Agricultural Economist

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Degree: Bachelor’s or higher degree in economics, that includes at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus. Must submit transcripts. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must be sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4 year course of study with a major in the appropriate field. In addition to courses in the major and related fields, a typical college degree would have included courses that involved analysis, writing, critical thinking, research, etc. These courses would have provided an applicant with skills and abilities sufficient to perform progressively more responsible work in the occupation. Therefore, creditable experience should have demonstrated similarly appropriate skills or abilities needed to perform the work of the occupation. Must submit transcripts. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying: GS-13 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Interprets and improves procedures to be used in economics of water resources planning; Provide support to water resources technical and program leaders in policy development and interpretation; Review water resource project plans; and Provides guidance to staff on agricultural economics associated with water resource planning and the use of guides methods, and procedures. GS-14Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Develop water resource reports and other documents that involve economics such as pre- authorization planning reports, plans of work, natural resource plans, investigation and analysis reports, rehabilitation reports, and watershed plan supplements or revisions; Develops standards and criteria for the types of data to be collected by field personnel for use in economic evaluations; Provide support to water resources technical and program leaders in policy development and interpretation; and Develop training material on the theory of agricultural economist associated with water resource planning and the use of guides methods, and procedures. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). 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. The OPM Qualification Standards for this position can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series
This position is located on the National Planning Assistance and Review Group of the National Water Management Center staff in Little Rock, Arkansas. The incumbent provides leadership and assistance for economic considerations to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state level specialists in the development of complex water resource plans and reports.