ECONOMIC RESEARCH ASSOCIATE - 42000490

State of Florida • Tallahassee, FL

10d • $41,042 - $45,147

About The Position

This position is with the FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, DIVISION OF MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT, BUREAU OF STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT. It is an OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY. The role involves providing direct assistance on administrative, domestic, and general research assignments, ensuring operational procedures and processes lead to accountability and compliance. The associate will assist with managing budgets and resources for assigned programs and maintain a high degree of expertise in the bureau’s operations, analytics, research, and applications. This includes serving as a consultant, collaborator, and liaison, and maintaining expertise in technical database management. The role also involves preparing and training personnel on statistical charts, tables, reports, dashboards, predictive analytics, and other graphic presentations. Market research and reporting for Florida, domestic U.S., and international markets are key responsibilities, as is facilitating "Fresh From Florida" marketing activities and providing consultation to marketing teams. The associate will also maintain knowledge of general office procedures and databases, and perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A high school diploma or its equivalent and six (6) years of professional or nonprofessional experience in economics, agricultural economics, statistics, research, or marketing; OR A bachelor’s degree (4 years) from an accredited college or university in economics, agricultural economics, statistics, or business and two (2) years of professional experience in economics, agricultural economics, statistics, research or marketing; OR A master’s degree (6 years) from an accredited college or university in economics, agricultural economics, statistics, or business and one (1) year of professional experience as described above; OR A doctorate (8 years) from an accredited college or university in economics, agricultural economics, statistics or business.
• Requires possession of a valid Driver License.
• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.
• Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of public relations and marketing principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of program planning and evaluation techniques.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of effective communications.
• Knowledge of basic statistics.
• Knowledge of data collection principles and methods.
• Ability to collect, analyze and interpret economic data.
• Ability to prepare economic related charts, tables, slides and other graphic presentations of data.
• Ability to organize economic data into logical format and prepare technical reports.
• Ability to present information in a concise and organized manner.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate program activities.
• Ability to provide technical assistance and advice to agricultural groups.
• Ability to analyze economic trends in agriculture.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct assistance to staff on a variety of administrative, domestic and general research assignments.
• Ensure that assigned program areas have operational procedures and processes which result in accountability and compliance with division and department policies and procedures.
• Assist supervisor with managing budget/dollars/resources (staff, vehicles, computers, cell phones, etc.) of any assigned programs in an efficient and accountable manner.
• Maintain a high degree of expertise in the bureau’s internal and external operations, capabilities, design, analytics, research and applications.
• Serve as consultant and collaborator with managers and contractors and as liaison to other divisions as needed.
• Maintain a high level of expertise in technical database management, operations, information extraction and upgrades.
• Prepare and train personnel on the correct use and design of statistical charts, tables, reports, dashboards, predictive analytics, and other graphic presentations of facts and trends pertinent to the marketing of Florida agricultural products and internal tracking operations, inputs, outputs and metrics; conduct comparative analysis studies.
• Responsible for market research and reporting in Florida, domestic U.S., and international markets including export-imports, retail consumption, prices, and movement of Florida agricultural products.
• Ensure data is available to optimize knowledge and understanding of domestic and international supply/price positions.
• Facilitate the implementation of “Fresh From Florida” marketing activities indirectly and directly as required.
• Provide consultation and recommendations to marketing teams.
• Provide direction and advice on a full range of operations in the division as assigned.
• Submit timely and accurate reports.
• Maintain budget and conduct cost analysis as needed.
• Maintain a comprehensive working knowledge and capability in general office procedures, databases and other technical capabilities needed to achieve superior results in missions, events and projects.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level