Duties
The incumbent is primarily responsible for developing and implementing the Commission's mission by providing direction and leadership in the management of international trade and industry competitiveness research and analysis for the Advanced Technology and Machinery (ATM) Division and its products (e.g., transportation equipment, machinery, and information technology equipment).
The incumbent provides expert advice and counsel based upon latest qualitative and quantitative information about advanced technology and machinery products and applies best practices in the research and analysis of international trade and industry competitiveness.
The incumbent often briefs senior-level officials of the Commission on Division activities and work products. The incumbent represents the agency, when required, before other federal agencies and stakeholders for the purpose of securing cooperation, developing and negotiating cooperative agreements, and collaboration on special projects. As assigned, the incumbent contributes to agency-wide initiatives and projects including, but not limited to, management issues such as strategic planning, human capital planning, and performance management. The incumbent also contributes to the setting of Commission research priorities with respect to advanced technology and machinery products and international trade. More specifically, the incumbent:
- Supervises and leads efforts by Division staff to collect and estimate relevant and often sensitive industry data related to advanced technology and machinery; compile, analyze, and publish periodic or special reports, and briefing materials; provide statistical data, information, and analysis on imports, exports, non-tariff measures, and production, as well as other international trade matters relating to ATM products.
- Works with project and program leaders throughout the agency to achieve Commission goals.
- Provides direction and intellectual leadership for the Division's research agenda on trade and competitiveness issues.
- Reviews written and statistical products prepared by Division staff for quality control purposes and assists the Commission in making critical decisions regarding program outputs and functions.
- Participates in ad-hoc focus groups, planning groups, staff meetings, and special confidential meetings to ensure information provided to the Commission/stakeholders is current and relevant to organizational functions.
- Participates and serves as a member of, and contributes substantively to, agency-wide committees, working groups; addressing agency agenda; personnel performance; human capital projects; process analysis and improvement; and other programmatic and administrative initiatives.
- Represents the Commission and senior management at professional meetings, hearings, seminars, and serves as representative of other programs applicable to international trade in ATM products.
- Leads Division staff in preparing and responding to inquiries from internal and external stakeholders (e.g., chairman, commissioners, attorneys, congressional staff, executive branch, media, and public), and develops and maintains cooperative working relationships both within and outside the Commission.
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 are required to register for Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/03/59
- You will be required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check
- You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance
Qualifications
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.
To qualify at the GS-15 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience obtained in the private or public sector that is equivalent to the GS-14 level. Your experience must demonstrate experience in four of the following six areas: (a) Developing proposals for individual studies and/or research assignments related to analyzing trade and industry competitiveness, which required planning, assembly of information, analysis and evaluation, conclusions and report preparation; (b) Oversight of project teams performing research or analysis, with responsibility for determining methods and scope for accomplishing tasks; (c) Recognizing and evaluating factors in domestic and foreign supply and demand, including regulatory and standards matters, to draw rational inferences based on research findings; (d) Plans, distributes, coordinates, and monitors work assignments of others; evaluates work performance and provides feedback to others on their performance; ensures that staff are appropriately selected, utilized, and developed, and that they are treated in a fair and equitable manner; (e) Reviewing written and statistical products prepared by staff for quality control purposes and making critical decisions regarding program outputs and functions; and (f) Representing the agency, when required, before other federal agencies and stakeholders for the purpose of securing cooperation, developing and negotiating cooperative agreements, and collaboration on special projects.
There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade 15 level. Your education must be combined with specialized experience as listed above.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade 15 level. Your education must be combined with specialized experience as listed above.
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.
Surplus or Displaced Federal Employees: The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Programs are available to federal employees that qualify. Those eligible for these programs are granted special priority selection rights. To be considered, you must be deemed well-qualified by receiving a score of 85 or higher. If you are a federal employee claiming CTAP/ICTAP, you must provide the documents listed under the Required Documents section to verify your eligibility. Also, you must indicate in your application that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible. For additional information regarding CTAP/ICTAP, please visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you are registered with the Selective Service or are exempt under Selective Service regulations. For additional information concerning Selective Service requirements, please visit http://www.sss.gov/.
Severely disabled persons program information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/hiring/
Cover page to fax paper application - OPM Form 1203fx: http://federalgovernmentjobs.us/forms/opm1203fx.pdf
Self-assessment questionnaire: : https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13092575
Vacancy ID number: MP-26-066-JLM
Reasonable accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact listed on the vacancy announcement. The decision to grant a reasonable accommodation is made on a case-by-case basis. Verification of information: Any information claimed on your resume and in application materials, such as education, credentials, employment history, etc., will be verified as part of the security clearance process.
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.
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.
The self-assessment questions are related to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies (KSA's). You do not have to respond to the KSA's.
- Experience performing data analysis
- Applying economic theory and industry information to perform empirical analysis
- Written and oral communication skills and abilities
- Performing work in a team environment
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.
We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications and/or education on the information provided and evaluate your relevant education and/or work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) mentioned above. Based on the results of this evaluation, you will be placed in one of the following quality categories:
Best: This highest category will be used for those candidates who possess the type and quality of experience and/or education that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective placement factors and/or appropriate quality ranking factor(s).
Better: This higher category will be used for those candidates who possess the type and quality of experience and/or education that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position.
Good: This lowest category will be used for those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications and/or education of the position and are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the position. Candidates may require extensive training and/or orientation in order to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position.
Names of the candidates in the Best category will be sent first to the hiring manager for employment consideration. Applicants in other categories will be referred in accordance with category rating procedures.
If you are selected for an interview, you can expect a structured panel interview process, which will include between 2 and 4 members.
Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335.103(b)(3).
Your experience is also evaluated using an assessment questionnaire, which is available at the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13092575
Required Documents
To receive consideration, you must complete the self-assessment questionnaire and submit the documentation specified below by
1. Resume: Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience(s) 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.
2. Occupational questionnaire: A completed job-specific questionnaire should be submitted through your Application Manager account.
3. 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
4. Cover Letter. This is optional.
5. Special hiring authority applicants.If you are applying under the special appointing authority such as those authorized for the severely disabled (Schedule A) or Vietnam era and disabled veterans (VRA), you will be asked to submit documents showing eligibility to non-competitively apply under Merit Assignment announcements. Please indicate the type of special appointment you are seeking on your application. For more info on non-competitive appointments and supporting documents, please visit
Federal Employment of People with Disabilities or
Feds Hire Vets - Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans.
6. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) documentation: Must submit their Member Copy 4 DD-214(s), which includes Character of Service,
7. 30% Disabled Veterans must submit their Member Copy 4 DD-214(s), which includes Character of Service, and VA Disability Letter with percentage of disability OR documentation of disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces which reflects a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more
8. SF-50. Current and former federal employees must submit a copy of an SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action," which documents your highest permanent grade/step/salary held. Award SF-50s typically don't contain your grade/step/salary.
9. Due Weight: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award.
10. Performance Appraisal. If you are a current or former federal employee, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal dated within 18 months. If you do not have one, you must submit a statement.
11. Transcripts:(for Individual Occupational Requirements and/or Substitution of Education for specialized experience): 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.
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.