Federal Position Descriptions
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Undersecretary for Economic Affairs

Undersecretary for Economic Affairs, Department of Commerce
Responsibility
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

Primary Responsibilities

• Leads the Economics and Statistics Administration8

• Oversees multiple offices including the Bureau of the Census, Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Office of Chief Economist9

• 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

• Serves as departmental representative to the Council of Economic Advisers

• Analyzes and develops policies on economic and statistical issues11

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

•  Strong understanding of macroeconomics, preferably a Ph.D. or master’s degree in economics12
•  Experience operating in a large organization

•  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

Past Appointments
  • Mark Doms (2013 to 2015) – Chief Economist, Department of Commerce; Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco; Economist, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System14
  • Rebecca Blank (2012 to 2013) – Robert Kerr Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; Dean, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy; Member, Council of Economic Advisers15
  • Kathleen Cooper (2001 to 2005) – Chief Economist, ExxonMobil; Chief Economist, Security Pacific Bank16
AGENCY

Department of Commerce

Mission: The mission of the department is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity.2

COMPENSATION

Level III $165,300 (5 U.S.C. § 5314)4

REPORTS TO

Deputy Secretary of Commerce and/or Secretary of Commerce5

SENATE COMMITTEE

Commerce, Science and Transportation

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Footnote
  1. Plumbook
  2. Partnership for Public Serviceposition description
  3. https://www.commerce.gov/adminofficials/under-secretary-economic-affairs
  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.
  5. https://www.commerce.gov/page/doc-organizational-chart
  6. http://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/budget/FY17CBJ/ESA%20FY%202017%20CBJ%20508compliant.pdf
  7. http://www.esa.doc.gov/content/about-economics-statistics-administration
  8. https://www.commerce.gov/adminofficials/under-secretary-economic-affairs
  9. http://www.esa.doc.gov/content/about-economics-statistics-administration
  10. https://www.commerce.gov/adminofficials/under-secretary-economic-affairs
  11. OPM
  12. RomneyReadiness Project position description
  13. Romney Readiness Project position description
  14. LinkedIn Profile
  15. http://2010-2014.commerce.gov/About%20Commerce/Commerce%20Leadership/Deputy%20Secretary%20of%20Commerce%20and%20Under%20Secretary%20for%20Economic%20Aff.html
  16. https://news.unt.edu/news-releases/college-business-names-new-dean
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