INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIST (DIRECT HIRE) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. DH-25-034-JLM Department U.S. International Trade Commission
Salary $84,601.00 to $156,755.00 Grade 11 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 8/22/2025 Close Date 9/4/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

An independent Federal agency, the Commission provides the President and Congress with high quality analysis and technical support on international trade, tariff and competitiveness issues; hears and decides import injury cases and publishes the United States' tariff schedule. You will find a working environment throughout the Commission that is dedicated to the development of your technical skills and a commitment to provide balance between your work and personal life.

Duties

This position is located in the Office of Industry and Competitiveness Analysis, Natural Resources and Energy Division, of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). Economists independently perform complex research, analysis, project management, and associated· functions which address mission elements critical to agency priorities and objectives.

The incumbent serves as an International Economist in the Office of Industry and Competitiveness Analysis, Natural Resources and Energy Division. Independently performs complex research, analysis, project management, and associated· functions which address mission elements critical to agency priorities and objectives; develops and implements significant new project strategies; analyzes key trade and competitiveness issues and contributes to significant agency investigations, decisions, and determinations; participates as a technical advisor for negotiating teams; represents the Commission authoritatively to key industry sectors and associations; plans and manages major and high-priority projects which are central to the agency mission. As an International Economist you will:

  • Develop and maintain in-depth industry, market, and technical knowledge of minerals and metals products (e.g., steel, non-ferrous metals, and cement). Researche and obtain data from relevant primary and secondary sources. Develop and maintain contacts with industry officials and with other government agencies.
  • Independently prepare a variety of standard written materials. Prepare and deliver formal briefings for internal and external stakeholders. Assume leadership roles as assigned on major projects that are central to the agency's mission.
  • Assist in the development and implementation of project strategies; analyze key trade and competitiveness issues; and contribute to significant agency investigations, decisions, and determinations.
  • Publish discretionary research on trade and competitiveness issues relevant to the agency mission and identified priority areas.
  • Apply interpersonal skills to work collaboratively in a team environment and to communicate effectively with high level industry and government officials.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen or national.
  • You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
  • You may be required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement.
  • You must be able to pass a background investigation.
  • You are required to register for Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/03/59.
  • We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

Qualifications

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.

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. Education may only be substituted in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0300/management-and-program-analysis-series-0343/. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants must have the general and specialized experience outlined below which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

You must meet all the requirements below by the closing date of the announcement and they must be clearly identified in your application, resume, or supporting documents. This includes any general and specialized experience, education, and/or selective placement factors mentioned. These are used to determine if you possess the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities to successfully perform in this position.

Both specialized experience, and/or the substitution of education for experience, must have required an in-depth understanding of international economic principles and theories, such as the interplay of economic forces of goods and services across international borders, matters of trade policy, and product or industry competitiveness.

To qualify at the GS-11 level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience would include 1 or more of: (i) as related to minerals and metals industries, knowledge of trade laws and regulations, current trade and market conditions, factors of competitiveness in the United States and leading global markets; (ii) identifying and obtaining economic and trade information, and in processing and manipulating data; (iii) preparing a variety of written materials on complex topics and submitting written materials to others for editorial and technical review, as a demonstration of oral communication skills; and (iv) planning, designing, carrying out, and leading projects, studies, or other work, as part of a team. OR

Possession of a PhD in Economics, that provided academic preparation which would allow performance of the full range of professional work of the position within a short period of time, may be substituted for the experience requirement above, and is fully qualifying at the grade 11 level.

To qualify at the GS-12 level, you must have one of the following: At least one year of specialized experience obtained in the private or public sector that is equivalent to the GS-11 level. Specialized experience would include 2 or more of: (i) as related to minerals and metals industries, knowledge of trade laws and regulations, current trade and market conditions, factors of competitiveness in the United States and leading global markets; (ii) identifying and obtaining economic and trade information, and in processing and manipulating data; (iii) preparing a variety of written materials on complex topics and submitting written materials to others for editorial and technical review, as a demonstration of oral communication skills; and (iv) planning, designing, carrying out, and leading projects, studies, or other work, as part of a team.

To qualify at the GS-13 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience obtained in the private or public sector that is equivalent to the GS-12 level. Specialized experience would include 3 or more of: (i) as related to minerals and metals industries, knowledge of trade laws and regulations, current trade and market conditions, factors of competitiveness in the United States and leading global markets; (ii) identifying and obtaining economic and trade information, and in processing and manipulating data; (iii) preparing a variety of written materials on complex topics and submitting written materials to others for editorial and technical review, as a demonstration of oral communication skills; and (iv) planning, designing, carrying out, and leading projects, studies, or other work, as part of a team.

Education

This occupation has a positive education and specialized experience requirement. Specifics are detailed below:

Basic Education requirement for all applicants:

Possession of BA or higher degree in Economics that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting or calculus. You are required to submit a copy of your transcript(s) to verify this requirement.

Education May be Substituted for Experience as Follows:

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

OR

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

At the GS-11 level: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree

At the GS-12 level: There is no substitution of education for experience at this level.

