International Trade Specialist

Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) links U.S. agriculture to the world, improves foreign market access for U.S. food and agricultural products, builds new markets, improves the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace, and provides food aid and technical assistance to foreign countries. Positions from this announcement will be filled in the Washington D.C. locality area, and/ or in the Beltsville, MD locality area.

Duties

• The duties described are for the full-performance level.
• At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to: implementing programs to promote trade, economic growth, and trade capacity in global markets; assisting the private sector in developing export markets.
• Leads a team and/or projects that develop, plan, and conduct in-depth analysis of complex issues that contribute to the accomplishment of the agency mission to expand and maintain international market opportunities for U.S. agriculture.
• Conducts assessments and develops interpretations of international trade issues, conditions, or events in support of decision-making, policy formulation, or program development by FAS and USDA.
• Conducts independent research, gathers data, and compiles information or provides recommendations to be included in larger or more detailed reports/policy decisions.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of country strategies; analyzes key trade and competitiveness issues; and to significant agency policies, decisions, and determinations.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Required Documents

• The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents will result in loss of consideration. Resume that includes:
• Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work
• Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages. Current and former career/career-conditional
• Federal employees: Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel
• Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service (block 24 must contain a 1 or 2 and block 34 must contain a 1), highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and
• If your current grade is not your highest permanent grade, submit an additional
• SF-50 showing your highest grade
• AND Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (e.g., length of time in current position). A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute. Foreign Service
• Employees: Notification of Personnel
• Action (SF-50) showing Foreign
• Service status and most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (e.g., length of time in current position). A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute. Go to: Foreign Service Employees Non-Competitive
• Eligibility for more information. NOTE: If you are a current
• FS Officer curtailment of an overseas assignment remains subject to the provisions and processes specified in the Foreign Affairs
• Manual (FAM) and/or collective bargaining agreements. Current permanent
• FSA County employees must submit your most recent non-award Notification of Personnel
• Action (SF-50) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade
• AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above. Veteran Hiring
• Authorities: VEOA, VRA and 30% Disabled
• Veterans: DD214, Certificate of Release from Active
• Duty that shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions.
• Active-duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.
• It must be on the letterhead of the military branch and include the dates of service.
• Veterans' preference must be verified prior to appointment.
• For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment
• Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule
• A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring
• Paths on the
• USAJOBS website. Land Management Workforce Flexibility
• Act: Copies of Notification of Personnel
• Action(s) (SF-50) showing the employee served in eligible appointment(s) for a period(s) of more than 24 mos. w/o a break between appointments of two+ years. Include initial hire actions, extensions, conversions and separation
• SF-50s for each period.
• Submit performance rating(s) showing acceptable performance for each period counted towards eligibility signed by supervisor(s).
• If documentation does not exist for one or more periods, submit a statement from supervisor(s) indicating acceptable performance.
• Applicants who do not have performance documentation for any period shall provide a reason why the documentation is not available and statement that performance for all periods was at an acceptable level.
• A, Persons with Disabilities
• Appointment: Letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u). Surplus or displaced employees eligible for
• CTAP, RPL, or
• ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully
• Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent
• SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
• If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority or an interchange agreement with another merit system not listed above, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation.
• Go to: USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities or Special Hiring
• Authority for more information.