Office of Advocacy Position Announcement – Economic Research Fellow

Overview

The U.S. Small Business Administration - Office of Advocacy represents small businesses within the federal government, examines the role and contributions of small businesses in the U.S. economy, and advocates for small businesses before federal agencies, Congress, the White House, and the public.

Position Summary

The Economic Research Fellow works in Advocacy’s Office of Economic Research producing small business research, analysis, and statistics for policymakers and stakeholders. As the only federal office with this unique mandate, the Office of Advocacy’s research products and analyses are used by policymakers, small business stakeholders, news organizations, and trade associations to understand the importance of small businesses and the challenges they face.

Duties

The Economic Research Fellow reports to the Director of Economic Research and works with Advocacy’s team of economists to carry out a variety of economic research activities. The Economic Research Fellow may be responsible for developing research products such as small business fact sheets, infographics, and issue briefs, and preparing responses to data inquiries from stakeholders. In consultation with the Director of Economic Research, the Economic Research Fellow will work on a research project relevant to the office throughout their term. The Economic Research Fellow will be required to:

• Analyze large publicly available economic datasets for congressional staff and media outlets and for use in Advocacy research products.
• Support Advocacy economists with internal research projects.
• Assist in creating new research publications, including by working with our external affairs office and graphic designer.
• Communicate analyses to Advocacy’s senior leadership and stakeholders on economic issues salient to small businesses.
• Review and analyze the economic impacts of federal policies on small businesses.
• Complete, by the end of the term, a research project on a small business topic for publication by Advocacy.
• Provide analytical support for Office of Advocacy initiatives.
• Complete quick-turnaround data assignments in a dynamic work environment.
• Plan, prioritize, and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Skills

• Strong analytical capabilities, with an aptitude for quantitative analysis, economics, and policy analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment and produce high-quality work product under tight deadlines.
• Experience with analytical, statistical, or data visualization software, such as Microsoft Excel, Stata, R, and/or Python. ?
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex information from diverse data sources.
• Familiarity with large, publicly available datasets, such as those produced by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in economics, public policy, or a related field preferred.? Candidates in graduate school or nearing completion of a master’s program will also be considered.
• Coursework or experience in economics, statistics, public policy, and/or econometrics.
• Familiarity with, or interest in, small business issues.

Term of Position

This position is for a one-year term.

Eligibility Requirements

• United States Citizenship.
• Ability to pass a background check.
• Availability to work a full-time schedule at the U.S. Small Business Administration headquarters in Washington, DC, currently operating by hybrid telework and in-person.

Salary

Advocacy offers a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

How to Apply

Send your résumé and cover letter to Patrick Delehanty, Director of Economic Research, at [email protected] by March 29th, 2024.

For more information about the Office of Advocacy, visit https://advocacy.sba.gov/.