Economist Job in Silver Spring 20903, Maryland Us

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) is actively recruiting for several economist positions within the Office of Planning and Analysis (OPA).  FDA/CDER is a global leader in drug regulation, responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of all drugs used to treat, prevent, or diagnose illness.  This includes brand-name and generic prescription drugs, and drugs sold over-the counter.  

 

This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly motivated team of analysts who are helping to modernize FDA drug regulation and center operations to better protect and promote the public health.  These positions are permanent appointments that require U.S. Citizenship; pay and benefits reflect government pay scales and are competitive.  The job offers a congenial and smoke-free work environment in Silver Spring, Maryland, a suburb of Washington D.C.

 

 

Introduction

 

The vacant positions are with the Analysis Staff at the Office of Planning and Analysis (OPA), which is part of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Office of Planning Informatics (OPI).  The office is responsible for supporting a broad range of FDA CDER activities.  This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly motivated team of analysts who assist senior CDER management by providing timely and relevant analyses of drug industry trends and CDER program operations.

 

 

Job Description

 

Our analysts conduct economic analyses of drug regulatory program performance, industry trends, and the impact of FDA and other policies and on various stakeholders.  They provide support to senior management in the Center in a broad range of areas within FDA/CDER oversight.   Recent projects include evaluation of drivers of drug shortages and an assessment of the access-to-care impact of a risk management plan.

Primary responsibilities include determining the appropriate scope of analysis, collecting relevant data, conducting qualitative and qualitative analysis, and validating the data or results.  Our analysts identify the most suitable approach to explicitly describe and select the relevant factors in the problems studied.  They also determine the relevant variables and relationships, determine the constraints which are present, validate assumptions and propose alternate solutions.

 

Study problems are often not stated in explicit terms or with clear objectives, therefore analysts are responsible for investigating the issue involved, posing specific questions to be resolved, and determining detailed steps to be included in the analysis, all while effectively engaging subject matter experts across CDER in the process of determining the project scope, data collection and problem solving.

 

Aimed with this research, our analysts identify relevant policy implications and put forward analytical findings to senior management either in writing or through presentations.  This often entails translating the findings into reasonable, practical, and implementable proposals, which are also consistent with CDER policy and mandate.

 

Strong interpersonal and project management skills are critical success factors because the work frequently requires engaging others within the greater CDER organization.  In some instances, analysts work with contractors to carry out project objectives.

 

 

Other Information

 

Openings at GS11 ($64,467 – $81, 204), GS12 ($74, 872 - $97,333), and GS13 ($89,033 - $115,742)

²      (http://www.opm.gov/oca/11tables/pdf/DCB.pdf)

²      This position is located in CDER headquarters at 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring MD  

 

 

Basic Qualification Requirements

 

²      Must be a US Citizen

AND

²      Must possess: 
    o    A degree in economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3   
        semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

OR

 

 

Additional Qualification Requirements

 

²     Exceptional analytical skills and experience analyzing data (qualitative and quantitative)

²     Ability to effectively work on projects where goals, objectives and path forward are not clearly defined

²     Ability to effectively communicate conducted analyses to various audiences verbally and in writing; ability to prepare effective CDEROPIrecruitment@fda.hhs.gov