The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) is a great place to work, and we aren't the only ones who think so. We were rated "Most Improved Small Agency" in 2013 by the Partnership for Public Service and ranked 6th overall in the 2016 Best Places to Work Index.
An independent Federal agency, the Commission provides the President and Congress with high-quality analysis and technical support on international trade, tariff and competitiveness issues; hears and decides import injury cases and publishes the United States' tariff schedule. You will find a working environment throughout the Commission that is dedicated to the development of your technical skills and a commitment to provide balance between your work and personal life.
The position is located in the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), Office of External Relations. The successful candidate for this position is someone with significant Capitol Hill experience who has worked with or as Committee staff and/ or as staff of a Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Senate Finance Committee, the House or Senate Committee on Appropriations, or other relevant Congressional committees. This is not an entry level position. The ideal candidate will have significant knowledge of the operations and dynamics of legislative activities, knowledge of and/ or experience with U.S trade laws and with Congress's role in the formulation and implementations of U.S. trade policies, knowledge of economics, knowledge of the appropriations and budget process, bipartisan relationships, and significant professional experience interacting with members of Congress and their staffs. This position also requires the ability to think strategically and express advice clearly in both written and verbal communications. Moreover, this position requires discretion and an even-handed approach in dealing with all Congressional Committees and Members in a non-partisan manner, so the ideal candidate is someone who has outstanding judgment and bipartisan respect.
Summary
The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) is a great place to work, and we aren't the only ones who think so. We were rated "Most Improved Small Agency" in 2013 by the Partnership for Public Service and ranked 6th overall in the 2016 Best Places to Work Index.
An independent Federal agency, the Commission provides the President and Congress with high-quality analysis and technical support on international trade, tariff and competitiveness issues; hears and decides import injury cases and publishes the United States' tariff schedule. You will find a working environment throughout the Commission that is dedicated to the development of your technical skills and a commitment to provide balance between your work and personal life.
The position is located in the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), Office of External Relations. The successful candidate for this position is someone with significant Capitol Hill experience who has worked with or as Committee staff and/ or as staff of a Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Senate Finance Committee, the House or Senate Committee on Appropriations, or other relevant Congressional committees. This is not an entry level position. The ideal candidate will have significant knowledge of the operations and dynamics of legislative activities, knowledge of and/ or experience with U.S trade laws and with Congress's role in the formulation and implementations of U.S. trade policies, knowledge of economics, knowledge of the appropriations and budget process, bipartisan relationships, and significant professional experience interacting with members of Congress and their staffs. This position also requires the ability to think strategically and express advice clearly in both written and verbal communications. Moreover, this position requires discretion and an even-handed approach in dealing with all Congressional Committees and Members in a non-partisan manner, so the ideal candidate is someone who has outstanding judgment and bipartisan respect.
The USITC Congressional Relations Officer ("CRO") informs and advises the Commission and its staff about Congressional activities, and is responsible for the provision of agency services to Congressional Committees and Members particularly in the area of international trade. The CRO acts as spokesperson for and principal advisor to the Commission on Congressional Relations issues. These issues may be characterized by one or more of the following: (1) extremely complex and difficult factual and analytic or legislative matters requiring the incumbent to navigate in a politically sensitive legislative environment requiring a high degree of original creative endeavor and tactical prowess to obtain a result; (2) more routine activities, some of which are high volume and highly detailed; (3) matters that can have the effect of substantially increasing or lessening the workload of the agency; and (4) matters involving, directly or indirectly, significant budget amounts and agency resources. The incumbent is also responsible for maintaining effective working relationships with the appropriate Congressional Committees' and Members' staffs, and with agency staff. The CRO advises the Commission and its staff on the appropriate vehicle to communicate with Congressional personnel in any given situation to achieve satisfaction for the Congressional Committees and Members and optimum results for the Commission.
You must be able to pass a background investigation
You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period
You may be required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement
You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance
Requirements
All qualifications and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. Education may only be substituted in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants must have the general and specialized experience outlined below which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.
