Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens. The position(s) will be filled through the Foreign Investment and Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), Title 17, Special Hiring Authority.

As a Policy Analyst, GS-0301-14, your typical work assignments may include:

-Serves as an authoritative advisor for leadership about the Agency's efforts regarding trade and economic security policy.

-Conducts comprehensive research independently and in collaboration with team members and develops new policies based on the result of research and reviews to ensure effective coordination and integration with department-wide strategy.

-Serves as a subject matter expert on processes pertaining to policy planning and strategy, both on a Departmental and government-wide level.

-Provides guidance to leadership with reports on Advises the Deputy Assistant Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, DHS officials, and top management in meetings, conferences, national and international symposia, to address and resolve contentious or controversial matters impacting DHS management decisions.

-Represents Trade and Economic Security in forums with DHS, other Federal agencies, academia and the private sector as an authority in matters related to the mission of TES.

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 or possession of drugs.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• One-year probationary period may be required.
• Must meet Time-In-Grade requirements.
• A pre-employment drug test is required.
• 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.
• DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• License required: No
• Pre-employment physical required: No
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
• This position is at the full performance level.
• This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) and is covered by the Department of Homeland Security Headquarters Drug-Free Workplace Program. The incumbent is required to sign a Condition of Employment form (for certain positions identified for drug testing) and must pass urinalysis testing, as required, prior to appointment, reassignment, or transfer; and incumbent will be subject to random testing while employed with the Department in a TDP.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

GS-14: Applicant must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-13 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing the following duties:

1. Analyzing trade policyand economic competitiveness in the United States.
2. Developing short, medium, and long-range program goals, plans, objectives, and policies linked to international trade, customs, or other related initiatives.
3. Creating policy products amongst multiple stakeholders related to trade policy and economic competitiveness matters. AND 4. Developing policies, in coordination with U.S. inter-agency partners, to address economic security and national security risks to trade and investment, including through use of various trade enforcement authorities, import restrictions, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, including experience with economic security analysis/mitigation, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

NOTE: 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

Structured Resume Review. Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

Applicants will be evaluated on their total background including experience (paid and unpaid), education, awards, and training and self-development as it relates to the position based upon the information provided in the resume/application and any other supporting documents. All work experience should specify the length of time spent in the position. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that indicates hours per week "varies." List exact hours per week on each job experience.

This notice is being issued under the Foreign Investment and Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), Title 17, Special Hiring Authority. Using this authority, agencies may appoint candidates directly to jobs, without regard to the provisions of Title 5 U.S.C. 3309 through 3318.

Veterans Preference: Veterans preference does not apply under Foreign Investment and Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), Title 17, Special Hiring Authority.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. Information about ICTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here to access OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement and your resume must demonstrate possession of the following KSA/competency:

Interviews are required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

1. Your resume NOTE: Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. For what to include in the resume, click on the link: USAJOBS Help Center
2. Your responses to the job questionnaire. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12910842
3. Your competed and signed Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment.
4. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit the following:
   • 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. Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee?
   Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
   • Position title,
   • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee),
   • Agency,
   • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Next steps