Clarification from the agency

This position is being advertised through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Direct-Hire Authority and is open to all U.S. citizens. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration. This is an open continuous vacancy announcement that will be used to fill vacancies as they occur.

As a Business and Industry Specialist (Direct Hiring Authority), you will perform the following duties:

• Conducts research and analysis on foreign investment or trade issues of U.S. competitiveness in a global context to facilitate the Department's position on various cases.
• Prepares written briefing and transaction clearance materials for high-level ITA and Commerce officials.
• Provides verbal briefings to other high-level ITA/Commerce officials on an as-needed basis.
• Coordinates internal ITA and Commerce reviews of assigned transactions, leveraging the breadth of technical expertise available across Commerce.

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: No.
• 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 for the GS 9: You must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 in the federal service assisting in the analysis of financial transactions, preparing and summarizing data for senior decision-makers, assisting in research, analysis, and interpretation of business, financial, and/or industrial related data and information.

Or
two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree;

Or
a combination of the required experience and education for this grade level.

To qualify for the GS-11: You must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 in the federal service analyzing financial transactions, preparing and summarizing data for senior decision-makers, conducting research, analysis, and interpretation of business, financial, and/or industrial related data and information.

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 specialized experience and graduate level education.

To qualify for the GS-12: You must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 in the federal service analyzing foreign investment or trade issues affecting U.S. industry competitiveness and advocating for a position among a group of diverse stakeholders.

To qualify for the GS-13: You must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12 in the federal service coordinating the analysis of foreign investment, trade issues, and/or national security issues affecting U.S. industry competitiveness, briefing senior government officials or private sector executives on these issues.

To receive consideration, applicants must submit complete applications prior to the established cut-off date(s). The first cut-off will take place on December 22, 2022, to begin initial applicant consideration. Applications received after the first cut-off date will be considered upon request by the organization, as well as on the following cut-off dates specified below, as needed:

January 23, 2023
February 22, 2023
March 24, 2023
April 24, 2023
May 24, 2023
June 23, 2023

Applicants found eligible and referred on a cut-off date, or the date requested by the organization, will continue to be referred on subsequent cut-off dates, as needed.

Cutoff dates and the closing date of this announcement may be adjusted as needed, and any updates will be reflected on this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position. Under the provisions of the Direct-Hire Authority (DHA), rating, ranking and veterans' preference does not apply; therefore, your responses to the questionnaire will not be used to determine a scored rating. All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as defined in the job opportunity announcement, will be referred for selection consideration. While veterans' preference does not apply in DHA, preference eligibles are encouraged to submit their supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.) .

Applicants applying as CTAP or ICTAP candidates, and are determined CTAP or ICTAP eligible, must exceed the minimum qualification requirements to be referred under this selection priority placement program by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of I 00. For those deemed eligible and who meet the minimum qualifications, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles who are not determined well-qualified by scoring at least 85 will not be referred under the CTAP/ICTAP selection priority placement program; however, will be referred for selection consideration with other minimally qualified applicants

• Case Management
• Oral Communication
• Research
• Writing