Supervisory Agricultural Economist

Economic Research Service • Kansas City, MO

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is with the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), Office of Food Markets, in Kansas City, Missouri. The employee serves as Branch Chief of Food Access and Nutrition, planning, directing, and managing agricultural economic research, analysis, and information dissemination. The role includes leading research on food access and availability, food and nutrition assistance, food consumption, nutrition and health, and food safety, and communicating research findings and policy analyses to key client groups.

The Branch Chief manages technically complex research projects, identifies the methods and resources needed to address economic problems, and serves as a focal point and representative for the branch on research topics and at high-level meetings. The position also provides technical and administrative supervision to professional economists, including advising on training needs, keeping staff informed about personnel and administrative programs, and supporting morale, discipline, and constructive employee relations.

Requirements

• U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
• 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 courses plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• At least one year of specialized experience comparable to the GS-14 level, directly related to the position.
• Specialized experience must include serving as the primary author of influential papers, models, theories, or techniques widely recognized or adopted to advance economics in food, agriculture, diet and health, food markets, food assistance, or food security; and analyzing results of public policies related to areas such as food access and availability, food and nutrition assistance, food consumption, nutrition and health, and food safety.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service or exempt.
• Pass a background investigation and/or fingerprint check, E-Verify employment verification, and any applicable adjudication requirements.
• Complete a one-year probationary period unless previously served; a one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period may also apply unless prior service is creditable.
• New USDA supervisors must complete all components of the required training program before the end of the supervisory probationary period.
• Use direct deposit for federal payments.
• If selected, submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of the initial appointment date and annually thereafter.

Responsibilities

• Analyze the consequences of public policies related to food access and availability, food and nutrition assistance, food consumption, nutrition and health, and food safety, and provide economic analyses on relevant subjects.
• Disseminate basic statistics and data, research findings, and policy analyses to key client groups.
• Manage technically complex projects, selecting or developing appropriate current research methodologies and applying them to complicated economic problems.
• Identify research activities and resources required to complete the branch’s assigned work.
• Serve as the focal point for research and analysis on appropriate topics and represent the branch within the department.
• Represent the branch, office, agency, and department in high-level meetings concerning assigned areas of responsibility.
• Provide technical and administrative supervision to professional economists working through project teams.
• Consult with employees about training needs and submit final recommendations.
• Keep employees informed about personnel and other administrative programs, and maintain morale, discipline, and constructive employee relations.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package, with benefits for employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• Recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized, subject to the hiring official’s determination.
• Potential eligibility for telework up to four days per week and flexible work arrangements, subject to position duties, agency policy, and applicable agreements.

What This Job Offers

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