International Trade Specialist

Summary This position is part of the, US Trade and Development Agency. The incumbent assists the Regional Director in promoting economic development in the assigned region by identifying, recommending, and managing project preparation and partnership building activities. This announcement will be used to fill two positions: one for the Latin American and Caribbean Region, and one for the Global Procurement Initiative (GPI) in the Office of Global Programs. Learn more about this agency Requirements Conditions of Employment US Citizenship is required. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation. Direct Deposit of pay is required. Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt. Background and security investigation for Secret or Top Secret Clearance. Qualifications Applicants must meet the BASIC QUALIFICATION requirement for this position described below. Undergraduate and/or Graduate Education: Major study -- marketing, business administration, political science, public administration, history, business or commercial law, economics, finance, international trade, or international relations. OR Experience: Experience that demonstrates knowledge of: Marketing that included economic, psychological, and sociological influences bearing upon consumption patterns; Business practices pertaining to wholesale, retail, manufacturers' distribution, distribution costs, finance and tax structure, and similar areas of activity or concern; and International economic and political factors influencing balance of payments, monetary exchange and tariffs, and their bearing on the distribution of commodities. In addition to meeting the basic qualification, at the GS-09 level, you must meet one of the following qualifications: One year of specialized experience that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-07 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is in or directly related to the line of work of this position and has equipped you with the knowledge and competencies to successfully perform the duties of this position. More specifically, this requirement involves: Experience providing research with respect to international infrastructure projects using economic indicators and market trends in key sectors, such as energy, transportation, telecommunications, and environment; experience with foreign assistance programs that support infrastructure development in emerging markets; experience providing services and research related to project development, such as grant agreements, scopes of work for contracts, studies, feasibility studies, or other contract or grant activities; experience developing and maintaining project tracking systems for the purpose of recommending changes in strategies that can lead to more efficient operations. OR A master's degree or equivalent degree or two full years of progressively higher- level education leading to such a degree, or an LL. B or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. OR A combination of experience and education as described above, where the total percentage is equal to 100%. In addition to meeting the basic qualification, at the GS-11 level, you must meet one of the following qualifications: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes but is not limited to: Experience providing substantive research with respect to international infrastructure projects using economic indicators and market trends in key sectors, such as energy, transportation, telecommunications, and environment; experience providing services and research related to project development, such as grant agreements, scopes of work for contracts, studies, feasibility studies, or other contract or grant activities; experience with foreign assistance programs that support infrastructure development in emerging markets; providing services and research related to project development in related areas of expertise; experience providing research on international trade, technical and economic trends; experience providing foreign assistance, trade policy, commercial development, finance, banking, or other activities that contribute to the development of infrastructure initiatives or other similar initiatives requiring capital investment; development and maintenance of business relationships with U.S. and foreign private sector representatives and government officials in the development of infrastructure projects; professional-level industry-specific research related to infrastructure and large-scale development projects. OR A 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; OR A Combination of education and experience as listed above. In addition to meeting the basic qualification, at the GS-12 level, you must meet the following qualifications: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes but is not limited to: Experience providing substantive research with respect to international infrastructure projects using economic indicators and market trends in key sectors, such as energy, transportation, telecommunications, and environment; experience providing foreign assistance, trade policy, commercial development, finance, banking, or other activities that contribute to the development of infrastructure initiatives or other similar initiatives requiring capital investment; development and maintenance of business relationships with U.S. and foreign private sector representatives and government officials in the development of infrastructure projects; professional-level industry-specific research related to infrastructure and large-scale development projects. In addition to meeting the basic qualifications, at the GS-13 level, you must meet the following qualifications: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes but is not limited to: Experience providing substantive research with respect to international infrastructure projects using complex economic indicators and market trends in key sectors, such as energy, transportation, telecommunications, and environment; significant experience providing foreign assistance, trade policy, commercial development, finance, banking, or other activities that contribute to the development of infrastructure initiatives or other similar initiatives requiring sizable capital investment; development and maintenance of business relationships with U.S. and foreign private sector representatives and government officials in the development of major infrastructure projects; experience providing professional-level industry-specific research related to infrastructure and large-scale development projects. Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions pertaining to the multi-hurdle assessment process for this position. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education If qualifying based on EDUCATION you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Note: PDF Portfolio documents will not be processed or accepted as they appear as a one-page document. Only education from institutions which are accredited or preaccredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional information The following factors are highly desirable but not required: - Knowledge of written and spoken Spanish sufficient to conduct business in a professional setting. - Experience with respect to infrastructure projects in the Latin America and Caribbean region in key sectors, such as energy, transportation, telecommunications, and environment. Telework Suitability: The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act. Stipulations of Employment: Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period. This position is subject to random drug testing while you occupy the position. If selected, you will be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450). Applicants must be eligible to obtain and keep a security clearance. Appointment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Work Schedule: This position allows for recurring telework with in-office days required. Miscellaneous: TDA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. This position is being advertised concurrently with vacancy announcement #TDA-MP-25-12652258MR using the Merit Promotion and Pathways Program procedures. If interested, refer to that announcement to determine if you meet the program requirements and can apply to that announcement. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days. If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed. Read more Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.