At the GS-13 level: There is no substitution of education for experience at this level.

COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
To combine your experience and education, you must convert the figures to a percentage and add them together. The combined total percentages of your education and experience must equal at least 100% to qualify.

To calculate your percentage of undergraduate education, divide the number of undergraduate hours you've completed by 120. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, divide the number of graduate semester hours you've completed by 18. If your education is currently described in quarter hours, convert the quarter hours into semester hours by multiplying the quarter hours by the fraction 2/3. To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, you must divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by the required number of months of experience.

Finally, add your experience and education percentages. The two percentages must total at least 100% to be considered qualified.

You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts for verification of the education requirements. Unofficial copies are acceptable, however, if selected you will be required to furnish official transcripts. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the above educational requirements. Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education. Another listing of services that an perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials: http://www.naces.org/members.htm.

Additional information

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one-year probationary period (competitive service) or a two-year trial period (excepted service) during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

You must meet all the requirements below by the closing date of the announcement and they must be clearly identified in your application, resume or supporting documents. This includes any general and specialized experience, education and/or selective placement factors mentioned. These are used to determine if you possess the knowledge, skills and/or abilities to successfully perform in this position.

This announcement is issued under "direct-hire" authority. Consistent with 5 U.S.0 3304(a)(3) and OPM regulations (5 CFR 337 Subpart B) on direct-hire: All candidates who meet all the qualification and other eligibility requirements may be referred for consideration. Competitive examining rules providing for rating and ranking and veterans' preference do not apply.

The Commission may offer recruitment incentives for this position.

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.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

This is a Direct Hire position and not subject to category rating. Please update the how you will be evaluated section with the following and let me know when it is updated:

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for positions in the GS-0110 series. Under this Direct-Hire authority, applicants are required to meet minimum qualification requirements at the grade level(s) of interest. Veteran's Preference, Schedule A, Category Rating, and other methods of consideration DO NOT APPLY under Direct-Hire Authority regulations.

Appointments made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Civil Service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b).

BASIS OF RATING: You resume will be evaluated by a Subject Matter Expert Panel (SME).

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience(s) and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. In order to fully evaluate your application and receive proper credit, your resume should include: (1) paid and non-paid experience, job title, dates held (month and year for qualifying purposes to receive credit), number of hours worked per week, and salary (2) knowledge of the subject matter and technical skills pertinent to this position; (3) specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work; and (4) names and phone numbers of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic/specialized experience requirements as stated in this job opportunity announcement for each grade level(s) for which you are applying.

Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP)/Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): This program applies to ITC employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

  1. Meet ICTAP/CTAP eligibility criteria;
  2. Be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above; and
  3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
If you are selected for an interview, you can expect a structured panel interview process, which will include between 2 and 4 members.

To preview the assessment questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12784665

Required Documents

To receive consideration, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified below by 11:59 PM ET09/04/2025 .
1. Resume: Your resume should not exceed 2 pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying. If your resume goes beyond two pages, we will only consider the first two pages for the required experience as outlined in the specialized experience. It must contain the following information:

  • Name, address, telephone number, email address;
  • Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);
  • If qualifying based on related unpaid (e.g. volunteer service) experience, you must provide hours worked per week and beginning/ending dates (mm/dd/yyyy to mm/dd/yyyy);
  • If other than full time you must provide hours worked per week;
  • Should you submit multiple resumes, only the latest uploaded resume will be reviewed.
Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic, general, or specialized experience requirements for each grade level you are applying. This information must be clearly identified in your resume. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.

2. Occupational Questionnaire. A complete job-specific occupational questionnaire submitted through your Application Manager account or faxed using the methods outlined in the How to Apply section.

3. Transcripts. If you are using education to qualify OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed under the Qualifications and Evaluations section, you MUST submit a copy of your transcript(s) with your application. Your education must be accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Your transcript must contain:
  • name of academic institution;
  • list of courses;
  • credit hours;
  • major(s); and
  • grade-point average or class ranking

Foreign Education: You can use education you completed in a foreign college or university if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. You must provide an official statement certifying that your education is equivalent with your application package. The link contains a list of accredited organizations that specialize in interpreting of foreign education credentials: http://www.naces.org/members.htm.If you are selected for a position, you must submit an official/sealed college transcript(s) prior to employment.

4. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles. You must submit the following documents:

  • a copy of your agency notice;
  • a copy of your most recent performance rating; and
  • a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.

5. Cover Letter. This is optional.

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.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/04/2025 to receive consideration.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.

3. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

4. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

The Vacancy ID is 12784665.

Agency contact information

Jodelle Miller
Address
Office of Industry and Competitiveness Analysis
500 E St SW
Washington, DC 20436
US

Next steps

Once the occupational questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.

To check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the More Information link under the application status for this position.

You will be notified up to four times during the hiring process:

  1. Upon receipt of your application
  2. Upon minimum qualifications determination
  3. After candidates have been referred to the hiring official
  4. Once a selection has been made


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


© 2006-2025, exclusive of U. S. government job opportunity announcements