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Summary This vacancy is for a International Trade Specialist (Direct Hire) in the International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce. This is an open continuous vacancy announcement that will be used to fill vacancies as they occur. Applicants will receive consideration in 30 days cut-off. See "How You Will Be Evaluated" section. Responsibilities As an International Trade Specialist (Direct Hire), you will perform the following duties: Counsels current and potential U.S. exporters to meet client export market development objectives. Plans and executes comprehensive marketing strategies, high-priority trade, and investment promotion programs and events central to U.S. trade-development objectives to strengthen global opportunities. Conducts market research and disseminates trade information and materials on government products and services to U.S. businesses and associates. Assists with the planning and coordination of activities of the office. Assists current and potential U.S. exporters and investors with navigating challenging obstacles to address trade barriers affecting exports or investments abroad. Analyzes complex economic and trade policies to protect the national economic interest of U.S. industry through deliberations and negotiations and to support the Department's decision-making process. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other International Trade Specialist (Direct Hire) GS-1140-9/11/12/13, FPL-GS-13 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs. A probationary period may be required. Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/). If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Drug Test: Except as prohibited by law, all applicants tentatively selected for this position ·will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment, and if appointed the incumbent will be subjected to random drug testing procedures. In addition, the applicant will be notified that appointments to the positions will be contingent upon a negative drug test result. Failure of the vacancy announcement to contain this statement notice will not preclude applicant testing if advance written notice is provided to applicants in some other manner. License required: No Pre-employment physical required: No Bargaining Unit Position: No Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): No Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: will not be paid Qualifications Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To qualify at the GS-09 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Performing research in one or more of the following areas: international trade issues, U.S. business exports, country standards and regulations, industry sector markets, business practices; Prepares written communication and oral presentations on international trade markets and programs; and Assists in efforts to coordinate with U.S. and foreign government agencies and the business community to implement U.S. trade policies, strategies or programs -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A master's degree or equivalent graduate degree or Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related in a field of study such as international policy, international commerce, international management, intercultural relations, international development, global economy, government and foreign affairs, international business, international trade, international economics, international affairs, international relations, or other related fields of study. -OR- COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination. To qualify at the GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Performing research in at least 2 areas: international trade, U.S. export facilitation, foreign direct investment promotion, trade promotion, trade-policy analysis, the resolution of trade barriers, and/or negotiations; Developing and coordinating logistical and technical details for international trade, marketing or development programs; and Summarizing and providing advice on international trade policies and programs. -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. if related in international policy, international commerce, international management, intercultural relations, international development, global economy, government and foreign affairs, international business, international trade, international economics, international affairs, international relations, or other related fields of study. -OR- COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination. To qualify at the GS-12 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Performing research in at least 2 areas: international trade, U.S. export facilitation, foreign direct investment promotion, trade promotion, trade-policy analysis, the resolution of trade barriers, and/or negotiations; Developing strategies for U.S business facilitation, trade and investment promotion initiatives, and global trade-policy positions; and Drafting, summarizing, and providing recommendations on international trade policies and programs To qualify at the GS-13 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Performing U.S. export facilitation, foreign direct investment promotion, trade promotion through trade-policy analysis, the resolution of trade barriers, and negotiations; Recommending empirical trade information with interpretation and prediction of influences of economic, market, political, and other events; and Developing strategies for U.S. business facilitation, trade and investment promotion initiatives, regulatory, and global trade-policy positions. Education See Qualifications Above. Additional Information ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice). A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.