Economist 1, 2, or 3

Section 36 – Plan Quality and Publications

36/Econ1-3/50683606/010624-MV

About this position:

This position functions semi-independently with some direct supervision from the Engineer The position entails serving as the sole economic expert on DOTD policy and the Highway Priority Program (HPP). The individual will conduct research, define, develop, and analyze economic policy and decision­ making for DOTD. The incumbent will also implement two department-wide programs:

• Cost Estimating Program that ensures timely, high-quality short- a:nd long-range estimates for DOTD transportation projects in the Highway Priority Program (HPP)
• Risk Management and Quality Assurance Program that ensures each project is regularly monitored and assessed for risks and that risk mitigation strategies are defined and implemented.

Serves as a high level economic advisor providing economic statistics and analyses for major state projects; consults frequently with the Plan Quality & Publications Administrator, the Chief Engineer's Office, the Critical Projects & Innovative Procurement Sections, the Project Management Steering Committee, Executive Staff, and other office heads or administrators. Incumbent will develop and maintain software applications and programs that improve cost-estimating and forecasting.

See Examples of Work below for the complete position description.

As part of Career Progression Group, vacancies may be filled from this recruitment as an Economist 1, 2 or 3 depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant. The maximum salary for the Economist 3 is $120,453. Please refer to the "Job Specifications" tab located at the top of the LA Careers "Current Job Opportunities" page of the Civil Service website for specific information on salary ranges, minimum qualifications and job concepts for each level. The actual starting salary depends on the education and experience of the selected applicant.

Please click on the below links to learn more about each job level:

Economist 1 - apps01.civilservice.louisiana.gov/onestopjobinfo/DisplayJobSpec.aspx?JobCode=167540

Economist 2 – apps01.civilservice.louisiana.gov/onestopjobinfo/DisplayJobSpec.aspx?JobCode=167550

Economist 3 - apps01.civilservice.louisiana.gov/onestopjobinfo/DisplayJobSpec.aspx?JobCode=167560

Please visit our DOTD Career Center for more information about our agency:

http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Mgmt_Finance/HR/Pages/Career_Center.aspx

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

*Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.*

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Ryan Nolan, P.E.

Publications Engineer

1201 Capitol Access Road

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Office: (225) 379-1879

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is an equal employment opportunity employer and serves as a model employer for individuals with disabilities. DOTD does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, or pregnancy, and prohibits harassment of any type.

Information on the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available - https://www.laworks.net/workforcedev/lrs/lrs_rehabilitation.asp.

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A master's degree in economics.

Job Concepts

FUNCTION OF WORK:

To provide professional economic research services to a state agency.

LEVEL OF WORK:

Entry.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Close from a higher-level Economist, facility administrator, or other higher level professional.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

None.

LOCATION OF WORK:

May be used by all state agencies.

JOB DISTINCTIONS:

Differs from agency program managers by serving as staff economist and performing professional economic research and analyses.

Differs from the Economist 2 by the supervision received and the absence of independence of action.

Examples of Work

The position entails serving as the sole economic expert on DOTD policy and the Highway Priority Program (HPP). The individual will conduct research, define, develop, and analyze economic policy and decision­ making for DOTD. The incumbent will also implement two department-wide programs:

• Cost Estimating Program that ensures timely, high-quality short- a:nd long-range estimates for DOTD transportation projects in the Highway Priority Program (HPP)
• Risk Management and Quality Assurance Program that ensures each project is regularly monitored and assessed for risks and that risk mitigation strategies are defined and implemented.

Serves as a high level economic advisor providing economic statistics and analyses for major state projects; consults frequently with the Plan Quality & Publications Administrator, the Chief Engineer's Office, the Critical Projects & Innovative Procurement Sections, the Project Management Steering Committee, Executive Staff, and other office heads or administrators. Incumbent will develop and maintain software applications and programs that improve cost-estimating and forecasting.

While in an official capacity, DOTD employees must comply with applicable Louisiana and Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations and DOTD policies, procedures, manuals, and directives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

45% Cost Estimation and Forecasting:

• Defines, develops, and implements the Cost Estimation Program by collecting and analyzing complex data and making short-and long-range forecasts of economic conditions and trends affecting businesses and industries in the State of Louisiana.
• Interprets economic trends in Louisiana, nationally and internationally, and forecasts their effects on the transportation industry.
• Conducts multifaceted research and identifies economic indices affecting the transportation industry and DOTD projects.
• Make recommendations concerning DOTD activities as a result of analysis of economic trends.
• Develops, refines, and maintains software applications and programs that improve cost-estimating methods, processes, and factors used to estimate DOTD transportation projects. This includes software and programs that produce statistical data and economic analyses.
• Creates and maintains databases of information required for economic research to meet the department's performance expectations related to federal funding through FHWA and other federal agencies.
• Establishes procedures to monitor and ensure that estimates for individual projects are updated regularly.
• Assists statewide project managers and design staff with estimating costs that ensure timely, quality estimates for all. DOTD transportation projects in the Highway Priority Program (IT.PP).

25% Risk Management and Quality Assurance:

• Serves as a high-level economic advisor and consults frequently with the Plan Quality & Publications Administrator, the Chief Engineer's Office, the Critical Projects&. Innovative Procurement Sections, the Project Management Steering Committee, Executive Staff and other office heads or administrators providing economic statistics and analyses for major state projects.
• Analyzes, produces, and distributes monthly economic trend reports for DOTD Executive Stan: Project Delivery Steering Committee (PDSC), and other internal and external clients.
• Makes economic analysis presentations to boards, Executive Staff, administrators, task forces, planning groups, and others as required. .
• Develop and coordinate the implementation of suitable procedures, processes, rules, and supporting tools to ensure that each project is regularly monitored and assessed for risks. Define and implement risk mitigation strategies. Project reviews are conducted by senior administrators and/or peers of the assigned project manager who are not directly involved with the project on a daily basis.
• Analyze monthly bid results and bid history to improve Risk Management and Quality Assurance Programs with forecasts and cost trend analyses.
• Support the Critical Projects and Innovative Procurement Sections in alternative delivery, value-for­ money analyses, pre-procurement assistance, and cost estimate reviews for CMAR projects,

20% Value Engineering Program:

• Develops, coordinates, implements, and manages the VE Program consistent with federal requirements and makes revisions to the VE manual and guidelines.
• Provides reports of findings with recommendations on Value Engineering to the Chief Engineer.
• Manage Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts to ensure VE policies are followed.
• Initiates Value Engineering, when necessary, on projects as early as possible in the project's life cycle.
• Continually manages this program to ensure the department completes the projects as efficiently as possible.

15% AASHTOWare:

• Represent DOTO by participating with the AASHTO Technical Committee on Cost Estimating (TCCE) and the AASHTOWare Project Task Force (PTF).

5% Miscellaneous:

• May be required to perform other duties as necessary, including, but not limited to, emergency/disaster support activities.