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.

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

• Conducts research and analysis on foreign investment or trade issues of U.S competitivenss in a global context to facilitate the Department's position on various cases.
• Tracks policy and administrative developments on assigned financial transactions.
• Prepares written briefings and transaction clearance materials for high-level ITA and Department officials.
• Participates in interagency meetings and coordinates with other CFIUS agencies.

These duties are described at the GS-13 full performance level; the GS-9, GS-11 and GS-12 are developmental levels leading to such performance.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Business and Industry Specialist (Direct Hire) GS-1101-9/11/12/13 FPL GS-13 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

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.
• Security Clearance: You will be required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• 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 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Assisting in the analysis of financial transactions; and
• Preparing and summarizing data for senior decision-makers; and
• Assisting in research, analysis, and interpretation of business finances or industrial related data and information.

-OR-

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D., if related.


-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 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Performing analysis of financial transactions; and
• Compiling, analyzing or evaluating business finances or industrial related data and information in order to draw conclusions and make recommendations; and
• Composing written presentations and presenting them to senior level management, customers, or other stakeholders

-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.

-OR-

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of two years 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 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Analyzing foreign investment or trade issues affecting U.S. industry competitiveness; and
• Participating in program planning and business process improvements or project management teams.
• Providing advice and guidance on alternatives and resolutions to problems and explaining to customers and senior level management.

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 100. 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.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

• Reasoning
• Oral Communication
• Writing
• Information Management

Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume/application. If any are included, you will be deemed INELIGIBLE for consideration.

• Classified or government sensitive information
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Photos of yourself
• Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.

We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process. To preview the questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12528586

This position will remain open until 12/12/2024 . The initial cut-off date is 09/26/2024. Applicants may receive consideration prior to the initial cut-off date, as requested by the organization, as well as on the following cut-off dates specified below. Applicants meeting the requirements will be referred for consideration on a cut-off date, or the date requested by the organization, and will continue to be referred on subsequent cut-off dates:

• 10/26/2024
• 11/26/2024
• 12/12/2024