As a Policy Analyst (Trade), GS-0301-14/15, your typical work assignments may include the following:
- Serving as negotiator on assigned issues in trade agreement negotiations and in other bilateral engagements with foreign governments;
- Analyzing laws and regulations of foreign countries, as well as international agreements, including World Trade Organization agreements and U.S. trade agreements;
- Developing and executing strategies to advance and achieve U.S. trade policy objectives;
- Building coalitions and consensus among diverse groups and views on U.S. trade policy objectives in negotiations;
- Representing the U.S Trade Representative with team projects across the U.S. government interagency and contributing substantive expertise on assigned issues to interagency teams;
- Preparing of briefing materials, talking points, Congressional testimony, and speeches for the U.S. Trade Representative, Deputy U.S. Trade Representatives, Assistant U.S. Trade Representatives, and other senior executives on trade-related issues.
Selective Service registration if a male born after December 31, 1959
Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests
Direct Deposit is required
RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID
Suitability for Federal employment
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
This is a Drug Testing Designated Position (DTDP) and is covered by the Executive Office of the President Drug-Free Workplace Program.
More than one selection may be made from this announcement.
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: All applicants must meet the qualification requirements outlined below to be considered minimally qualified for this position. The qualification requirements are in accordance with the OPM Qualification Standards. ALL QUALIFICATIONS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have a minimum of one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility comparable to the next lower grade or comparable pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.
APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS THE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SPECIALITY AREAS:
A. Sub-Saharan Africa - Developing and advancing trade and investment policy initiatives with respect to Sub-Saharan African countries, including preparing negotiation strategies and policy positions, engaging foreign governments and stakeholders, and analyzing region specific trade and investment laws and regulations.
B. Agricultural Trade - Developing policy positions and preparing economic analyses and policy options papers on agricultural trade issues, including tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade; and supporting the negotiation, implementation, and oversight of agricultural trade agreements.
C. China, Mongolia and Taiwan - Developing and advancing trade and investment policy initiatives with respect to China, Mongolia, and Taiwan, including preparing negotiation strategies and policy positions, engaging foreign governments and stakeholders, and analyzing region specific trade and investment laws and regulations.
D. Environment and Natural Resources - Participating in trade-related environmental negotiations; researching and analyzing foreign environment laws and regulations; and contributing to development of trade policy positions related to environmental protection and natural resource management.
E. Innovation and Intellectual Property - Researching and analyzing intellectual property laws and treaties; participating in negotiations regarding intellectual property protection and enforcement; developing trade policies regarding intellectual property.
F. Labor Affairs - Participating in labor-related policy discussions or negotiations; analyzing foreign labor laws and practices, and international labor standards; and contributing to development of policy positions addressing labor standards and workers' rights in the context of trade commitments.
G. WTO & Multilateral Affairs - Addressing trade issues involving subsidies and non-market policies and practices, including those related to state-owned enterprises; supporting negotiations and policy development to address unfair trade practices.
You may qualify at the GS-14 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: Applicants must have at least one full-time year (52 weeks) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector, that demonstrates all of the following:
A. Participating in negotiations on trade issues or engagements with foreign governments with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas;
B. Building coalitions and consensus among diverse groups and views on trade or policy issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas;
C. Independently developing policy positions on trade or issues with respect to at least one of the specialty areas;
D. Researching and providing analysis for laws and regulations of foreign countries related to trade or issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas;
E. Acting as a subject matter expert in team projects related to trade policy or issues with respect to at least one of the specialty areas; AND
F. Communicating the results of research and analysis and advocating policy positions on trade policy or issues with respect to at least one of the specialty areas, both verbally and in writing.
