Supervisory Economist/statistician

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Job description

Summary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics 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, Division of Consumer Price Indexes, Boston Region.

This position is outside the bargaining unit.

Learn more about this agency

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates
  
  11/19/2021 to 12/02/2021
• Salary
  
  $102,601 - $138,413 per year
• Pay scale & grade
  
  GS 13
• Help
  Locations
  
  FEW vacancies in the following locations:
  
  • Boston, MA
  • New York, NY
• Telework eligible
  
  Yes-as determined by the agency policy.
• Travel Required
  
  50% or less - Temporary travel outside the duty station by various modes of transportation is required.
• Relocation expenses reimbursed
  
  No
• Appointment type
  
  Permanent
• Work schedule
  
  Full-time
• Service
  
  Competitive
• Promotion potential
  
  13 - Grade 13 - This position is at the full performance level (FPL).
• Job family (Series)
  
  1530 Statistics
  
  0110 Economist
• Supervisory status
  
  Yes
• Security clearance
  
  Other
• Drug test
  
  No
• Position sensitivity and risk
  
  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
• Trust determination process
  
  Credentialing
  
  Suitability/Fitness
• Announcement number
  
  MS-22-CHI-BLS-028
• Control number
  
  

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This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  
  Current federal employees of this agency.
• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

Clarification from the agency

All current, federal Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics employees with competitive status nationwide. CTAP eligibles in the local commuting area.

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Duties

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Directs and provides technical guidance to a branch of professional and technical employees, providing technical leadership in the following areas: Developing and improving survey collection strategies and procedures; collecting data from the most complex companies in the Consumer Price Index Programs; improving survey nonresponse; assisting branch Field Economists in developing strategies for obtaining participation from respondents critical to multiple BLS programs and surveys; leading, training, and mentoring others; explaining survey findings and data uses; exchanging information on developments relevant to the programs; and making presentations to interested groups regarding survey results.
• Assigns work to staff Economists and Economic Assistants to achieve program goals. Assignments consider the level of experience required for appropriate data collection, the current regional economic status, as well as cost and time clustering of geographically dispersed units. This includes full responsibility for collection, technical review, and processing of all CPI work within the Branch. Plans, establishes and communicates work priorities to staff; provides training, counseling, staff development and evaluation; develops Branch recruitment plans; interviews, and selects candidates for vacancies and initiates other personnel actions; supports EEO affirmative action plans and objectives; provides advice, counsel, or instruction to individual employees on performance and administrative matters; initiates disciplinary measures.
• 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. Provides advice on retail trade practices, potential for cooperation, anticipated reporting problems, and content and form of collection materials. Recommends revisions of data collection procedures.
• Ensures the quality of the data collected by all Branch staff through a comprehensive data quality program consisting of observational interviews, reinterviews, and schedule reviews for multiple surveys. Certifies both Field Economists and Economic Assistants for technical competency for independent data collection. Analyzes data to improve overall Branch performance. Identifies developmental and training needs for staff and develops appropriate remedies to promote consistent production and quality. Ensures that changes in survey techniques or design are well understood and properly and promptly implemented by staff.
• Participates in CPI survey developmental activities. Directs and evaluates testing of procedures and materials prior to full national fielding. Assesses usability of materials and feasibility of procedures, as well as regional economic factors affecting pre-tests. Provides comments on draft materials sent for regional review. Participates in national level task forces which address program related issues and problems that are nationwide in scope.
• Researches or directs research and contacts with companies that have complex structures, maintain highly sensitive/confidential records, and usually require highly placed corporate officers' approval before participation. Examples of such firms are insurance companies, hospitals, public utilities, and multi-location retail establishments. Explains the conceptual foundations and technical requirements of the programs to the highest level corporate officials to gain their voluntary cooperation. 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. This includes identifying the data needs and priorities of various programs in conjunction with regional office and national office staff.
• Prepares comprehensive, complex technical reports describing economic related statistical and market developments. Identifies difficult to assess changes/trends and emerging industry practices and developments. Evaluates impact of changes on current procedures, methodologies, and specifications, and recommends improvements to current processes.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
• Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen.
• Requires a valid drivers license.
• Requires supervisory probationary period if requirement has not been met.

Applicants must meet time-in-grade, time-after-competitive-appointment and qualifications requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the vacancy to be eligible for consideration for selection.

Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.

Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

You may not be aware, but in the regulations for agency ethics programs, there are requirements for supervisors. Section 2638.103 of Title 5 of the CFR states:

Every supervisor in the executive branch has a heightened personal responsibility for advancing government ethics. It is imperative that supervisors serve as models of ethical behavior for subordinates. Supervisors have a responsibility to help ensure that subordinates are aware of their ethical obligations under the Standards of Conduct and that subordinates know how to contact agency ethics officials. Supervisors are also responsible for working with agency ethics officials to help resolve conflicts of interests and enforce government ethics laws and regulations, including those requiring certain employees to file financial disclosure reports. In addition, supervisors are responsible, when requested, for assisting agency ethics officials in evaluating potential conflicts of interest and identifying positions subject to financial disclosure requirements.

Notification Concerning COVID-19 Vaccinations. As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal executive branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021, or before appointment or onboarding with the agency (if later than November 22, 2021). The agency will provide additional information regarding which forms of documentation can be accepted and how you can request a legally required exception from this requirement.

Qualifications
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