Research Economist
Federal Housing Finance Agency
All departments
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has several openings for junior and senior economists. An ideal candidate would have a research background or interests in areas like manufactured homes, multifamily housing, or household surveys. Current agency priorities include applied research on specialized topics like sustainable homeownership, access to mortgage credit, or survey methodology.
FHFA regulates both the safety and soundness, and missions, of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. Our colleagues have broad backgrounds in banking, energy, environmental, finance, housing, industrial organization, labor, macroeconomics, mortgage markets, real estate, and urban economics.
A candidate should be highly motivated, exhibit sound empirical research skills, and be able to demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills. The person should be comfortable with cleaning, transforming, and analyzing large datasets while coding with statistical software. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in economics, finance, political science, public administration, computer science, statistics, or a related field by the start of employment. The preferred start period is summer 2025.
Economists are expected to conduct applied research, participate in policy work, contribute to projects related to market monitoring for safety and soundness, contribute to the development of FHFA data and statistical products, present work for feedback at internal, academic, and industry conferences, and conduct original research for publication in academic and professional journals. The position would be appropriate for individuals who enjoy a combination of team-oriented work and independent research. Successful economists may utilize their specialized backgrounds to investigate policy-relevant questions about housing programs, house price indexes, financial institutions and markets, banking or macro stability, mortgage lending, secondary mortgage market operations, or to identify significant and emerging risks such as market, interest rate, operational, climate, or credit risks.
FHFA employees enjoy all the standard federal benefits plus additional agency-specific benefits and competitive salaries not tied to the traditional Government's General Schedule pay system. The agency offers job features like dedicated research and travel funds, technology to support remote work, flexible work schedules, paid parental leave, and a high degree of job security. Periodic travel within the U.S. may be required, but the position is located in Washington, D.C. Salary dependent on education and experience.
Interested candidates should apply at https://www.usajobs.gov/job/809449400. Employment requires U.S. citizenship. FHFA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.