You may qualify at the GS-15 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: Applicants must have at least one full-time year (52 weeks) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level or pay band in the Federal service, or equivalent experience in the private sector that includes all of the following:
A. Leading international negotiations or engagements, such as with foreign governments, on trade policy or issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas;
B. Building coalitions and consensus among diverse groups and views on trade or policy issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas;
C. Leading or coordinating the development policy positions on trade or issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas;
D. Compiling and analyzing research related to laws and regulations of foreign countries related to trade or issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas;
E. Leading and planning time-sensitive team projects across agencies (or similar complex organizations) on trade policy or issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas; AND
F. Communicating the results of research and analysis on trade policy or issues with respect to at least one of the above topics, both verbally and in writing, to Cabinet/Subcabinet-level or C-suite-level executives.
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.
Education
There is no education substitution for this job series at these grade levels.
Additional information
This position is also open under Status announcement # EOP-USTR-12987155-26-JD-ST.
Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.
Active Duty Military Members MAY apply under this announcement due to the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act. You must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions along with your application for Federal employment. A certification is a document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days from the date of application. If selected, appointment eligibility requirements must be met prior to the effective date of appointment.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs & Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. For more information about ICTAP eligibility please review the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/ictap/
When the Executive Office of the President completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining qualified candidates may be shared with additional federal agencies. Please opt -in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternative Application.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
Category Rating Procedures: If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:
Qualified: Candidate demonstrates basic experience and knowledge sufficient to successfully perform the duties of the position with normal supervision.
Well Qualified: Candidate demonstrates experience independently performing the major duties of the position and have proven ability to manage complex assignments with limited supervision.
Best Qualified: Candidate demonstrates breadth and depth of experience performing the full range of duties at a highly advanced level and have a sustained record of leadership, strategic influence, and impactful results in international trade policy matters.
Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. This position is not considered scientific/professional. Other 10-point preference eligible and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligible within the category in which they qualify. View information on www.fedshirevets.gov.If you are determined qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.
Assessment Process:
Structured Resume Review (SRR) Pass/Fail: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will evaluate your resume to assess your technical qualifications for the position, focusing specifically on the required specialized experience. They will only consider the first two pages of your resume, beginning with your work experience, and will not review any additional materials such as cover letters or links included in your resume. Candidates who successfully pass this structured resume review will advance to the next stage of the assessment process.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Applicants who do not submit required documentation to determine eligibility and qualifications will be eliminated from consideration. Other documents may be required based on the eligibility/eligibilities you are claiming.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Resume: For qualification determinations, your resume must contain hours worked per week and dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient and you will not receive consideration for this position. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series and grade, i.e. GS-0301-09. Your resume must include detailed information as it relates to the responsibilities and specialized experience for this position. Evidence of copying and pasting directly from the vacancy announcement without clearly documenting supplemental information to describe your experience will result in an ineligible rating. This will prevent you from receiving further consideration. Note: If you upload more than one resume, the last resume received will be the one utilized for consideration. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
If you choose to use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose, then you must ensure it contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position:
Job title
Name of employer
Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format)
Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.
Detailed description of job duties for each job held, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)
Your resume must show the series and grade or equivalent for all federal positions you have held (if a federal position).
2. A complete Questionnaire
3. Other supporting documents to be submitted with application:
DD214: Veterans' Preference Documentation, if applicable, a DD-214 Member 4 copy, which shows type of discharge. If still active, provide an official Statement of Service. Any other documentation such as VA letter documenting disability, SF-15, and any other required supporting documentation based your veterans' preference claim.
SF-50: Federal applicants must submit an SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that shows your most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion (if applying as a current or former Federal Employee) showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. Do not use Award actions. If you are an EOP employee you may obtain a copy of your SF-50 from OPF or eOPF. If you have separated from Federal Government employment, you may obtain a copy of your SF-50 via: National Personnel Records Center, Annex, 1411 Boulder Boulevard, Valmeyer, IL, 62295; FAX (618) 935-3014; Email rm.communications@nara.gov; or visit the https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/new-nprc.
