International Trade Specialist

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: Applicant must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the federal government. Specialized experience is the following: Performing research on international trade issues or U.S. business exports; Preparing memos or white papers and oral briefs; and Analyzing economic data. 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 in international policy, international commerce, international management, intercultural relations, international development, global economy, government and foreign affairs, international business, international trade, international economics, international affairs, international relations, or other related fields of study. OR Combination of education and experience that meet the total qualification requirements. To qualify at the GS-11 Level: Specialized Experience: Applicant must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the federal government. Specialized experience is the following: Performing research in one or more of the following areas: U.S. export facilitation, foreign direct investment promotion, trade promotion, trade-policy analysis, the resolution of trade barriers or negotiations; Providing guidance on trade issues, policy positions, or negotiating strategies; and Operating in an international business or trade policy and promotion environment. 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 in international policy, international commerce, international management, intercultural relations, international development, global economy, government and foreign affairs, international business, international trade, international economics, international affairs, international relations, or other related fields of study. OR Combination of education and experience that meet the total qualification requirements. To qualify at the GS-12 Level: Specialized Experience: Applicant must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the federal government. Specialized experience is the following: Performing one or more of the following: U.S. export facilitation, foreign direct investment promotion, trade promotion through trade-policy analysis, the resolution of trade barriers or negotiations; Providing guidance based on empirical trade information with interpretation and prediction of influences of economic, market, political events; and Developing strategies for U.S. business facilitation, trade and investment promotion initiatives, regulatory, and global trade-policy positions.
This vacancy is for an International Trade Specialist in the International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce.