The Health, Retirement, and Long-term Analysis Division is seeking a Programmer/Analyst to work with senior economists on a range of specific projects. The division provides the Congress with analyses in the areas of health, disability, and retirement and leads CBO’s long-term modeling initiatives.   Recently, the division has estimated the effects of the Affordable Care Act on insurance coverage and federal health care spending, analyzed spending patterns in the Medicare prescription drug program, estimated the short-term and long-term effects of raising the eligibility ages for Medicare and Social Security, and analyzed the long-term outlook for the federal budget.  Responsibilities include: assembling databases, performing analyses using large micro-data files, modeling proposed changes in federal programs and policies, and creating and operating microsimulation models. Commonly used databases include the Current Population Survey, the Survey of Income and Program Participation, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, and Medicare and Medicaid claims files. Qualifications The position requires a person who is proficient in SAS, and experience with STATA is also desirable.  Prior experience with the above-mentioned data sets would be a definite advantage. Candidates should have at least 3 years of programming experience and a strong interest in federal policies and programs related to health care, income security, and employment. They also should have at least a bachelor’s degree. Salary and Benefits Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience, education, and other qualifications. CBO offers an appealing work environment. How to Apply Please submit a cover letter, résumé, salary history, and contact information for three (3) references online. Recent graduates should submit an unofficial copy of academic transcripts. This position is covered by the Veterans Employment in Opportunities Act, as made applicable by the Congressional Accountability Act, as amended.  Because this position is covered by the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, the following categories of people may be eligible for preference in the hiring process relative to other applicants: veterans who have separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after serving on active duty in the armed forces during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or during particular defined periods; disabled veterans; and the mother, spouse, or unmarried widow or widower of certain veterans. To claim this preference, an applicant must identify himself or herself as eligible for veterans' preference in the Self-Identification for Veterans' Preference section of the application and must complete and submit a Veterans' Preference Eligibility Form together with the supporting documentation specified on that form within two weeks of applying. Applicants may obtain a copy of CBO's Veterans' Preference in Appointments policy by submitting a written request to careers@cbo.gov . Contact Nancy Fahey, 202-226-2628, careers@cbo.gov   EEO M/F/V/D

The Financial Analysis Division is seeking candidates for a limited term position of 6-12 months to support the Division’s research and policy analyses of federal and private financial activity. The focus of the division’s work in this area is the risk and costs that those activities impose on the federal government and how those effects can be mitigated through various budgetary and program policies.  CBO’s analysis plays an important role in Congressional deliberations on policy alternatives, and the financial modeler will work closely with other CBO staff in the preparation of studies, reports, and testimony for the Congress. CBO staff often have the opportunity to publish research results in professional journals.   Qualifications The ideal candidate has a strong interest in public policy, is knowledgeable about the use of derivative pricing and other valuation methods, is creative in applying and adapting those valuation techniques to new applications, and has the ability to explain financial concepts clearly and intuitively to a broad audience. Excellent interpersonal and computer programming skills and the ability to communicate technical material in a clear manner are essential. It is preferred that candidates have, at a minimum, a Master’s degree or equivalent in finance or economics, however, we may consider candidates pursuing a graduate degree who have broad training in financial valuation and econometric techniques and their applications. Successful candidates will be able to work independently and complete work in a timely manner. Professional experience with the valuation of structured financial transactions, assessing financial risk, forecasting and modeling financial variables, and the use of econometric techniques to estimate financial valuation models would be highly regarded. Salary and Benefits Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience, education, and other qualifications. CBO offers an appealing work environment. How to Apply Please submit a cover letter, résumé, salary history, contact information for 3 references, and a brief writing sample online; recent graduates should also submit unofficial transcripts. Letters of reference can be sent to careers@cbo.gov . This position is covered by the Veterans Employment in Opportunities Act, as made applicable by the Congressional Accountability Act, as amended. Because this position is covered by the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, the following categories of people may