Economist

National Telecommunications and Information Administration•Washington, DC

About The Position

This position is for an Economist in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within the Department of Commerce. The Economist provides authoritative technical advice and economic analysis to high-level policymakers on issues affecting NTIA’s mission and the economic well-being of society. The role focuses on spectrum management and telecommunications policy, including the valuation and pricing of scarce spectrum resources and related legislation, repurposing, auctions, transitions, leasing, and secondary markets. The Economist conducts policy-oriented economic research, develops analytical approaches and models, and evaluates existing programs and emerging problems. The position also involves preparing and presenting reports addressing short- and long-term policy needs, including regulatory procedures, market-based alternatives, technical standards, incentive-based approaches, incumbent rights and responsibilities, spectrum valuation, and wireless broadband deployment. Analyses consider the cost structures of wireless systems and the monetary and non-monetary value of spectrum, including relevant governmental and private-sector budgetary realities. This vacancy announcement may also be used to fill other Economist GS-0110-14 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographic location or local commuting area, with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Meet the basic education requirement: a degree in economics including at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus; or equivalent coursework plus appropriate experience or additional education.
One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience conducting economic analysis or research related to organizational programs.
Specialized experience developing methodologies and approaches for research.
Specialized experience analyzing major economic developments and determining their applicability to an agency’s major programs.
Successfully pass a background investigation; the investigation may include a credit check and review of financial issues, criminal offenses, and illegal drug use or possession.
Complete any required investigations and clearances before placement; the position requires a Secret clearance.
Pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to random drug testing thereafter.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
Submit foreign education for equivalency evaluation and provide the evaluation results with a course-by-course listing if educated in whole or in part outside the United States.

Responsibilities

Serve as an authoritative technical advisor and provide policymakers with accurate, meaningful, and properly evaluated economic analysis and advice.
Conduct economic studies that gather, analyze, and interpret information related to NTIA’s mission and economic wellbeing.
Formulate, program, and guide projects or continuing programs involving economic issues affecting spectrum management and/or telecommunications.
Apply knowledge of valuing and pricing scarce spectrum resources in relation to legislation, potential repurposing, auctions and transitions, leasing, and secondary markets.
Plan, coordinate, draft, edit, and present major reports addressing short- and long-term spectrum and telecommunications policy needs.
Develop and present new ideas and models for analyzing and presenting spectrum-oriented economic data.
Conduct targeted research and analysis, identify problems, assess existing programs, and recommend and implement changes.
Conduct policy-oriented research and develop innovative approaches to existing and new spectrum management and telecommunications policy problems.
Construct analytical models based on research into the economic and societal value of spectrum resources.
Investigate and analyze cost structures affecting wireless systems and how those costs are represented in governmental and private-sector budgets.
Understand and articulate spectrum valuation factors, including non-monetary value.
Prepare and present well-organized, well-written reports documenting cost and valuation models that reflect economic and political realities.