Economist.

About the role

This position is located in Portland, OR—a city known for its expansive greenery, bike-friendly infrastructure, efficient public transit (including a train system that connects to the airport), and vibrant culture. Portland offers lively festivals, diverse music and food scenes, and proximity to the Portland International Rose Garden (the oldest in the country) and the Portland Trail Blazers arena, just a 7-minute walk from the headquarters building.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and complete assigned economic studies, covering the full research process from investigation initiation and method planning to data interpretation and final report preparation.
• Plan and execute projects to collect detailed economic data from primary sources, including first-time surveys with unexpected challenges (e.g., collection difficulties, unprecedented data peculiarities).
• Conduct quantitative analysis using new or unprecedented techniques, particularly when the methodology itself is the subject of investigation.
• Evaluate critical factors, solve complex problems, and draw rational inferences from findings.
• Prepare interpretive reports when data is scarce, requiring difficult source searches and imaginative extrapolation techniques.

Requirements

• Must be a United States citizen.
• Must participate in the e-Verify program.
• Males must comply with Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must report in person to the official duty location.
• Must answer eligibility and qualification questions completely and truthfully during the application process.

Qualifications

Basic Requirement:

• Degree in economics, including at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
• OR a combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to an economics major plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Specialized Experience:

GS-09 Level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, including:

• Collecting economic information from various sources.
• Conducting preliminary interpretation and analysis of factual information.
• Drafting portions of economic reports to inform management decisions.

Education Substitution: Master’s degree or equivalent, 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or an LL.B./J.D. (if related). Combinations of experience and education may also qualify.

GS-11 Level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, including:

• Performing trend analyses and modeling of economic and operating strategies to enhance business operations.
• Developing and publishing economic reports for management and assigned customers.

Education Substitution: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or an LL.M. (if related). Combinations of experience and education may also qualify.

Additional Notes:

• Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be evaluated by a recognized organization.
• Transcripts are required for qualification verification. Failure to provide them may result in disqualification.
• CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet all qualifications to be considered "well qualified."