be eligible for preference in the hiring process relative to other applicants: veterans who have separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after serving on active duty in the armed forces during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or during particular defined periods; disabled veterans; and the mother, spouse, or unmarried widow or widower of certain veterans. To claim this preference, an applicant must identify himself or herself as eligible for veterans' preference in the Self-Identification for Veterans' Preference section of the application and must complete and submit a Veterans' Preference Eligibility Form together with the supporting documentation specified on that form within two weeks of applying. Applicants may obtain a copy of CBO's Veterans' Preference in Appointments policy by submitting a written request to careers@cbo.gov . Contact Nancy Fahey, 202-226-2628, careers@cbo.gov EEO/M/F/V/D rev. 7/16/12

The Financial Analysis Division is seeking talented candidates for a position that involves developing valuation models and conducting economic and policy analyses of federal and private-sector financial activities. A focus of the division’s work in this area is to evaluate the costs, risks, and economic and budgetary consequences of a wide range of federal financial obligations, including loans and loan guarantees, deposit insurance, pension guarantees, and mortgage guarantees. Analysts prepare written studies and testimony, provide information to Congressional committee staff and advise others throughout CBO regarding financial institutions, financial markets, and valuation methodologies. Analysts also have the opportunity to turn CBO projects and independent research into CBO working papers and outside publications. Qualifications The ideal candidate has a strong interest in public policy, is knowledgeable about the use of derivative pricing and other valuation methods, is creative in applying and adapting those valuation techniques to new applications, and has the ability to explain financial concepts clearly and intuitively to a broad audience. Candidates should have a PhD in finance, economics or accounting, with a specialty in finance related area such as asset pricing, derivatives valuation and financial econometrics; or a Master’s degree in one or more of these disciplines with training in financial valuation and modeling techniques and significant professional experience in a position that utilizes that training. Successful candidates will be able to work independently and complete work in a timely manner. Experience with the estimation of econometric models, Monte Carlo simulation techniques, and the numerical solution of dynamic stochastic optimization problems will be highly regarded. Strong programming and writing skills are also essential. Salary and Benefits Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience, education, and other qualifications. CBO offers an excellent benefits package and an appealing work environment. How to Apply Please submit the following items: resume, cover letter, short writing sample, salary history, and contact information for three references online; recent graduates should also submit an unofficial copy of academic transcripts. Letters of reference may be sent to careers@cbo.gov . This position is covered by the Veterans Employment in Opportunities Act, as made applicable by the Congressional Accountability Act, as amended. Because this position is covered by the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, the following categories of people may be eligible for preference in the hiring process relative to other applicants: veterans who have separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after serving on active duty in the armed forces during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or during particular defined periods; disabled veterans; and the mother, spouse, or unmarried widow or widower of certain veterans. To claim this preference, an applicant must identify himself or herself as eligible for veterans' preference in the Self-Identification for Veterans' Preference section of the application and must complete and submit a Veterans' Preference Eligibility Form together with the supporting documentation specified on that form within two weeks of applying. Applicants may obtain a copy of CBO's Veterans' Preference in Appointments policy by submitting a written request to careers@cbo.gov . Contact Nancy Fahey, 202-226-2628, careers@cbo.gov EEO M/F/V/D  

The Macroeconomic Analysis Division is seeking a macroeconomist with a broad range of interests, including public finance and fiscal policy. The Macroeconomic Analysis Division advises the Congress about the macroeconomic effects of federal fiscal policy, analyzes emerging developments in the economy, and prepares CBO's semi-annual economic forecast. In the past year, the division has analyzed a wide range of issues, including policies to promote economic growth, the effect of deficit reduction on the economy, the implications of changing demographics in the United States, and the effects of tax, Social Security, and Medicare reform. The position involves analyzing similar issues, writing CBO studies describing this analysis, and carrying out original economic research. CBO staff members regularly publish the results of their research in professional journals. The successful candidate will contribute to the full range of the division's responsibilities. Those include constructing and improving cutting-edge models that underlie CBO's policy analyses as well as preparing longer-term CBO studies, shorter-term memoranda, and testimonies. Required Skills Economists who have a broad range of policy interests are encouraged to apply.  