Economist

FP&C is seeking an Economist to support the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in conducting Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) reviews for grant applications, including the CRISI (Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement) and Fed-State grant programs. The role will involve reviewing complex and non-complex BCAs, collaborating with other reviewers, and ensuring compliance with federal guidelines.

• This is a part-time position beginning June 2026. Work is cyclical in accordance with defined grant review cycles, and work expectation is a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week with the potential for up to 40 per week if requested by the customer and agreed to by the Economist. Work hours are flexible and work can be completed in the evenings and on weekends provided the Economist is able to actively monitor and respond to emails from the customer, as well as participate in occasional, brief meetings and feedback sessions Monday - Friday between 6am and 6pm. All work will be performed remotely within the U.S. only.

Key Responsibilities

BCA Review & Analysis:

• Conduct primary and secondary Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) reviews for CRISI and Fed-State grant applications, following OMB Circular A-4 and A-94 guidelines.
• Review applicants’ BCAs including work papers and supporting narrative documents to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Identify and document discrepancies, assumptions, recommended adjustments, and provide a final Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) and score.

BCA Review Documentation

• Share completed reviews with secondary reviewers, providing clear documentation of findings and recommendations.
• Record findings and recommendations in BCA Review Sheets (Deliverables B.1, B.2, C.1, C.2) summarizing key analysis areas:
• Applicant’s assumptions
• Resulting benefits
• Issues or discrepancies
• Final BCR and corresponding score

Training & Onboarding

• Participate in a remote, two-week onboarding training with FRA’s Office of Research, Data, and Innovation (RDI) to familiarize with the BCA review process for CRISI and Fed-State grants.
• Engage in ongoing communication and check-ins with RDI staff to ensure understanding and accuracy in applying BCA methodologies.

Collaboration With Reviewers

• For primary reviews, collaborate with secondary reviewers to discuss findings and adjust as necessary.
• For secondary reviews, validate the primary reviewer’s findings and recommend changes where applicable.
• Finalize the review by discussing proposed changes with the primary reviewer to reach consensus on adjustments.
• Maintain clear and organized documentation of all work related to the BCA review process.
• Contribute to enhancing the BCA review process by providing feedback on guidelines, methodologies, and training materials.
• Apply lessons learned from BCA review training to improve the accuracy and efficiency of future reviews.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or Economics
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in related discipline of analyzing estimated project costs and benefits along with other key inputs such as assumptions.
• Prior experience in conducting benefit-cost analysis (BCA), economic analysis, or grant reviews is preferred.
• Familiarity with federal guidelines (OMB Circular A-4 and A-94) and public sector grant processes is a plus.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office applications including Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Excellent communication skills preparing and delivering oral/visual presentations and written reports to all levels of stakeholders and executives.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior management and articulate a clear vision of successful solutions.
• Knowledge of project management concepts, proficient with statistical analysis, data management and analysis, project management techniques, benchmarking practices and techniques, quality improvement tools and techniques.
• Demonstrates initiative
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills
• Able to multi-task
• Collaborative

Work Schedule

• Flexible work hours during the performance period to meet needs and complete assignments.

Americans With Disabilities Specifications

• Physical Demands: Regularly required to sit for extended periods; walk; stand; use hands to handle objects and feel controls; talk; listen; and use vision capabilities that enable reading and viewing a computer screen.

Pay & Benefits

• Salary offered will be commensurate with experience for individuals in similarly situated roles.

EEO Statement

FP&C is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to seeking, employing, and treating all employees and applicants for employment without discrimination on the basis of any and all characteristics protected by federal, state and/or local laws. Applicants can learn more about the company’s status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the federal “EEO is the Law” poster: