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International Economist

Executive Office of the President
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Office of Economic Affairs

Summary

This position is located in the Executive Office of the President (EOP), Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Office of Economic Affairs.

**Notice: More than one selection may be made within 90 days of the issuance of the certificate, if additional vacancies occur.

Promotion to the next highest grade level is neither guaranteed nor implied.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 08/06/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 6, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$143,913 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14 - 15
Promotion potential
15
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
EOP-USTR-12989495-26-JD-DH
Control number
877148600

Duties

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As a International Economist, GS-0110-14/15, your typical work assignments may include but are not limited to the following:

  • Develop methodologies and approach for research, builds relevant empirical models, and renders expert advice to senior United States Trade Representative (USTR) officials based on subsequent analysis.
  • Assist USTR attorneys in representing the United States in dispute settlement proceedings under international trade agreements to which the United States is a party.
  • Prepare economic assessments of foreign and United States (U.S.) policies, measures and practices related to trade to determine their impact on U.S. interests.
  • Work with USTR monitoring and enforcement staff to prepare economic analyses and data necessary to support U.S. challenges.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or national
  • Selective Service registration is required if you are a male born after December 31, 1959.
  • Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  • Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
  • New employees to the Executive Office of the President will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.
  • Required to successfully complete a one year probationary period.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
  • RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID
  • 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.
  • Cannot be competitively appointed to another position in the federal government within 90 days of start date.

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet one of the following criteria in order to meet the basic requirement for International Economist, GS-0110-14/15:

A. Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Experience

Examples of qualifying experience include:

  • individual economic research assignments requiring planning, information assembly, analysis and evaluation, conclusions and report preparation;
  • supervisory or project coordination assignments involving a staff of professional economists, and requiring the evaluation and interpretation of economic information; or
  • teaching assignments in a college or university that included both class instruction in economics subjects and one of the following (1) personal research that produced evidence of results, (2) direction of graduate theses in economics, or (3) service as a consultant or advisor on technical economics problems.
Experience in related fields that did not involve the use and understanding of economic principles and theories may not be used as qualifying experience for these positions. Special attention on this point should be given to certain types of work that may or may not have provided professional economic experience. The following examples of work require special care in such determinations:
  • economic statistics;
  • industrial surveys;
  • management of individual business enterprises, including farms;
  • industrial planning;
  • writing or editorial work in economic subjects; and
  • financial market analysis.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to the above Basic Requirements, 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.

You may qualify at the GS-14 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector, that demonstrates the following:
1. Providing economic analytical support including related data analysis and statistical work; AND
2. Assisting with preparing economic assessments of foreign and U.S. policies; AND
3. Developing methodologies and approach for research; AND
4. Assisting with applied economic analytical projects and independent research projects or research projects in conjunction with intra-and interagency work groups.

You may qualify at the GS-15 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector, that demonstrates the following:
1. Leading economic analytical projects including related data analysis and statistical work; AND
2. Leading economic analytical modeling projects and conducting independent research; AND
3. Conducting and managing the formulation and implementation of a program of quantitative economic research; AND
4. Managing quantitative and qualitative economic analysis, research, and policy studies dealing with economic, trade investment, and commercial issues affecting assigned countries; AND
5. Establishing policy guidelines and technical evaluation procedures for economic factors in the assigned resources activities.

A well-qualified applicant is one whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements of the position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service program (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

All applicants (including current federal employees) are required to upload official/unofficial college/university transcripts (or copy thereof) when applying to positions with positive education requirements. College/university transcripts (official/unofficial) MUST include name of applicant, name of college/university, type of degree, discipline, and date degree awarded.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

Category Rating, Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this Public Notice.

**Notice, more than one selection can be made within 90 days of the issuance of the certificate, if more vacancies occur.

Vacancies will be filled through OPM's Direct Hire Authority. Veterans' preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this announcement. All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration. Applications received as a result of job fairs, recruitment events, and emergency hiring mechanisms in support of this hiring initiative will also be accepted during the duration of the direct-hire authority. For more information on OPM's authorization of Direct Hire Authority, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/

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

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 by demonstrating that you clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements of this position 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/

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

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Main_Page

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the vacancy has closed, your resume and accompanying documents will be assessed to verify your qualifications as outlined in the job announcement. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your application will be evaluated against your responses on the assessment questionnaire to gauge your experience level. Should your self-assessment exceed what is substantiated by your resume, you may be disqualified from consideration. Candidates who rank among the most qualified will be forwarded to the selecting official for potential employment.

It is essential that your resume contains comprehensive details relevant to the responsibilities and specialized experience required for the position. Directly copying from the vacancy announcement without providing additional context to illustrate your experience may lead to an ineligible rating, hindering your chances for further consideration. Your resume should clearly demonstrate your experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities pertinent to the role. As the primary tool for evaluating your qualifications, we urge you to be precise and thorough in detailing your experience.

Structured Resume Review. 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.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12989495

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Begin a challenging and exciting career with the Executive Office of the President (EOP) providing support to the President of the United States. The EOP is comprised of The White House Office, Executive Residence, Office of the Vice President, Office of the United States Trade Representatives, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Office of the National Cyber Director, Office of the National Drug Control Policy, Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, Office of Administration, National Security Council, Council on Environmental Quality, President's Intelligence Advisory Board, United States DOGE Service, and Council of Economic Advisers. The EOP has responsibility for tasks ranging from communicating the President's message to the American people to promoting our trade interests abroad.

Agency contact information

Client Services EOP - OA
Email
EOPJOBS@OA.EOP.GOV
Address
Office of the United States Trade Representative
725 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20503
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/eop

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