Business and Industry Specialist (Direct Hire)

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 at the GS-09 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Assisting in the analysis of financial transactions; and Preparing and summarizing data for senior decision-makers; and Assisting in research, analysis, and interpretation of business finances or industrial related data and information. -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master’s or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D., if related. -OR- COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination. To qualify at the GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Performing analysis of financial transactions; and Compiling, analyzing or evaluating business finances or industrial related data and information in order to draw conclusions and make recommendations; and Composing written presentations and presenting them to senior level management, customers, or other stakeholders -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: : 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- COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of two years is qualifying for combination. To qualify at the GS-12 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Analyzing foreign investment or trade issues affecting U.S. industry competitiveness; and Participating in program planning and business process improvements or project management teams. Providing advice and guidance on alternatives and resolutions to problems and explaining to customers and senior level management. To qualify at the GS-13 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Coordinating the analysis of foreign investment, trade issues, or national security issues affecting U.S. industry competitiveness; and Formulating and identify operational and analytical techniques to accomplish project objectives and to produce reliable findings; and Briefing senior officials or executives on the following issues: foreign investment, trade issues or national security issues.
This vacancy is for a Business and Industry Specialist (Direct Hire) in the International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce. This is an open continuous vacancy announcement that will be used to fill vacancies as they occur. Applicants will receive consideration in 30 days cut-off. See “How You Will Be Evaluated” section.