Economist

In this position you will serve as the principal economist responsible for preparing comprehensive regulatory analyses for CBP regulatory actions. This position starts at a salary of $143913.00 (GS-14 Step 1) to $187093.00 (GS-14 Step 10)

CBP Office of Trade is the architect of the most robust customs system in the world and the second largest revenue source for the U.S. Government. We facilitate legitimate trade enforce U.S. laws and protect the American economy as well as consumer health and safety. Collaborating with industry and government partners we create a fair competitive and safe trade environment and we enforce U.S. trade law to protect national economic security. Our expertise in the trade community allows us to lead the development of streamlined and efficient processes that provide certainty for legitimate importers while combatting transnational crime.

Major duties for this position include but are not limited to:

• Preparing comprehensive regulatory impact analyses that assess economic and societal effects including baselines costs benefits and alternatives in accordance with EO 12866 OMB Circular A-4 RFA PRA and UMRA.
• Conducting research and analysis on regulatory issues affecting the secure movement of people through U.S. ports of entry security of international cargo supply chains (truck rail air sea) and international trade and customs revenue functions and document results in detailed reproducible reports for rulemaking dockets.
• Providing technical guidance and support to other economists including reviewing their work developing analytical approaches and preparing and delivering briefings policy papers and other materials that translate complex economic concepts for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Reviewing regulations and supporting economic analyses from other DHS components; participating in intra- and interagency workgroups and committees to exchange information coordinating positions and contributing economic expertise on homeland security customs revenue and international trade policies.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
• All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
• You may be required to pass a background investigation
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• As an employee of CBP you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees and to CBP employees specifically as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
• DHS uses E-Verify an internet-based system to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
• Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions - NTEU. For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU .

Basic Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below.

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 above plus appropriate experience or additional education.

You qualify for this position if you possess one year of specialized experience as described below and meet the basic requirement listed above.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level performing duties such as:

• Conducting independent cost-benefit and regulatory impact analyses of moderately to highly complex regulatory actions including developing regulatory baselines assessing quantitative and qualitative costs and benefits.
• Applying advanced economic theory and quantitative/qualitative research methods-using statistical/econometric software and other analytical tools-to collect analyze and interpret economic data related to border security passenger and cargo movement international trade and customs revenue issues.
• Planning organizing and executing all phases of economic studies or segments of larger projects from problem definition and hypothesis formulation through data collection analysis interpretation of results and preparation of clear well-documented and reproducible reports suitable for inclusion in public rulemaking dockets.
• Reviewing proposed regulations and supporting analyses from other organizational components; contributing professional economic expertise in intra- and interagency workgroups; and helping to develop or standardize methods and best practices for regulatory analysis to support policy development and continuity.
• Communicating complex economic concepts methods and findings-both orally and in writing-to senior management interagency partners and non-technical stakeholders including defending analytical approaches addressing skepticism and negotiating or building consensus among parties with differing interests.

• Meet all qualification requirements including education if applicable to this position subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
• Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 07/31/2026.