treasury offices, other Federal agencies, including the Council of Economic Advisors, and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). Furnishes highly authoritative economic, statistical, and technical information regarding economic effects estimates, compliance costs, and revenue estimates to support the policy decisions of such officials, providing both oral and written accessible and non-technical explanations to these officials. Advises such officials on factors such as tax rates and transition relief affecting regulations and on the accuracy and reliability of the estimates.
• Methodology: Anticipates, develops, plans, and initiates highly technical and specialized research and studies to develop new approaches and improve analytical and estimating methodologies. Directs the testing, adjustment, and development of new, improved, and more accurate procedures and methodologies to estimate the effects of Federal tax regulations, giving due consideration to complex interrelationships of variables and assumptions affecting such estimates. Directs the development of new models and data sets to analyze the economic consequences of tax regulations. Structures and develops workflow to have the capacity to provide, on an "as needed" basis, immediate and authoritative information on the economic effects of tax regulations. Analyzes, evaluates the need for, plans, and directs development of best methods and practices to meet the Administration's tax policy analytical requirements, giving due consideration to availability of technical resources and to developments in analytical and estimating techniques.
• Advice: Through reading and attendance at appropriate meetings keeps abreast of new developments in the economics, public finance, Federal tax policy, and related literature that can further inform and improve methodologies and assumptions underlying key behavioral parameters used in developing estimates of economic effects, compliance costs, and revenue effects. Provides counsel and advice on such developments to officials and staff within the Office of Tax Policy, ensuring that OTA's research methods and practices are appropriate and continually improved. Studies and participates in appropriate symposia, conferences, and meetings. Assists the OTA Director in recruiting professional economists, econometricians, and statisticians to OTA through review of applications and applicant interviews.
• Liaison: Accompanies Treasury officials to meetings with OIRA to provide background information and technical support regarding the Administration's analysis of tax regulations. Advises the Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy), Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax Analysis) and the OTA Director on the basis for estimates, and the probable economic effects of Federal tax regulations. Responds to requests from OIRA regarding the Administration's analysis of tax regulations and provides appropriate, authoritative responses that justify or explain analyses. Represents the Department in interagency meetings to discuss or provide policy coordination on Federal tax initiatives affecting other Federal agencies, e.g., the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, and Health and Human Services.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
SL

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• Must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals.

Qualifications

Candidates are strongly encouraged to address each Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQ's) separately. Candidates who choose not to address the 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 financial markets. 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.

Applicants must possess the specialized experience as specified to qualify for this position.

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

MTQ 1 - Expert knowledge of economic and statistical studies that form the basis for analyses required for Federal tax regulations.

MTQ 2 - Expert knowledge of estimation of economic effects, compliance costs and revenue effects of Federal tax regulations.

MTQ 3 - Coordination, knowledge of process to include timing, working with IRS, RAAS, Counsel, OMB, leadership

Education

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.
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.

Rating: Your application package will be reviewed for completeness (resume and supporting documentation). You will not be considered if you fail to submit all the required documents as outlined in this announcement. If you meet the requirements, your resume will be evaluated by an Executive Review Board (ERB) to determine the extent to which you possess the required competencies based on resume and MTQs.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP )) you must be assigned the middle category or better to be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

A complete application includes 1. A resume, 2. Vacancy question responses, and 3. Submission of any required documents. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

All applicants are required to submit a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.) To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Please view resume tips .

VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: If you are claiming veterans' preference, please see applicant guide for required documentation . In order to be considered for veterans preference, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide.

CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents.

If you are a current, retired or former Federal employee, you must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, to verify your status.

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.