Economist

You will serve as an Economist for the Bureau of Reclamation responsible for project cost allocation and economicstudies, and agricultural economic analyses.

Major duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Serves as an Economist for the Bureau of Reclamation responsible for implementing the economic portionsof the Central Valley Project (CVP) Final Cost Allocation Study (FCAS) and other California-Great BasinRegion economic and cost allocation studies. Responsible for implementing the economic portions of the Central Valley Project (CVP) FinalCost Allocation Study (FCAS) and other California-Great Basin Region economic and cost allocationstudies. Oversees the implementation of CVP FCAS and Regional cost allocation studies, applyingReclamation's separable costs-remaining benefits method, and leads preparation of Regionaleconomic analyses-including direct and indirect benefit estimation and construction-relatedeconomic impacts-in alignment with Reclamation policies, standards, and federal guidelines. Assesses the technical scope, level of effort, and funding required for conducting complexeconomic and financial evaluations. Implements the FCAS two-cost/two-period repayment approach and designs research planssupporting cost allocation integration into water rate setting methodologies. Conducts quantitative and qualitative economic and financial analyses, including benefit-cost andfinancial feasibility studies, using advanced economic tools such as SWAP, Reclamation's FarmBudget Tool, optimization models, input-output models, market analyses, and other statisticaltechniques required for CVP project benefit evaluation. Prepares technical reports for planning studies, environmental documents, land classificationreports, water service rate setting proposals, water rights settlements, litigation support, legislativeproposals, congressional testimony, and other specialized purposes. Reviews economic components ofstudies prepared by other Federal, State, and local agencies. Serves as the Region's subject matter expert supporting the Denver Technical Services Centerand Denver Policy Office in developing policy, directives, standards, and guidance related to costallocation, payment capacity, ability-to-pay, and other economic studies. Develops Regional guidanceand contributes to Reclamation-wide policy development. Participates in interagency task forces and work groups involving Federal and State agencies onplanning, project formulation, and economic evaluations of resource management and developmentproposals. Plans, directs, performs, and reviews complex Regional economic studies forming the technical basis for evaluating economic and financial effects of current and potential water and related land resource programs. Formulates and executes research plans for studies where objectives and solutions have not been predefined, and develops procedures for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting Regional economic and financial data. Leads the Region's agricultural economic analyses, including evaluation of water contractors'payment capacity and ability-to-pay for potential relief from applicable water charges using complexfarm budgeting methods. Analyzes agricultural economic conditions, trends, and repayment ability forcontractors in the Rehabilitation and Betterment Loan Program, Safety of Dams Program, and duringwater service and repayment contract negotiations. Conducts agricultural surveys, prepares farmbudget studies, designs research plans for payment capacity estimates across land classes, andperforms Class I equivalency determinations consistent with Reclamation Reform Act requirements.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 10/05/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic education requirements and specialized experience: Basic Educational Requirements: you must meet at least one of the following: A. Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Experience: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

• conducting complex economic studies involving cost allocation, benefit-cost analysis, financial feasibility, or multi-purpose water/resource projects;
• Applying advanced economic models and analytical tools, such as agricultural production models, input-output models, optimization techniques, or farm-budgeting methods, to evaluate project costs, benefits, and repayment obligations;
• Developing and executing research plans to assess economic, financial, agricultural, or water-resource issues where guidelines are limited and significant judgment is required;
• Preparing authoritative technical reports and recommendations used for planning studies, environmental analyses, rate-setting, legislative or regulatory actions, or interagency coordination;
• Serving as an economic subject-matter expert, advising leadership, partner agencies, or stakeholders on economic methodologies, policy implications, and analytical findings;
• Evaluating repayment ability, payment capacity, or ability-to-pay for agricultural or municipal water users using detailed economic and financial analysis.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. You may be required to travel occasionally for this position to attend meetings, conferences, or training. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trail period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.