Selective Placement Factor
This position requires a Selective Placement Factor for successful performance upon entering the job. Selective Placement Factors are knowledge, skills, and/or abilities that are essential for satisfactory performance on the job. You will be ineligible for further consideration if you do not possess it.
To be considered for this position you MUST have: Demonstrated knowledge of factors influencing trade policy and industry competitiveness in order to serve as a spokesperson and principal advisor to senior officials.
BASIC REQUIREMENT
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-15 grade level, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level obtained in the Congressional, federal agency, or private sector which demonstrates experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position being filled.
Specialized experience is having demonstrated expertise in providing significant advice and having substantial interaction with Congressional Committees and Members and with their staffs on a diverse range of matters including international trade, economics, and appropriations and budget issues. Demonstrated expertise with Congressional Rules and procedures, the Congressional appropriations process, and legislative dynamics. The ability to identify issues of sensitivity to the organization, Congress, or both and present them concisely is paramount.
Education
Submit a copy of your transcript(s) or list of courses with credit hours, major(s) and grade-point average or class ranking. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials: http://www.naces.org/members.htm.
All qualifications and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.
Additional information
Surplus or Displaced Federal Employees: The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Programs are available to federal employees that qualify. Those eligible for these programs are granted special priority selection rights. To be considered, you must be deemed well-qualified by receiving a score of 85 or higher. If you are a federal employee claiming CTAP/ICTAP, you must provide the documents listed under the Required Documents section to verify your eligibility. Also, you must indicate in your application that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible. For additional information regarding CTAP/ICTAP, please visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you are registered with the Selective Service or are exempt under Selective Service regulations. For additional information concerning Selective Service requirements, please visit http://www.sss.gov/.
Vacancy ID number: 10067232 Reasonable accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact listed on the vacancy announcement. The decision to grant a reasonable accommodation is made on a case-by-case basis. Verification of information: Any information claimed on your resume and in application materials, such as education, credentials, employment history, etc., will be verified as part of the security clearance process.
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 windowLearn more about federal 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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be rated by our applications system using the Category Rating procedure. A quality review will then be conducted by the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following area:
Knowledge of international trade
Expert knowledge of Congressional Rules and procedures, and dynamics of the legislative process
Experience serving in a senior capacity on a Congressional Committee's and/or Member's staff
Experience in a senior capacity in a Federal Congressional Relations Office or equivalent experience
Ability to analyze and interpret information in order to respond to Congressional inquiries
Experience serving as an advisor to high level management officials
Skill in oral and written communication
Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience(s) and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. In order to fully evaluate your application and receive proper credit, your resume should include: (1) paid and non-paid experience, job title, dates held (month and year for qualifying purposes to receive credit), number of hours worked per week, and salary (2) knowledge of the subject matter and technical skills pertinent to this position; (3) specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work; and (4) names and phone numbers of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic/specialized experience requirements as stated in this job opportunity announcement for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. This information should be clearly identified in your resume.
We will evaluate your relevant education and/or work experience as they relate to the competencies, knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) mentioned above. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Based on the results of this evaluation, you will be placed in one of the following categories:
Best: placement in this category indicates you have the type and quality of experience and/or education that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective placement factors and/or appropriate quality ranking factor(s). Better: this category indicates you have the type and quality of experience and/or education that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position. Good: if you are placed in this category, it indicates you meet the minimum qualifications and/or education of the position and are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the position. You may require extensive training and/or orientation in order to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position.
Candidates in the Best category will be the first ones sent to the hiring manager for interview consideration. Within each category, those with veterans' preference eligibility will receive selection priority over non-veterans.
You may be required to complete a writing sample/assessment if selected for an interview.
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 windowLearn more about federal 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.
To receive consideration, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified below by 11:59 PM ET on TAG:Closing Date.
1. Resume. Your resume or any other written format you choose should contain the following information:
paid and non-paid experience, including job titles, dates held (month and year for qualifying purposes to receive credit), number of hours worked per week, and salary;
knowledge of the subject matter and technical skills pertinent to this position;
specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work; and
names and phone numbers of your current and/or previous supervisor(s).
Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic, general, or specialized experience requirements for each grade level you are applying. This information must be clearly identified in your resume. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.
2. Occupational Questionnaire. A complete job-specific occupational questionnaire submitted through your Application Manager account or fax it using the methods outlined in the How to Apply section.
3. Transcripts. If you are using education to qualify OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed under the Qualifications and Evaluations section, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript(s) with your application. Your education must be accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
Your transcript must contain:
name of academic institution;
list of courses;
credit hours
major(s); and
grade-point average or class ranking.
Foreign Education: You can use education you completed in a foreign college or university if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. You must provide an official statement certifying that your education is equivalent with your application package. The link contains a list of accredited organizations that specialize in interpreting of foreign education credentials: http://www.naces.org/members.htm.
If you are selected for a position, you must submit an official/sealed college transcript(s) prior to employment.
4. Veterans' Preference. If claiming veterans' preference, you must indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume.
A. For 5-point veterans' preference, you must provide:
a copy of your DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge which shows the type of discharge and dates of active duty (Member 4 copy preferred).
B. If you are currently on active duty, to receive 5-point preference you must provide an official statement of service from your command/unit which states:
your branch of service;
period(s) of service;
campaign medals or expeditionary medals earned
expected discharge type and date; and
date you will be separated or be on approved terminal leave.
If you supply a statement of service at this stage, your preference/eligibility will be verified by a DD 214 prior to your appointment with our agency.
C. To receive 10-point veterans' preference, you must provide:
any documentation required by this form to support your claim.
If we cannot verify your 10-point preference status, you will receive 5-point preference if you meet the requirements. You can obtain an SF-15 through this link: http://www.opm.gov/forms/standard-forms/.
To access to your DD 214 online, please visit: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/.
5. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles. You must submit the following documents:
a copy of your agency notice;
a copy of your most recent performance rating; and
a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
6. Cover Letter. This is optional.
7. Special hiring authority applicants: If you are applying under a special hiring authority you must submit proof of eligibility with your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit it along with the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section below. You must apply online, which allows you to review and track the status of your application. Documents and application references are available at the "Other Information" section of this announcement. You must meet qualifications as of the closing date of the announcement and your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 (EDT) on 11/06/2017. Please note that this announcement has application limits and may close prior to this date.
To begin the online application process:
a) Log onto USAJOBS, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account, or to log into your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
b) Click the "Submit My Answers" button to submit your application package.
c) To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the "Application Status" link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, documentation received and processed, and any correspondence we have sent you related to this job opportunity. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application: Log into your USAJOBS account and click "Update Application" in the vacancy announcement section. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Office of External Relations
500 E St SW
Washington, DC 20436
US
Next steps
You will receive an auto-generated e-mail telling you your application has been received. After the application count cut-off date has been met, your application package will be reviewed by the Commission's Human Resource Management Office for completeness and satisfaction of the basic qualification requirements for this position. Applicants who have complete applications and meet the basic qualifications are then placed in one of the following categories: Best, Better and Good. Candidates in the Best Category are the first group sent to the hiring manager for consideration. If additional names are needed, applicants from the other two groups are referred in group order. Within each category, those with veterans' preference eligibility will receive selection priority over non-veterans.
Your application may also be reviewed by Subject Matter Expert(s). If you are selected for an interview, you can expect a structured interview process, which may include a meeting with 2 to 4 Commission staff members.
We appreciate your interest in the Commission and commit to keeping you informed on the status of your application. You will be notified of the following major milestones:
Receipt of your application;
Determination whether your application shows you meet the minimum qualifications for the position;
Determination whether your application was in the group for referral to the hiring official; and
The final outcome of the vacancy.
These notices will be emailed and posted directly on your USAJOBS account.
You can always check the status of your application as the recruitment process moves along by:
1. Logging into your USAJOBS account;
2. Selecting Application Status; and
3. Reviewing the Status column.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To receive consideration, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified below by 11:59 PM ET on TAG:Closing Date.
