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Summary

This position is part of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. The incumbent will be responsible for advising the Agency Director and Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer on international trade and development matters that optimally achieve the agency's mission and contribute to Administration policy goals and objectives, including management and allocation of program funding and resources across geographic regions.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/19/2026 to 05/26/2026
Salary
$169,279 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Arlington, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary promotion - 1 Year
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
TDA-26-MP-12966068MR
Control number
869821800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current employees within the U.S. Trade and Development Agency who are on a career or career conditional appointment, or who are eligible for consideration under non-competitive procedures or special hiring authority may apply.

Duties

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Develops for consideration and approval program policies and strategies that optimally achieve the agency's mission and contribute to national policy goals and objectives.

Formulates, interprets, and applies agency policies as related to the agency's worldwide programming activities that support mission-critical international trade and economic development objectives.

Advises the Director and the Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer (DD/COO) on international trade and development matters and develops for the Director's consideration and approval, policies, strategies and projects that optimally achieve the agency's mission and contribute to Administration policy goals and objectives.

Maintains USTDA's presence in the U.S. government's policy community and serves as a resource for contributing to ongoing policy discussions and developments. Coordinates USTDA mission-related policies and program activities with other U.S. government agencies and development organizations.

Provides executive management of the Regional Directors and ensures that the program staff performs their mission efficiently and effectively. Works directly with the regional and program directors to ensure that agency goals are implemented, and policies are followed.

Reviews program performance and, if necessary, advises on changes to staffing, policy, procedures or strategic vision. Advises the Director on a continuous basis of the status of program implementation and, as needed, raises any concerns regarding performance or need for change in policy or strategic vision.

Provides authoritative input to USTDA's Annual Report and annual Congressional Presentation as well as USTDA's Budget Submission to ensure that the report or submission presents USTDA in a manner which will yield the results needed to support agency programs and projects.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.
  • Direct Deposit of pay is required.
  • Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.
  • Status candidates must meet time-in-grade (see Qualifications).
  • Background and security investigation for a Top Secret Clearance.

Qualifications

At the GS-15 level, you must meet the following qualification:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes: Guiding, coaching, training and leading members of unit/team in furtherance of an organization's strategies, goals, objectives, work plans and work products and services; and experience performing substantive activities related to foreign assistance, trade policy, commercial development, finance, banking or other activities that provide exposure to a range of the factors that are considered in identifying and planning development assistance activities that promote sustainable growth and trade in emerging countries; and experience planning, developing, executing, and evaluating ongoing programmatic activities that are an integral part of the mission of the agency; and experience serving as an advisor to senior executives or organizational/agency heads on agency mission related policy to strategic program plans; and developing and maintaining business relationships with U.S. and foreign private sector representatives and government officials in the development of major infrastructure projects..

Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions pertaining to the multi-hurdle assessment process for this position.

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for specialized experience at this series/grade level.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Programs: CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit here.

Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements:


Telework Suitability:
This position allows for situational telework according to established agency policy.

Stipulations of Employment:
This temporary promotion is for a total period of 1 year and may be terminated at any time per management discretion. Upon termination of the temporary promotion, you will be returned to your former or a comparable position. Pay will be set in accordance with 5 CFR 531.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

  • Your performance and conduct;
  • The needs and interests of the agency;
  • Whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment may be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

This position is subject to a random drug testing while you occupy the position.

If selected, you will be required to file, prior to entrance on duty, a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450).

Applicants must be eligible to obtain and keep a security clearance. Appointment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Work Schedule:

This position allows for a flexible work schedule.

Miscellaneous:

TDA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.

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 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, your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), and any applicable assessment required for this position. Cheating on the online assessment may result in your removal from consideration. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

You will be evaluated for this job based on:

  • The experience listed in your resume and how well you meet the experience listed in the qualification section of announcement and the competencies listed.
  • Written Assessment-Used to collect information about an applicants' training, education, experience, and past achievements related to critical job competencies. Applicants who meet a pre-determined score based on their responses to the traditional occupational questionnaire (self-assessment) will be required to respond to a written assessment.
    • Instructions related to the written assessment will be sent to applicants within 7 days of the vacancy closing date to the email address associated with the applicants' USA Jobs profile. Applicants must monitor their email and return their responses to the written prompts within a specified time frame after receiving notification. This time frame will be no earlier than 72 hours.
You will be assessed on the following technical and soft skill competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Oral Presentation, Program Planning and Resource Development and Management, Strategic Thinking, and Written Communication

Note: Duplicative competencies indicate that the competency is being assessed in both the Assessment Questionnaire and additional assessment.

Due Weight Consideration is a review process used to provide consideration to performance appraisals and awards submitted with each application on a used merit promotion certificate and factoring the results into the merit promotion selection process.

Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

It is your responsibility to obtain and upload your performance appraisal/evaluation and/or list of awards prior to the closing of the vacancy announcement.

Trade and Development Agency

The U. S. Trade and Development Agency is the U.S. government's first mover on critical infrastructure development abroad, advancing the shared strategic priorities of the United States and our overseas partners while creating opportunities to deploy trusted U.S. solutions.

Agency contact information

Michael Robie
Phone
303-969-7246
Email
Michael_Robie@ibc.doi.gov
Address
US Trade and Development Agency
1101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100
Arlington, VA 22209
US

Visit our careers page

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

https://www.ustda.gov/about/

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