Economist

*US Citizenship Required

*Remote Position in the United States

*Position is Subject to Contract Award

Think Tank Inc. may seek one (1) Economist to support NOAA Fisheries GARFO's Protected Resources Division rulemaking efforts under the MMPA and ESA.

The Economist will provide specialized expertise to analyze the economic impacts of regulations and policies intended to protect Atlantic large whales, including the North Atlantic right whale, from commercial fisheries entanglement and vessel strikes. If exercised, this is a full-time position (40 hours/week; approximately 2,080 hours/year). Approximate start date: September 1, 2027 (Option Year 1), contingent upon Government exercise of the option.

• Develop and implement methods to analyze economic impacts of regulations, policies, or alternatives intended to protect Atlantic large whales from entanglement in commercial fisheries and vessel strikes.
• Conduct reviews of relevant data, methods, and procedures pursuant to applicable statutes including ESA (Section 7), MMPA, NEPA, Regulatory Flexibility Act, and Executive Order 12866.
• Develop a detailed work plan including a schedule of milestones for completion of an economic impact analysis sufficient to meet requirements of relevant guiding statutes and policies.
• Execute economic impact analyses using available data and methods to inform regulatory policy decision-making.
• Produce preliminary economic impact analyses for scoping; participate in scoping to record industry economic input.
• Draft and finalize economic impact analyses sufficient to satisfy requirements of relevant statutes and policies for federal regulations protecting Atlantic large whales.
• Support team meetings, scoping meetings, and public comment as needed.
• Complete a set of training courses and maintain up-to-date training annually

Education

• Bachelor's degree in social science or economics with coursework in natural resource economics.

Experience

• Minimum three (3) years of relevant experience in economic impact analysis, regulatory analysis, or natural resource economics.

Skills

• Provides technical expertise sufficient to conduct and complete a project or analysis independently.
• Capable of drafting or reviewing analyses and reports required by the client.
• Able to work as a member of an inter-disciplinary team to complete complex projects.
• Capable of analyzing and solving complex technical or economic challenges.
• Able to advise clients in the technical aspects of economics and regulatory analysis.
• Reviews and guides the development of product deliverables; verifies documents for technical accuracy.
• Conversant with the requirements of major federal environmental policy and compliance acts and associated regulations.