1. Resume. Your resume or any other written format you choose should contain the following information:
paid and non-paid experience, including job titles, dates held (month and year for qualifying purposes to receive credit), number of hours worked per week, and salary;
knowledge of the subject matter and technical skills pertinent to this position;
specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work; and
names and phone numbers of your current and/or previous supervisor(s).
Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic, general, or specialized experience requirements for each grade level you are applying. This information must be clearly identified in your resume. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.
2. Occupational Questionnaire. A complete job-specific occupational questionnaire submitted through your Application Manager account or fax it using the methods outlined in the How to Apply section.
3. Transcripts. If you are using education to qualify OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed under the Qualifications and Evaluations section, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript(s) with your application. Your education must be accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
Your transcript must contain:
name of academic institution;
list of courses;
credit hours
major(s); and
grade-point average or class ranking.
Foreign Education: You can use education you completed in a foreign college or university if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. You must provide an official statement certifying that your education is equivalent with your application package. The link contains a list of accredited organizations that specialize in interpreting of foreign education credentials: http://www.naces.org/members.htm.
If you are selected for a position, you must submit an official/sealed college transcript(s) prior to employment.
4. Veterans' Preference. If claiming veterans' preference, you must indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume.
A. For 5-point veterans' preference, you must provide:
a copy of your DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge which shows the type of discharge and dates of active duty (Member 4 copy preferred).
B. If you are currently on active duty, to receive 5-point preference you must provide an official statement of service from your command/unit which states:
your branch of service;
period(s) of service;
campaign medals or expeditionary medals earned
expected discharge type and date; and
date you will be separated or be on approved terminal leave.
If you supply a statement of service at this stage, your preference/eligibility will be verified by a DD 214 prior to your appointment with our agency.
C. To receive 10-point veterans' preference, you must provide:
any documentation required by this form to support your claim.
If we cannot verify your 10-point preference status, you will receive 5-point preference if you meet the requirements. You can obtain an SF-15 through this link: http://www.opm.gov/forms/standard-forms/.
To access to your DD 214 online, please visit: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/.
5. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles. You must submit the following documents:
a copy of your agency notice;
a copy of your most recent performance rating; and
a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
6. Cover Letter. This is optional.
7. Special hiring authority applicants: If you are applying under a special hiring authority you must submit proof of eligibility with your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit it along with the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section below. You must apply online, which allows you to review and track the status of your application. Documents and application references are available at the "Other Information" section of this announcement. You must meet qualifications as of the closing date of the announcement and your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 (EDT) on 11/06/2017. Please note that this announcement has application limits and may close prior to this date.
To begin the online application process:
a) Log onto USAJOBS, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account, or to log into your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
b) Click the "Submit My Answers" button to submit your application package.
c) To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the "Application Status" link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, documentation received and processed, and any correspondence we have sent you related to this job opportunity. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application: Log into your USAJOBS account and click "Update Application" in the vacancy announcement section. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Office of External Relations
500 E St SW
Washington, DC 20436
US
Next steps
You will receive an auto-generated e-mail telling you your application has been received. After the application count cut-off date has been met, your application package will be reviewed by the Commission's Human Resource Management Office for completeness and satisfaction of the basic qualification requirements for this position. Applicants who have complete applications and meet the basic qualifications are then placed in one of the following categories: Best, Better and Good. Candidates in the Best Category are the first group sent to the hiring manager for consideration. If additional names are needed, applicants from the other two groups are referred in group order. Within each category, those with veterans' preference eligibility will receive selection priority over non-veterans.
Your application may also be reviewed by Subject Matter Expert(s). If you are selected for an interview, you can expect a structured interview process, which may include a meeting with 2 to 4 Commission staff members.
We appreciate your interest in the Commission and commit to keeping you informed on the status of your application. You will be notified of the following major milestones:
Receipt of your application;
Determination whether your application shows you meet the minimum qualifications for the position;
Determination whether your application was in the group for referral to the hiring official; and
The final outcome of the vacancy.
These notices will be emailed and posted directly on your USAJOBS account.
You can always check the status of your application as the recruitment process moves along by:
1. Logging into your USAJOBS account;
2. Selecting Application Status; and
3. Reviewing the Status column.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
