Research Agricultural Economist
Summary
This position is located with the USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS), Office of Food Markets, Kansas City, MO.
in this position, the selectee will lead policy and data driven research on the organization and behavior of the retail food sector with implications for consumers and food prices.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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Requirements
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Conditions of employment
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement 11/13/2026 including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Basic Requirements
Degree:economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
OR
Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
AND
In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet the following minimum qualification requirements:
GS-12
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-12 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-11 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience producing published or unpublished formal written materials (e.g., memoranda, reports, briefing materials, manuscripts, or research papers) in economics, statistics or public policy; conducting microeconomic or micro econometric research and identifying and collecting appropriate information and/or data to analyze economic theories, issues, or hypotheses.
OR
Education: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Related degrees may include Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, or equivalent doctoral degree in related disciplines.
OR
A combination of Ph.D. education and specialized experience as described above.
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.
Education
Please see above for education qualification requirement information.
Additional information
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
The Office of Personnel Management has granted Direct Hire Authority for Research Agricultural Economist positions. There is a critical hiring need, and these positions play an important role in research.
The USDA Department of Agriculture has authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional) positions under Direct Hire Authority. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.
For more information on the Government-wide Direct Hire Authority positions click here
Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. The final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at the time of job offer.
If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
Help
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.
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.
This position is located with the USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS), Office of Food Markets, Kansas City, MO.
in this position, the selectee will lead policy and data driven research on the organization and behavior of the retail food sector with implications for consumers and food prices.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help
- Participate in research projects and cooperates with other team members in the preparation and publication of policy-relevant research topics.
- Plan and conduct complex and difficult economic analyses and research related to food markets and food access.
- Probe and analyze primary and secondary data and information collected from a wide variety of sources to determine their validity and sufficiency; data and information may contain significant gaps and vary greatly in reliability.
- Refine and use forecasting methods similar to those used in ERS's Food Price Outlook and monitor current trends in both retail and upstream markets to best understand drivers of food price changes.
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment
- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement 11/13/2026 including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Basic Requirements
Degree:economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.
OR
Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
AND
In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet the following minimum qualification requirements:
GS-12
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-12 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-11 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience producing published or unpublished formal written materials (e.g., memoranda, reports, briefing materials, manuscripts, or research papers) in economics, statistics or public policy; conducting microeconomic or micro econometric research and identifying and collecting appropriate information and/or data to analyze economic theories, issues, or hypotheses.
OR
Education: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Related degrees may include Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, or equivalent doctoral degree in related disciplines.
OR
A combination of Ph.D. education and specialized experience as described above.
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.
Education
Please see above for education qualification requirement information.
Additional information
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
The Office of Personnel Management has granted Direct Hire Authority for Research Agricultural Economist positions. There is a critical hiring need, and these positions play an important role in research.
The USDA Department of Agriculture has authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional) positions under Direct Hire Authority. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.
For more information on the Government-wide Direct Hire Authority positions click here
Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. The final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at the time of job offer.
If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
Help
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.
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.