Economist

About the role

This position is located at the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), Fort Collins, Colorado. Conducts original benefit-cost studies of NWRC wildlife management products and of Wildlife Services (WS) operational effectiveness to solve wildlife damage complaints.

Major Duties

• Apply economic methodology to quantify the benefits and costs of WS activities and NWRC products and develop improved assessment, sampling, and econometric methods.
• Conceptualize, organize and create presentations to NWRC researchers, WS personnel and Stakeholders to disseminate Project research study findings and activities.
• Collaborate with the Project Leader/Research Economist and economics project staff, as well as other NWRC researchers and WS personnel, in the conduct of economic research and data analyses.
• Assist in planning, conduct research and report results of economic research dealing with the benefits and costs of human-wildlife conflicts, wildlife damage management techniques and activities.
• Independently derive novel procedures for economic analyses with readily definable objectives, available information sources, and conventional research procedures.
• Identify important variables and perform data collection and assembly of relevant files for economic research.

Requirements

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Basic Requirement: Degree in economics that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus; OR a combination of education and experience equivalent to a major in economics plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Qualifications

For the GS-11 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public sectors which demonstrates:

• Experience using R, Python, or Stata.
• Experience using econometric/statistical analysis of big datasets.
• Navigating, interpreting, and analyzing scientific writing and scientific presentations.
• Interpreting and applying principles of wildlife damage management, wildlife ecology, biology, or environmental science.
• Proactively identifies and gathers large datasets needed for analysis.

OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree in Accounting, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Agricultural Economics or Finance, or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

Education

Transcripts are required. This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. Education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

Combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements at the GS-11 grade level. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Pay

Salary Offered: 83265 - 108251 USD Per Year

Schedule

Position Start Date: 08/06/2026

Position Close Date: 08/12/2026