Job Title: SEC Fellow (Economist)

Summary

Candidates should have an interest and research experience in: applied microeconomics fields such as finance, industrial organization, public economics, and labor. We seek individuals with a track record of creative thinking, strong empirical research abilities, and excellent communication skills. Interest in finance, securities markets and public policy is essential.

This position may be located in any SEC Regional Office or Headquarters located in Washington, DC based upon mission needs.
Learn more about this agency

Overview
Accepting applications

Open & closing dates
10/31/2022 to 05/30/2023

Salary
$134,304 - $227,534 per year Starting salary is based on experience. The range is listed for informational purposes. Initial pay will be set below the maximum. See more below.

Pay scale & grade
SK 14

Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection Remote job
No

Telework eligible
Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation expenses reimbursed
No

Appointment type
Temporary - 2-years

Work schedule
Full-time -

Service
Excepted

Promotion potential
14

Job family (Series)
0110 Economist

Supervisory status
No

Security clearance
Other

Drug test
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Announcement number
23-OCEX-11696741-WLJ

Control number
686458900

This job is open to

The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
US Citizens or persons admitted for permanent residence (green card) and seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B))

Videos

Duties
Financial economist fellows provide economic guidance and research expertise to a broad range of activities, including rulemakings, enforcement actions, market risk assessments, and other regulatory initiatives. In all roles, candidates must demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge of economics and econometrics in support of the SEC's mission to protect investors, facilitate capital formation, and ensure fair and orderly markets.

This vacancy announcement is for Financial Economist Fellows, which are usually hired on an initial two-year (temporary) appointment that may be extended for up to an additional two years at the agency's discretion and, if extended, the total fellow position cannot exceed four years. (During their appointment Financial Economist Fellows are not precluded from competing for permanent openings).

Typical duties: Provide economic guidance and research expertise to a broad range of activities, including federal policy, rule-making, enforcement actions, market risk assessment, and other regulatory initiatives, with opportunities to specialize in policy areas. Apply advanced economic concepts and methods to the evaluation of federal financial rules and policies, including their impact on individuals, businesses, market efficiency, competition, and capital formation. Analyze economic, financial, and administrative data to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of federal financial and securities regulations and policies. Plan, organize, and prioritize tasks to address needs, emerging issues, and meet timelines, while working collaboratively and flexibly with multi-disciplinary team members, including lawyers and finance policy experts. Evaluate economic research and comments authored by federal agencies, academics and other experts to determine their relevance and implications for federal financial rules and policies. Review draft analyses and reports to ensure accuracy, precision, and clarity of presentation of economic issues and data. Clearly communicate in writing the objectives, methods, and conclusions of economic analyses and evaluations of economic and financial research. Present economic research and findings in formal and informal settings, including policy discussions, team meetings, and briefings for the SEC's leadership. Recognize and act on opportunities to provide relevant technical information and work-related knowledge, skills, and lessons learned across the SEC's work environment

Requirements

Conditions of Employment
CITIZENSHIP: This position is open US Citizens or persons admitted for permanent residence (green card) and seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B)) Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all the instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may result in you not being considered for this position. Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement. This position has promotion potential to the SK-14 TRIAL PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a two-year trial period. SECURITY CLEARANCE: Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. Favorable results on a Background Investigation may be a condition of employment or selection to another position. DRUG TESTING: This position may be subjected to drug testing requirements. PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS): Moving/Relocation expenses are not authorized. DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. This position is in the collective bargaining unit. This is a TERM appointment not-to-exceed two years, with the option to extend an additional two years. TERM appointments cannot exceed a total of four years. Due to COVID-19, the SEC is currently in an optional telework posture. This position is eligible to request telework in accordance with the SEC 's telework policy.

