Duties

Summary

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, in the Global Markets business unit, is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Global Markets on all matters concerning international economics, trade, investment, and commercial policy programs and agreements with respect to Asia.

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Responsibilities

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia oversees planning and execution of Commerce commercial diplomacy and export promotion strategies at United States Missions in Region Asia. Responsibilities include:

-Directs development and implementation of policies and programs that increase U.S. commercial opportunities in Asian markets through trade promotion, bilateral and regional trade policy development and implementation, business counseling and planning; market intelligence, business matchmaking, removing trade barriers, commercial diplomacy and advocacy, and support for trade and investment strategies; supports promotion and facilitation of business investment in the United States; and serves as a focal point within the Department for dealing with bilateral and regional international economic, investment and commercial trade issues related to the Global Market mission.

-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.

-Formulates Departmental positions on bilateral and regional economic, commercial, and trade policy issues. As such, Directs a program to monitor economic and commercial developments and maintain in-depth commercial and economic expertise on individual countries and the region to formulate and implement country- and region-specific market access and promotion strategies that increase opportunities for U.S. companies in region markets. Leads creation of an integrated platform of export assistance services throughout the region to assist U.S. firms in entering or expanding their presence in region markets, including counseling, market intelligence, matchmaking, outreach, and trade events.

-Operates under the 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.

-Serves as senior advisor to the Director General and the Deputy Director General, and other senior Department officials on all matters concerning international economic, trade, investment, and commercial policy agreements and programs with respect to their region.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel may be up to 25%.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
00

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 1 year probationary period for new SES members
• Subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
• Background and/or security investigation required
• Public Financial Disclosure (SF-278 filing within 30 days of hire)
• All members of the SES are subject to geographic relocation

This is a resume-based recruitment. Applicants are required to submit only a resume which must provide detailed evidence of how they meet the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs). The selectee is subject to Department approval. If tentatively selected as an initial career SES appointment, you will be required to submit a written narrative statement addressing all of the ECQs for OPM certification. Initial appointments to the SES must have ECQs certified by the Office of Personnel Management prior to appointment. Applicants currently serving on a career SES appointment, eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program approved by OPM are not required to be evaluated on the ECQs. Must be a U.S. Citizen.

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 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.

The physical worksite for this position is in Washington, D.C. However, the Department of Commerce is currently under a maximum telework posture due to the COVID-19 pandemic; therefore, this position is currently under a 100 percent telework schedule. The position's telework schedule will likely change in the future when it moves away from its maximum telework posture. At that time, the incumbent will be expected to report to the physical work site in accordance with the updated status requirements of their supervisor. The nature and scope of future telework opportunities will be subject to the unit's telework policy, any applicable bargaining unit agreements, and supervisory approval. Non-compliance with the supervisor's telework-schedule requirement could result in adverse action, including separation.

Qualifications

To qualify, applicants must provide clear evidence of progressively responsible executive level leadership experience and office management directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) listed.

Executive Core Qualifications: The following are the five ECQs and their fundamental competencies. The ECQs were developed to assess executive experience and potential, not to evaluate technical experience. ECQs measure whether an individual has the broad experience needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions.

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
(Competencies: creativity and innovation, external awareness, flexibility, resilience, strategic thinking, vision)
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
(Competencies: conflict management, leveraging diversity, developing others, team building)
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
(Competencies: accountability, customer service, decisiveness, entrepreneurship, problem solving, technical credibility)
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
(Competencies: financial management, human capital management, technology management)
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
(Competencies: partnering, political savvy, influencing/negotiating)
For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

Professional/Technical Qualifications

1. Demonstrated leadership in the development and management of comprehensive programs and teams to advance trade and foreign direct investment promotion. Experience developing initiatives to expand commercial success, including working with U.S. large corporations and small and medium size enterprises, in exporting to, investing in and expanding in Asia (especially in one or more regions in East, Southeast and South Asia) and with Asian companies investing in the U.S.

2. Demonstrated leadership in working with senior foreign government officials to advance U.S. commercial and economic priorities, including knowledge of business opportunities and challenges in Asia (especially in one or more regions in East, Southeast and South Asia)

3. Demonstrated leadership in trade policy and market access or compliance objectives, which would take into account country-specific trade, political and economic circumstances. Experience in developing analyses and communications relating to high profile and highly complex and sensitive country-specific trade and investment problems for the benefit of diverse stakeholders.

Education

This position does not have an educational requirement.

Additional information

Background Investigation/Clearance: This position is designated as critical sensitive and requires a Top Secret clearance.
Financial Disclosure: This position is covered under the Ethics in Government Act, which requires comprehensive financial disclosures from employees. The appointee will be required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (SF-278), within 30 days after his/her appointment, and then annually thereafter.
Qualifications Approval and Probationary Period: Persons newly selected for career appointment to the Senior Executive Service must have their executive core qualifications approved by an Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board and will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
Mobility: Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines.
Drug Testing: Applicants tentatively selected for employment in any position are subject to designated and/or random pre-employment and employment urinalysis. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment and/or removed from employment with the Department of Commerce.
Application materials: The materials you send with your application will not be returned.
Veterans' preference: VETERAN'S PREFERENCE IS NOT APPLICABLE TO POSITIONS IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE.
SSN: You will be required to enter your full social security number (SSN) only to initially access and create an account at the OPM USAJOBS website; however, only the last four digits will appear in your resume. Please DO NOT put your SSN on pages within your application package. Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
Signature: Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.
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.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. The Department of Commerce is an equal Opportunity employer.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your application will be reviewed as noted below.
1. Application completeness
2. Basic qualification determination
3. Rating panel assessment of your executive core qualifications and professional technical qualifications
5. Structured interview and possible further interviews
6. Tentative selection by the hiring organization
7. OPM Qualification Review Board certification (as needed)

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness , National security

Required Documents

Resume - You must submit a resume to be eligible for this position. Describe the scope, quality, depth, and effectiveness of your leadership and technical experience within the context of the ECQ and PTQ requirements. Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the executive level qualifications and specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement. Insufficient information will result in a not qualified rating. It is recommended that your resume include the following information:

• Your full name, mailing address (including zip code), email address, and day and evening telephone numbers.
• Paid and Non-paid job-related work experience. For each job listed you are to provide: job title; duties and accomplishments; employers' name and address; supervisor's name and phone number; starting and ending dates (month and year); hours per week; salary; if a federal position, list the title, series and grade/pay band.
• Education. Provide name, city and state of all schools attended; i.e., high school, colleges and universities, vocational, trade, business, technical. Provide dates of attendance, major, and type and year of any degrees received. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information, you may refer to the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
• Other Job Related Qualifications Information. Provide training courses, special skills you possess, certificates and licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, etc., applicable to the position.

Additional documents you may submit:

1. For current Senior Executive or individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility - You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your career appointment status in the SES.

2. For OPM QRB certified SES Candidate Development Program graduates - You are encouraged to submit your OPM certificate of QRB ECQ approval.

3. For current Federal employees - You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your current tenure, position title, series, and pay.

Documents not listed above including writing samples, recommendation letters, narrative ECQ and PTQ statements, and proof of veteran status will not be considered and will not be forwarded to the rating panel or selecting official.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

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.