Supervisory Economist/Supervisory Statistician (Economics)

Full Job Description

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making.

This position is with the U.S.

Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Field Operations, Division of Price Programs, Branch of Consumer Price Index (CPI), Boston/New York Regional Office.

You must meet the Basic Requirements and the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Supervisory Economist/Statistician (Economics), as described below.

Basic Requirement Economist, 0110: A) Degree: 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.

Statistician, 1530: A) Degree: Degree that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences, medicine, education , or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology; OR B) Combination of education and experience: courses shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.

Specialized Experience In addition to the basic requirement above, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-12, in the federal service.

This one year of specialized experience must be in or related to the field of economics or statistics.

This experience must have equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and ability to successfully perform the duties of this position.

Specialized experience should include a thorough range of complex economic professional work and training.

Specialized experience includes all of the following: Expert knowledge of data collection programs, including technical requirements and collection methodology of component surveys.

Experience in data collection and data collection procedures. Experience providing technical assistance and guidance in the collection, processing, estimating, analysis, and interpretation of data.

Experience reviewing data and completing data quality reviews. Experience recommending changes in technical procedures to improve program effectiveness and data adequacy.

Conducting research and investigations to interpret and present economic findings; expert knowledge of data quality program requirements and an understanding of quality principles to direct subordinate staff.

Major Duties:

Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Directs survey planning for the branch and participates in the overall survey planning for the region with the Assistant Regional Commissioner, other CPI Branch Chiefs, and national office staff, including making long-range assessments of the various price programs and surveys.

Ensures the quality of the data collected by all Branch staff through a comprehensive data quality program consisting of observational interviews, reinterviews, and scheduled reviews for multiple surveys.

Analyzes workloads, staffing capabilities, and budget limitations to assess and effectively plan the work to meet quality, response, and deadline objectives while efficiently managing resources.

Interprets and applies survey methodology and utilizes strategies to promote voluntary response for industries or firms where obtaining cooperation is difficult.

Researches and analyzes a variety of unique and complicated data sources, and determines which source or combination of sources will yield the kind and quality of data needed to satisfy BLS national data requirements.

Negotiates levels of cooperation with major United States firms addressing participation in BLS surveys from a multi-survey level.

Keeps abreast of local, regional, and national economic trends, laws and conditions impacting services and industries included in the indexes, and significant outputs from BLS programs.

Participates in recruitment activities following Office of Human Resources guidelines and deadlines; promotes teamwork; interviews candidates for vacancies; verifies references; and recommends new hires and other personnel actions.

Prepares formal performance plans and evaluations to support the strategic goals of the Division.