Qualifications

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Certificates will be issued on a bi-weekly basis. If all required documents are not received by the bi-weekly cut-off, your application will be reviewed once all documents are received. All required documents must be received by the closing date, to be considered.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Additional qualifications information can be found here. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

BASIC REQUIREMENT:
A. Applicants must show successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in economics that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
--OR--
B. An appropriate combination of education and experience----courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Examples of qualifying experience include economic research assignments requiring planning, information assembly, analysis and evaluation, conclusions and report preparation; supervisory or project coordination assignments involving a staff of professional economists, and requiring the evaluation and interpretation of economic information; or teaching assignments in a college or university in economic subjects in combination with one of the following: personal research that produced evidence of results, direction of graduate theses in economics, or service as a consultant or advisor on technical economics problems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT:
In addition to the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess at least one year of specialized experience at the GS/SK-13 grade level, which includes at least one of the following: Authoring economics or finance analyses that provide evidence of knowledge of current advanced economic theories and research techniques and are of comparable quality to those in peer-reviewed finance and economics journals, and The application of economics as demonstrated in at least one three ways: (a) experience performing analyses that evaluate the economic effects, such as benefits and costs, of policies and rules on markets and their participants; (b) experience with quantifying economic effects, such as harm or ill-gotten gains, in the context of litigation economics; and/or (c) experience performing analyses that assess risks in economic or financial markets, including conduct, market or systemic risk;
Qualifying experience may have been obtained in the public or private sector, which includes faculty appointments at academic institutions and certain staff positions at U.S. financial regulators.

***IMPORTANT NOTICE***
DERA is seeking candidates across two different vacancy announcements. Candidates should submit separate applications for each position they want to be considered for: Financial Economist, Financial Economist (Fellow) . If you wish to apply for one of the Permanent Financial Economist positions please submit an application here Financial Economists are full time permanent positions that serve subject to a one year probationary period and are only open to U.S. Citizens, nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Education
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade; however, a selectee's initial pay is always set below the maximum rate of the range. Please click here for additional information.

Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, please visit http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) are available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be minimally qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP or ICTAP eligibles will be considered minimally qualified if they meet the minimum requirements for this position.

Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation for disability to participate in the application process at the SEC, submit the form for Reasonable Accommodation for Participation in Job Application Process here. Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature, includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. Click here for additional information.

TTY/ASCII: Video Relay Service users are welcome to contact the appropriate SEC office or employee via the contact information listed above. If you do not otherwise have access to a Video Phone or Video Relay service, you may send us an email or use the Federal Video Relay Service via the internet. For more information about using the Federal Relay Service and to create a new account, please see: https://www.federalrelay.us/

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your resume must support your responses to the occupational questionnaire. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, your resume will be forwarded to a review panel for consideration. After the review of your resume and application materials, you may be contacted for an interview.

Applicants will be evaluated on the following competencies :
Economics, Oral Communication, and Technical Competence

The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. To preview the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following linkhttps://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11696741

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes: Required: Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire. Required: Your complete and comprehensive resume that includes a complete history of your work experience and the applicable employment dates with months and years. To determine if you qualify for this position, OHR will review your work history that is relevant to the specific position for which you applied. If you are an external candidate selected for this position, OHR will review your complete work history to establish your starting salary. If you are a current SEC employee selected for this position, the standard percentage increases will be applied (i.e., 6% for non-supervisory and 10% for supervisory positions) if your selection results in a promotion. If your selection results in lateral movement (i.e. no change in grade) you will maintain your current salary. Note: Your resume must directly address the definition of specialized experience listed in the qualification section of this announcement and must NOT contain pictures. Required: An unofficial college transcript. (Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcript will be required.) Required, if applicable: CTAP/ICTAP documentation (a copy of a separation notice or other proof of eligibility for priority selection; a copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing current position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location; AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.) Required, if applicable: Veteran's Preference Documentation (DD-214, Member Copy 4 or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge. Disabled veterans and other applicants eligible for 10-point Veteran's Preference please include: documentation to validate your claim - VA letter, SF-15, etc). Required: Job Market Paper or other in-depth writing sample that demonstrates your relevant economic analysis expertise Optional: List of 3 references Optional: Letters of recommendation are strongly encouraged but not required; please email them to DERARecLetters@sec.gov

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.