Peace Corps volunteers must submit a copy of your "Description of Service (DOS)" in lieu of the SF-50. If you do not have one you should email the Peace Corps Office of Volunteer and PSC Financial Services at certify@peacecorps.gov.
If you are currently serving in a pay banded position, please include a copy of your pay band chart with your application.
Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents contain personal information such as SSN and DOB and some documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove said personal information before you submit your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. If an application limit has been reached, the vacancy may close prior to the stated closing date.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. To ensure full consideration of your experience and education we encourage you to use the USAJOBS resume builder to prepare your resume or to guide you in preparing your resume. See http://www.usajobs.gov/Content/pdfs/Tutorials-Resume.pdf for more information.
PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Human Resources WILL NOT modify or change any answers submitted by an applicant.
Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail. Due to security processes, mail delivery takes approximately 2-3 weeks to process at which time the vacancy announcement will be closed and no further consideration will be given to additional application packages.
Office of the United State Trade Representative
725 17th Street
Washington, DC 20503
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
After a tentative job offer, we will conduct a security background investigation and drug screening. If the drug screening is negative and security background is cleared, then a formal job offer will be extended to candidate.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Applicants who do not submit required documentation to determine eligibility and qualifications will be eliminated from consideration. Other documents may be required based on the eligibility/eligibilities you are claiming.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Resume: For qualification determinations, your resume must contain hours worked per week and dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient and you will not receive consideration for this position. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series and grade, i.e. GS-0301-09. Your resume must include detailed information as it relates to the responsibilities and specialized experience for this position. Evidence of copying and pasting directly from the vacancy announcement without clearly documenting supplemental information to describe your experience will result in an ineligible rating. This will prevent you from receiving further consideration. Note: If you upload more than one resume, the last resume received will be the one utilized for consideration. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
If you choose to use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose, then you must ensure it contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position:
Job title
Name of employer
Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format)
Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.
Detailed description of job duties for each job held, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)
Your resume must show the series and grade or equivalent for all federal positions you have held (if a federal position).
2. A complete Questionnaire
3. Other supporting documents to be submitted with application:
DD214: Veterans' Preference Documentation, if applicable, a DD-214 Member 4 copy, which shows type of discharge. If still active, provide an official Statement of Service. Any other documentation such as VA letter documenting disability, SF-15, and any other required supporting documentation based your veterans' preference claim.
SF-50: Federal applicants must submit an SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that shows your most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion (if applying as a current or former Federal Employee) showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. Do not use Award actions. If you are an EOP employee you may obtain a copy of your SF-50 from OPF or eOPF. If you have separated from Federal Government employment, you may obtain a copy of your SF-50 via: National Personnel Records Center, Annex, 1411 Boulder Boulevard, Valmeyer, IL, 62295; FAX (618) 935-3014; Email rm.communications@nara.gov; or visit the https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/new-nprc.
Peace Corps volunteers must submit a copy of your "Description of Service (DOS)" in lieu of the SF-50. If you do not have one you should email the Peace Corps Office of Volunteer and PSC Financial Services at certify@peacecorps.gov.
If you are currently serving in a pay banded position, please include a copy of your pay band chart with your application.
Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents contain personal information such as SSN and DOB and some documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove said personal information before you submit your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. If an application limit has been reached, the vacancy may close prior to the stated closing date.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. To ensure full consideration of your experience and education we encourage you to use the USAJOBS resume builder to prepare your resume or to guide you in preparing your resume. See http://www.usajobs.gov/Content/pdfs/Tutorials-Resume.pdf for more information.
PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Human Resources WILL NOT modify or change any answers submitted by an applicant.
Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail. Due to security processes, mail delivery takes approximately 2-3 weeks to process at which time the vacancy announcement will be closed and no further consideration will be given to additional application packages.
Office of the United State Trade Representative
725 17th Street
Washington, DC 20503
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
After a tentative job offer, we will conduct a security background investigation and drug screening. If the drug screening is negative and security background is cleared, then a formal job offer will be extended to candidate.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