Excellent interpersonal, writing, and quantitative skills, and the ability to communicate technical material in a clear manner are essential. Successful candidates will be able to work independently and complete work in a timely manner. Applicants should also have a Ph.D. in economics or a closely related discipline. Special consideration will be given to candidates who have experience in building general equilibrium models and analyzing the effects of fiscal policy. Familiarity with micro data is a plus. Both junior- and senior-level candidates will be considered. Salary and Benefits Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience, education, and other qualifications. CBO offers excellent benefits and an appealing work environment. How to Apply Please submit the following items: resume, cover letter, short writing sample, salary history, and contact information for three references online; recent graduates should also submit an unofficial copy of academic transcripts. Letters of reference may be sent to careers@cbo.gov . This position is covered by the Veterans Employment in Opportunities Act, as made applicable by the Congressional Accountability Act, as amended. Because this position is covered by the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, the following categories of people may be eligible for preference in the hiring process relative to other applicants: veterans who have separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after serving on active duty in the armed forces during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or during particular defined periods; disabled veterans; and the mother, spouse, or unmarried widow or widower of certain veterans. To claim this preference, an applicant must identify himself or herself as eligible for veterans' preference in the Self-Identification for Veterans' Preference section of the application and must complete and submit a Veterans' Preference Eligibility Form together with the supporting documentation specified on that form within two weeks of applying. Applicants may obtain a copy of CBO's Veterans' Preference in Appointments policy by submitting a written request to careers@cbo.gov . Contact Nancy Fahey, 202-226-2628, careers@cbo.gov EEO M/F/V/D

The Health, Retirement, and Long-Term Analysis Division is seeking an experienced health economist to contribute to a variety of projects and analyses in the health area.   Recently completed studies include: an examination of the effects of Medicare’s demonstration projects in disease management, care coordination, and value-based purchasing; an analysis of spending patterns for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D; and a study of the budgetary effects of raising the excise tax on cigarettes.  The high level and growth rate of health care costs, the effects of competition in the health care system, and the supply of health care services are potential topics for future analyses. The successful candidate will contribute to the full range of the division's responsibilities. Those responsibilities include preparing longer-term CBO studies and shorter-term memoranda and testimonies, performing detailed analyses of proposed legislation, constructing and improving models that underlie CBO’s policy analyses, and assessing the impact on the private sector of a variety of legislative initiatives. Analysts are also encouraged to turn projects or independent research into CBO working papers or outside publications. Qualifications Applicants should have a strong quantitative background, excellent writing skills, and a desire to work as part of a team on issues of current legislative interest to the Congress.  Applicants should also have a Ph.D. in economics or a related discipline and several years of experience in health policy analysis. Salary and Benefits Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience, education, and other qualifications.  CBO offers an excellent benefits package and an appealing work environment. How to Apply Please submit a cover letter, résumé, salary history, a brief writing sample and contact information for three (3) references online.  This position is covered by the Veterans Employment in Opportunities Act, as made applicable by the Congressional Accountability Act, as amended.  Because this position is covered by the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, the following categories of people may be eligible for preference in the hiring process relative to other applicants: veterans who have separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after serving on active duty in the armed forces during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or during particular defined periods; disabled veterans; and the mother, spouse, or unmarried widow or widower of certain veterans. To claim this preference, an applicant must identify himself or herself as eligible for veterans' preference in the Self-Identification for Veterans' Preference section of the application and must complete and submit a Veterans' Preference Eligibility Form together with the supporting documentation specified on that form within two weeks of applying. Applicants may obtain a copy of CBO's Veterans' Preference in Appointments policy by submitting a written request to careers@cbo.gov . Contact Nancy A. Fahey, PHR, 2nd & D Streets, SW, Washington, DC, 202-226-2628, careers@cbo.gov