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Job Description:

Economist 4 – Senior Transportation Economist
Oregon Department of Transportation
Policy, Data & Analysis Division
Transportation Planning Analysis Unit
Salem

The role:

Join our team as a senior transportation economist! In this role, you will transform transportation data and analysis into key information used in policy development, statewide plans, and agency-wide decision-making. You'll apply your expert economic knowledge to inform data collection, performance measure development, and transportation modeling. You will apply integrated economic, transportation and land use models to understand how agency decisions impact travel behavior. Help answer some of the hardest transportation questions! Apply today!

Our first application screening is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on Monday, January 27, 2025. We encourage interested applicants not to delay in applying. We may close the announcement at any time after this date when we have received an adequate number of applications. Please do not delay in applying.

This position is housed within the Transportation Planning Analysis Unit (TPAU). TPAU provides essential analysis and technical support to inform policy, planning, project development and system operation activities. TPAU has and continues to be at the forefront in this field, including developing several nationally recognized tools and models!

We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our positions. We hope you’ll join us on our path to increasing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging through our values, commitments, strategies and actions.

Before applying, visit our applicant information website to learn more about our process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, you must apply through your employee Workday profile.

A day in the life:

• Perform economic analysis for administrative rules, policies, statewide plans and project-level investments.

• Prepare economic, transportation or land use information in response to requests from ODOT management, advisory committees, the Legislature and other policymakers.

• Perform data analysis and prepare reports on economic, transportation and land use trends.

• Provide expert economic consultation and guidance in transportation planning analysis, transportation modeling and transportation system performance measurement.

• Serve as a statewide expert in integrated economic, transportation and land use modeling and analysis.

• Support the maintenance and development of ODOT’s statewide integrated model (SWIM).

• Support the implementation and application of statewide integrated model (SWIM) to inform policies, statewide planning, and system-level analysis.

• Collaborate and represent ODOT on advisory committees, research studies and other agency, state or national technical groups.

• Work in an office environment with hybrid work options available – Currently in the office every two months but may be more depending on business needs.

• To request a copy of the position description, which includes all duties and working conditions, please email ODOTRecruitment@odot.oregon.gov.

What’s in it for you:

• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, flexible work schedules, paid leave and so much more. Learn more about working at the Oregon Department of Transportation and the benefits we offer.

• Comprehensive and equitable base salary offer within the listed range. Through an equal pay assessment, we will determine the salary offer using the information you provide in your submitted application materials. Please ensure your application materials are detailed, accurate and reflect your skills, experience (paid and unpaid) and education as they relate to the position when applying.

• The salary range listed is the non-PERS monthly salary range. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6%.

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity!

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Minimum qualifications:

A master's degree in economics or a related field AND four (4) years’ experience doing economic research or econometric forecasting;

OR

A Ph.D. in economics or a related field AND one-year (1) experience doing economic research.

What we’d like to see:

If you have these attributes, let us know in your application materials! It's how we will choose whom to move forward! You do not need to have all these qualities to be eligible for this position. We may also use transferable skills, experience, education and alignment with ODOT values to help us decide who will move forward.

• Demonstrated experience applying economic trends and theory to travel behavior.

• Demonstrated experience using, developing, and statistically analyzing economic, transportation or land use data.

• Demonstrated skills and knowledge in integrated economic, transportation, and land use modeling and analysis.

• Exemplary communication, presentation and writing skills.

• Able to work on multiple projects while scoping, assigning, reviewing and coordinating work of others.

• Able to manage, develop and implement statewide programs requiring collaboration and coordination across diverse groups.

How to apply:

• Complete the following required steps:

  • Fill out the application or attach a resume. Please contact the recruiter under the ‘Need help?’ section if you have any questions about how to fill out the experience fields or to attach a document. Your submitted experience fields or attached resume must include dates (MM/YYYY) for each employer.

  • Attach a cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience and training relates to the qualities that you have under the “what we’d like to see” section above.

    • Your cover letter must be limited to no more than two (2) pages.

    • Please address your cover letter to Christopher Melson, Transportation Planning Analysis Unit Manager.

    • Generic cover letters that do not address the qualities that you have under the “what we’d like to see” section may receive lower scores than those that addressed the desired qualities.

    • You must upload your cover letter in the ‘Resume/Cover Letter’ section of the application.

  • Complete questionnaire. Answer the checkbox-style questions before submitting your application.

• After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.

• If you are a veteran, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will be available after you submit your application. For privacy reasons, please do not attach your military service document(s) to your application or combine it with any other required document attachments.

Need help?

• For questions, call 503-779-9733 or email ODOTRecruitmentJB@odot.oregon.gov.

Additional information:

• This recruitment will remain open until filled. Our first application screening is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on Monday, 01/27/2025, but we may close the announcement at any time after this date when we have received an adequate number of applications. We cannot guarantee that we will consider applications received after this screening date. We encourage interested applicants not to delay in applying.

• We do not offer visa sponsorship. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US. We are not an E-Verify participating employer, and we are unable to proceed if E-Verify participation is required [e.g., STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension]. We are also unable to proceed with Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program requests.

• We may use this recruitment to fill multiple or future vacancies.

• We will conduct name-based criminal background checks on final candidates, not including current ODOT employees. All applicants may be subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as driver license, LEDS (Law Enforcement Data System), and/or education verification as required for the position.

• You will be represented by the Association of Engineering Employees of Oregon (AEE).

ODOT is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other class protected by state or federal laws in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring, and employment practices. Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. For questions, concerns, or complaints regarding EEO/AA/ADA, contact 1-877-336-6368 (1-877-EEO-ODOT). This information can be made available in an alternative format by contacting ODOT Recruitment at 503-986-3700. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.

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Economist