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Executive Director Western Hemisphere

Department of Commerce
Commerce, International Trade Administration

Summary

This position is located in the International Trade Administration, Global Markets. The incumbent reports to the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Western Hemisphere. The Executive Director is responsible for managing operations and resources for programs that promote U.S. exports and advance and protect U.S. commercial interests in the region.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/15/2026 to 05/29/2026
Salary
$151,661 - $228,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy 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
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-ITA-12930342-ES
Control number
869440800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is open to Senior Executives, the Public, Federal Employees - Competitive Service, and Federal Employees - Excepted Service

Duties

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  • Provides strategic direction and communication of strategy and priorities to all staff in the region.
  • Executes and manages staffing and fiscal allocations for Western Hemisphere. In all activities, the incumbent aligns with and operates under Global Markets enterprise-wide strategic planning, human capital management, and resource allocation processes and methodologies to optimize and promote consistency in goal setting, resource allocation, executive decision-making, policy coordination, and internal controls.
  • Oversees and administers a network of overseas posts located in commercial centers throughout the region and Headquarters offices responsible for planning and executing a forward-looking export promotion and commercial diplomacy program for the region:
  • Oversees development of unified overseas posts and Headquarter's office strategic plans.
  • Negotiates problematic and/or precedent setting personnel-related issues with senior State Department and other foreign affairs agencies officials.
  • Negotiates resolution of program and operational problems with the Chief of Mission (Ambassador).
  • Ensures plans and country programs reflect Global Markets strategy.
  • Integrates and facilitates the contributions of other trade-involved agencies (Trade Development Agency, Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, State Department).
  • Conducts outreach and builds coalitions with State Department, colleagues, business and industry associations, and legislative affairs contacts.
  • Oversees formulation of resource requests and manages a process to continually align resources based on regional opportunities and needs.
  • Manages the Global Markets overseas field office network in the Region monitoring accomplishments against post strategic plans and reports on post program implementation. Oversees regular post site visits and organizes periodic regional SCO conferences.
  • Serves as the principal liaison for communication between overseas posts and other Commerce business units and U.S. Government agencies.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or national.
  • May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  • An initial Senior Executive Service (SES) career appointee is subject to a one-year probationary period.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for federal employment at the time requested by the agency.
  • 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.
  • File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.
  • You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and final security clearance prior to entering on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.

There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read and retain these documents:

Qualifications

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES.

Resumes over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed and will be disqualified. Your resume should be 2 pages or fewer and must not include images or graphics. Your resumes should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs).

PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (PTQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

  1. Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. Government trade promotion programs and international trade, economic, and business issues to assist and advocate for U.S. business in international markets.
  2. Demonstrated leadership in communicating and collaborating with industry partners on trade promotion programs.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the technical qualification requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

  • ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
  • ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
  • ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
  • ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
  • ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof [e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)] of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

This position does not have a positive education requirement.


Additional information

Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx)

False Statements: If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be fired after you begin work, or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last five (5) years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

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.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your application package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQ) listed above. ECQs and PTQs must be thoroughly addressed in your two-page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, an OPM QRB-certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

Commerce, International Trade Administration

The mission of the U.S. Department of Commerce is to help American businesses thrive, creating jobs here at home while being competitive abroad. Our programs touch the daily lives of the American people in many ways, with a wide range of responsibilities in the areas of trade, economic development, technology, entrepreneurship and business development, environmental stewardship, and statistical research and analysis.

Agency contact information

Christine Covington
Phone
202-482-2613
Email
CCovington1@doc.gov
Address
International Trade Administration
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Commerce, International Trade Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.commerce.gov/work-with-us

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