Duties

Summary

This position is in the Office of Planning and Analytics (OPA), Economic Research and Regulatory Analysis Division, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). You will be responsible for economic analysis and related activities required to support PHMSA regulatory activity and additional assigned economic analyses.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

At the full performance level, your duties will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Represents the office and the agency in all regulatory economic analysis matters before agency officials, the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), industry, and the public.
• Leads the development and implementation of a planning framework to design, guide and support the PHMSA-wide regulatory development process (e.g., agency-wide tracking and prioritization).
• Creates, tests, evaluates and modifies OPA economic analyses and regulatory evaluations.
• Develops and applies economic models to evaluate safety risk.
• Designs, develops, models, applies and evaluates data analytic theories, techniques and tools to support both quantitative and qualitative research, emphasizing the capability to discern information from large data sets, including interacting with, exploring and visualizing data from any combination of sources.
• Assesses the costs, benefits, efficiency, and impacts of PHMSA's regulatory and safety programs to help provide economic information that can be used as a tool to assess policy decisions made by the agency.
• Performs a wide variety of complex economic evaluations to help develop program and policy alternatives.

The ideal candidate for this position possesses a sound background and work experience in economics related to the energy, chemical, and/or pipeline sectors. The ideal candidate has experience monitoring and evaluating economic and industry trends that influence risks to pipelines, the transportation of hazardous materials, and/or related industries. The ideal candidate would have a graduate or advanced degree in economics, and experience in analyzing the costs and benefits of regulations or other proposals that materially impact society, or experience with analytical challenges of similar complexity. Ideal candidates also possess excellent analytical and writing skills and are capable of developing methods to address diverse analytical challenges. The ideal candidate will also provide oversight and guidance in the development of economic analyses performed by outside parties. PHMSA is looking for someone who is highly motivated, who can facilitate processes, and who can communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, at all levels of the organization. Relevant industry experience in safety programs, energy, pipelines or hazardous materials is desired.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - This position requires travel.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the qualifications for this position, you must meet the education and or specialized experience for the grade you wish to be considered.

To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of equal or equivalent experience to GS-11 it must include:

• Experience using economic theory and statistical and econometric methods for conducting research, preparing analyses, and developing economic models.
• Experience organizing, integrating, and presenting economic and statistical data from varied information sources.
• Experience applying economic assessments to make recommendations regarding standards, policies, and procedures related to regulatory and safety programs.
  
  

There is no education substitution for the GS-12, you must have experience.

To qualify for the GS-13 on Experience, you must have at least one year of equal or equivalent experience to GS-12, it must include:

• Experience reviewing economic and industry analyses and regulatory evaluations in support of regulatory programs that facilitate the development of program policies, procedures, tools, and resources.
• Experience providing recommendations to senior officials on the economic facets of regulatory developments to include modifying current agency or department programs and policies.
• Experience conducting economic research in support of various projects to include the development and application of economic models that evaluate safety risk.
• Experience formulating and completing analysis on economic, industry and policy issues.

There is no education substitution for the GS-13, you must have experience.

To qualify for the GS-14 on Experience, you must have at least one year of equal or equivalent experience to GS-13, it must include:

• Experience independently developing all economic, data analyses and regulatory evaluations required by the Federal rule-making process to completion.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, models tools and resources to help guide the analytical efforts and the output.
• Experience conducting economic research in support of various projects to include the development and application of economic models that evaluate safety risk.

There is no education substitution for the GS-14, you must have experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Cost-Benefit Analysis: Knowledge of the principles and methods of cost-benefit analysis, including the time value of money, present value concepts, and quantifying tangible and intangible benefits.
• Economics: Knowledge of economic policy, principles, and practices, market and non-market values, and the analysis and reporting of economic data.
• Research: Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results.
• Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, considering the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Organizational Awareness: Knows the organization's mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.

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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

• Degree: Economics, that include 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 in above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Additional information

Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition .

EEO STATEMENT: The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains a model federal work environment that is free of discrimination. DOT ensures equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, or protected activity.

This vacancy may be used by any DOT agency to fill similar positions within 90 days for this location.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements.

Applicants will not be rated or ranked. Veteran's Preference does NOT apply.

All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume. If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.

Ultimately, the Automated Staffing Office is responsible for determining an applicant's eligibility. Please ensure that your resume provide enough detail to support your answers to the Vacancy Specific Questions.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

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

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

A USAJobs built resume is required to apply

ALL Applicants must provide a resume that fully supports the required specialized experience and was created within USA Jobs Resume Builder and respond to the vacancy questions by the closing date of the vacancy. Formatted resumes can be uploaded when you arrive at the DOT application system. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/documents/resume/build/

The following is a list of documents that are only required based on the type of position and consideration for which you are applying.

TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED if there is a stated education requirement for the series OR if you are substituting education for experience. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

• If you are applying to an engineering position and are qualifying based on possessing a current Professional Engineer (PE) license, or passing the Engineer in Training (EIT) exam, please provide a copy of PE license or written documented proof of passing the EIT.
• If you have previously held a government position in the same series as this position, you may be able to provide an SF-50 showing that you have already qualified and worked in the federal service in this series.

NON COMPETITIVE APPLICANTS: If requesting concurrent consideration for Non-competitive (NC) appointment eligibility, you must provide the appropriate SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS, such as PCS orders (military spouse) describing move & marriage certificate; letter from VA or DD214 describing 100% disability of spouse; letter from State Vocational Office certifying disability (schedule A), etc. For more information, visit military spouse NC appointments or Persons with Disabilities NC appointments.

DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy and provide all of the following documents:

• your most recent performance appraisal,
• the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
• your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.

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.