Duties

As a Business and Industry Specialist (Direct Hiring Authority), you will perform the following duties:

• Conducts research and analysis on foreign investment or trade issues of U.S. competitiveness in a global context to facilitate the Department's position on various cases.
• Prepares written briefing and transaction clearance materials for high-level ITA and Commerce officials.
• Provides verbal briefings to other high-level ITA/Commerce officials on an as-needed basis.
• Coordinates internal ITA and Commerce reviews of assigned transactions, leveraging the breadth of technical expertise available across Commerce.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Business and Industry Specialist (Direct Hiring Authority) GS-1101-9/11/12/13 positions within the International Trade Administration in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.
• A probationary period may be required.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Drug Test: No.
• License required: No.
• Pre-employment physical required: No.
• Bargaining Unit Position: No.
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): No,
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: will not be paid

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify for the GS 9: You must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 in the federal service assisting in the analysis of financial transactions, preparing and summarizing data for senior decision-makers, assisting in research, analysis, and interpretation of business, financial, and/or industrial related data and information.

Or
two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree;

Or
a combination of the required experience and education for this grade level.

To qualify for the GS-11: You must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 in the federal service analyzing financial transactions, preparing and summarizing data for senior decision-makers, conducting research, analysis, and interpretation of business, financial, and/or industrial related data and information.

Or
a 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

a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education.

To qualify for the GS-12: You must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 in the federal service analyzing foreign investment or trade issues affecting U.S. industry competitiveness and advocating for a position among a group of diverse stakeholders.

To qualify for the GS-13: You must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12 in the federal service coordinating the analysis of foreign investment, trade issues, and/or national security issues affecting U.S. industry competitiveness, briefing senior government officials or private sector executives on these issues.

To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit complete applications prior to the established cut-off date(s). An initial cut-off will take place on December 22, 2022, to begin initial applicant consideration. Applications received after the initial cut-off date will be considered, if needed. Additional cut-off dates will occur on the following dates:

January 23, 2023 (Because the 30th day falls on a Saturday and we do not close announcements on a weekend or holiday.)
February 22, 2023
March 24, 2023
April 24, 2023 (Because the 30th day falls on a Saturday and we do not close announcements on a weekend or holiday.)
May 24, 2023
June 23, 2023
Candidates who submit a complete application by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time on the cut off dates, will be reviewed and referred if found eligible and qualified for the position.

Cutoff dates and the closing date of this announcement may be adjusted as needed, and any updates will be reflected on this announcement.

Education

See Qualifications Above.