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Sanctions Licensing Officer

Department of the Treasury
Treasury, Departmental Offices
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

Summary

This position is located at Departmental Offices,Terrorism and Financial Intelligence - Office of Foreign Assets Control. As a/an Sanctions Licensing Officer, you will be responsible for analyzing and recommending licensing determinations relating to personal, commercial, trade, humanitarian, travel, and financial transactions governed by Treasury statutes and regulations implementing U.S. economic sanctions and embargo programs.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/23/2026 to 04/06/2026
Salary
$70,623 to - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 13
Location
4 vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-DO-12908496-DH
Control number
862018500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

1. U.S. citizens or U.S. Nationals; no prior Federal experience is required. 2. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles.

Duties

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The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

  • Review and prepare a final agency recommendation for approval or denial of applications for licenses for personal, commercial, humanitarian, trade financing, travel, and other transactions, except those involving novel or complex policy questions, which in the incumbent's judgment should be referred to the applicable section chief or the Assistant Director for Licensing.
  • Confer with applicants and their attorneys in connection with their requests for licenses or other issues relating to compliance with regulations pertaining to OFAC licensing requirements.
  • Review proposed new regulations and interpretations pertaining to economic sanctions and provides assistance in their drafting as required.
  • Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

  • Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
  • All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated. You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated. You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
  • Must successfully complete a background investigation.
  • All new hires will be required to comply with federal ethics laws. A review of financial or other interests may be conducted to determine if they create any real or apparent conflict of interests with official Treasury duties.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
  • File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  • Undergo an income tax verification
  • Please refer to the "Additional Information" section for additional Conditions of Employment.

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

Specialized experience for the GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for the GS-13 includes ALL of the following:

  • Applying administrative laws, regulations, and guidelines concerning sanctions programs administered by Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). An example of this could include but is not limited to applying sanctions regulations to assist in preparing recommendations related to commercial or financial transactions, blocked assets, or humanitarian issues.; AND
  • Responding to inquiries concerning licensing actions involving policy-sensitive trade, financial issues, or regulatory information. Examples of this could be but are not limited to providing guidance to the public or private sector on pending license applications or coordinating with the interagency to ensure decisions related to licensing actions are consistent with US foreign policy goals.; AND
  • Assisting in evaluating current and proposed policies or programs to identify problems or issues that need further evaluation. An example of this would be evaluating proposed US Government regulations to identify potential impact to organizational equities.; AND
  • Conducting research and analysis to identify facts and issues, research precedents, organize relevant information, and/or apply law and policy to facts found. An example of this could include but is not limited to making a legal interpretation based on applicable administrative laws and guidelines administered by OFAC.

Specialized experience for the GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes ALL of the following:
  • Applying administrative laws, regulations, and guidelines concerning sanctions programs administered by Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). An example of this could include but is not limited to applying sanctions regulations to assist in preparing recommendations related to commercial or financial transactions, blocked assets, or humanitarian issues; AND
  • Responding to inquiries concerning licensing actions involving policy-sensitive trade, financial issues, or regulatory information. Examples of this could be but are not limited to providing guidance to the public or private sector on pending license applications or coordinating with the interagency to ensure decisions related to licensing actions are consistent with US foreign policy goals.; AND
  • Assisting in evaluating current and proposed policies or programs to identify problems or issues that need further evaluation. An example of this would be evaluating proposed US Government regulations to identify potential impact to organizational equities.


Specialized experience for the GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Applying administrative laws, regulations, or guidelines concerning sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). An example of this could include assisting an applicant during the licensing request or providing licensing related advice; AND
  • Responding to inquiries concerning licensing or regulatory information. An example of this could include requesting additional information in order to process the request or corresponding with various agencies or organizations;
OR EDUCATION: You may substitute education for general or specialized experience as follows: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 EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.


Specialized experience for the GS-09: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Working experience with respect to regulatory policies and procedures for financial, international trade, and/or humanitarian transactions.
OR EDUCATION: You may substitute education for general or specialized experience as follows:
  • 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 EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Options for qualifying based on a combination will be identified in the online questions. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your resumé.

Education

The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

Additional information

OTHER INFORMATION:

  • We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
  • This is a non-bargaining unit position.
  • Relocation expenses will not be paid.
  • Telework per agency policy.
  • We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.
  • This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information about individual rights, Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).


Our comprehensive benefits are very generous. Our benefits package includes:

  • Challenging work, opportunities for advancement, competitive salaries, bonuses and incentive awards.
  • Eleven paid holidays, 13 days of sick leave, and 13 to 26 days of vacation time each year.
  • Access to insurance programs that may be continued after you retire.
  • A wide choice of health insurance plans, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and no waiting periods. We pay a substantial amount (up to 75%) of the health insurance premiums.
  • A retirement program which includes employer-matching contributions.
  • Learn more about Federal benefits programs at: USAJOBS Help Center - Benefits

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

This announcement is issued under the "direct-hire" authority. Consistent with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) and OPM regulations (5 CFR 337 Subpart B) on direct-hire: All candidates who meet all the qualifications and other eligibility requirements may be referred for consideration. Competitive examining rules providing for rating and ranking and veterans' preference do not apply.

Your application includes your resumé, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resumé may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Referral: All candidates who meet all the qualifications and other eligibility requirements may be referred for consideration. Competitive examining rules providing for rating and ranking and veterans' preference do not apply.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)) you must meet the following "well qualified" definition listed below and any education requirement to receive special selection priority.

  • To be found well-qualified, and in addition to meeting specialized experience, the applicant must have documented the following experience: Having a solid and comprehensive understanding of the position. Can perform the required tasks efficiently and is proficient in applying the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the job.

Optional Essay Questions:
Applicants may choose to respond to four short essay questions (200 words max each) to help us better understand your alignment with the agency's mission. These responses are optional and will not affect the applicant's eligibility.

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