PD_DOC_Undersecretary-for-Economic-Affairs

Position Description

undersecretary for economic affairs, Department of commerce

Overview

Senate Committee

Commerce, Science and Transportation¹ _{Plum book}

Agency Mission

The mission of the department is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity.² _{Partnership for Public Service position description}

Position Overview

The undersecretary leads the Economics and Statistics Administration.³ _{https://www.commerce.gov/adminofficials/under-secretary-economic-affairs}

Compensation

Level III $165,300 (5 U.S.C. § 5314)⁴ _{The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.}

Position Reports to

Deputy Secretary of Commerce and/or Secretary of Commerce⁵ _{https://www.commerce.gov/page/doc-organizational-chart}

Responsibilities

Management Scope

The Economics and Statistics Administration had a 2016 enacted budget of $109 million and a 2015 enacted full-time equivalent employment of 470.⁶ The undersecretary oversees multiple offices including the Bureau of the Census, Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Office of Chief Economist.⁷ _{http://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/budget/FY17CBJ/ESA%20FY%202017%20CBJ%20508compliant.pdf http://www.esa.doc.gov/content/about-economics-statistics-administration}

Primary Responsibilities

® Leads the Economics and Statistics Administration⁸ _{https://www.commerce.gov/adminofficials/under-secretary-economic-affairs}
® Oversees multiple offices including the Bureau of the Census, Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Office of Chief Economist⁹ _{http://www.esa.doc.gov/content/about-economics-statistics-administration}
® Provides timely economic analysis to the secretary and deputy secretary
® Disseminates national economic indicators and provides economic forecasts
® Administers the department’s statistical programs and data service¹⁰ _{https://www.commerce.gov/adminofficials/under-secretary-economic-affairs}
® Serves as departmental representative to the Council of Economic Advisers
® Analyzes and develops policies on economic and statistical issues¹¹ _OPM

Strategic Goals and Priorities

[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration]

Requirements and Competencies

Requirements

Strong understanding of macroeconomics, preferably a Ph.D. or master’s degree in economics¹² _{Romney Readiness Project position description}
Experience operating in a large organizatio
Understanding and passion for unleashing and maximizing the huge quantities of Department of Commerce data

Competencies

® Strong manager and decision-maker
® Well-developed communication skills that could be useful for delivering an economic message to stakeholders, the private sector and Congress
® Ability to translate complicated economic information in a format that is usable for the secretary, deputy secretary and the entire administration’s economic team
® Ability to lead multiple economic offices simultaneously¹³ _{Romney Readiness Project position description}

Past Appointees

Mark Doms (2013 to 2015) u2013 Chief Economist, Department of Commerce; Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco; Economist, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System¹⁴ _{LinkedIn Profile}
Rebecca Blank (2012 to 2013) u2013 Robert Kerr Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; Dean, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy; Member, Council of Economic Advisers¹⁵ _{http://2010-2014.commerce.gov/About%20Commerce/Commerce%20Leadership/Deputy%20Secretary%20of%20Commerce%20and%20Under%20Secretary%20for%20Economic%20Aff.html}
Kathleen Cooper (2001 to 2005) u2013 Chief Economist, Exxo
Mobil; Chief Economist, Security Pacific Bank¹⁶ _{https://news.unt.edu/news-releases/college-business-names-new-dean}
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