Economic Assistant (Part-time)

Applicants must meet qualifications, legal and regulatory requirements for the position by the closing date of this announcement. GS-06: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level. Specialized experience is the experience that is in or related to the work of the position being filled which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Examples of qualifying experience may include: Use computers and various computer softwares to collect, compile, analyze and/or report primary data; OR Initiate contacts with a full range of establishments, such as corporate authorizing officials, store owners, managers, merchandise managers, buyers, hospital administrators and/or various professionals to price goods and services; OR Interviewer or in-take experience that required detailed record-keeping and/or oral persuasion skills with public contact.

Work will be performed primarily in Pittsfield, MA, which includes travel throughout Berkshire County as well. THIS POSITION IS PART-TIME ONLY AND DOES NOT LEAD TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT. THIS IS NOT ENTRY LEVEL FOR AN ECONOMIST POSITION. The initial average hours per week will be 16 to 32 hours to start depending on workload and training requirements. Work schedule will vary week to week depending upon work requirements.

This is not a job for a person who needs full-time work or who cannot be available for work when required, which includes a mix of day, evening and weekend hours as needed. Additionally, this position requires visits to retail stores, businesses, and residences to gather the required information.

Selectees must travel to the Bureau of Labor Statistics training center in Washington, D.C. or another location if scheduled for mandatory classroom training such as: One (1) week introductory commodities and services (C&S) training and One (1) week of advanced data collection. Housing training and some C&S training are accomplished through distance learning. Notice will be given of planned training events that require travel.

Economic Assistants collect prices and related statistical data on a wide variety of commodities, services, and housing for the BLS Consumer Price Index. Data for commodities and services are collected by conducting personal and telephone interviews with store managers and buyers, managers in auto dealerships, doctors, pharmacists, and other professionals. Data for the housing survey are obtained by personal visit or telephone interview with either property managers, tenants, or homeowners.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Visiting retail and service establishments such as department stores, supermarkets, medical offices, and hotels to collect retail price data. Collecting retail price data from E-commerce websites. A limited amount of data is collected by telephone/fax, email, and video. Contacting homeowners, renters, and apartment management companies by personal visit to neighborhoods and follow up telephone interviews. Collecting and entering data on a handheld computer.

Ensuring the quality of data collection from each sample unit (establishment or renter) by reviewing electronic collection forms completed on a Tablet PC for internal consistency and for conformance to survey requirements. Obtaining voluntary cooperation from survey respondents. Traveling to a field office for on-the-job training and periodic meetings.