Economist

Are you interested in helping to innovate the customer experience for the newly enacted Postal Service Health Benefits Program, which will provide health insurance options to more than 1 million postal service employees, annuitants and their family members? Join the team charged with quickly developing guidance and implementing technology solutions for a streamlined experience for these customers.

Qualifications:

You must FIRST meet the basic requirements:

A. 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 A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND

For the GS-11: One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level (or equivalent). Specialized experience includes: identifying, analyzing, or preparing reports in all phases of the research and data analysis process, which may include problem identification and definition, planning, execution, analysis, interpretation, and communication. This may also include the documentation of methodologies used, as well as writing and presenting results.

For the GS-12, One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level (or equivalent). Specialized experience includes: working with other analysts to monitor and assess the significance of current and future health economics developments, including producing memos, papers, and briefings under tight time constraints for senior policy-making officials.

For the GS-13, One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level (or equivalent). Specialized experience includes: the ability to utilize, review and apply appropriate analytical tools and techniques to generate a variety of data visualization output including meaningful tables, charts, and graphs, as well as dashboard-style applications; the ability to utilize and use a variety of programing assets including statistical (e.g., SAS, R, Python, Stata), office (Microsoft Office suite, incl. Excel), and visualization software (e.g., R, Tableau, Python, D3.js).

For the GS-14, One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level (or equivalent). Specialized experience includes: overseeing project coordination assignments involving analysis and evaluation, conclusions and report preparation, and interpretation of economic data or experience teaching in a college of university setting that included both class instruction in economics subjects and one of the following; personal research that produced evidence of results; direction of graduate theses in economics; service as a consultant or advisor on technical economics problems.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Responsibilities:

THIS IS A PUBLIC NOTICE: This Notice is issued under direct-hire authority (DHA) to recruit new talent for the positions listed below. This means that we can hire any qualified candidate, either from this notice or from any source.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• The incumbent performs or participates in all phases of the research and data analysis process, including problem identification and definition, planning, execution, analysis, interpretation, and communication.
• Works with analysts to monitor and assess the significance of current and future health economics developments.
• Produces memos, papers, and briefings under tight deadlines for senior policy-making officials.
• Reviews, recommends, and applies appropriate analytical tools and techniques to generate data visualization output including meaningful tables, charts, and graphs, as well as dashboard-style applications.
• Oversees and provides expertise in a variety of programing assets including statistical (e.g., SAS, R, Python, Stata), office (Microsoft Office suite, incl. Excel), and visualization software (e.g., R, Tableau, Python, D3.js).
• Defines information requirements, developing specifications for analyses.
• Creates and maintains complex or specialized data, generates and conducts targeted research.
• Trains and mentors junior analysts and staff, sharing technical expertise concerning economics, statistics, and programming, as well as the development of succinct, clear, presentations and communications.
• Conducts special studies by identifying appropriate external data and supplementary information to analyze issues related to the provision of health care services and benefits.