International Trade Specialist (Public Notice Flyer/ Schedule A)

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.

Specialized experience to qualify at the GS-9 level: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience performing research in one or more of the following areas: international trade issues, U.S. business exports.
• Experience preparing memos and/or white papers and oral briefs.
• Experience analyzing economic data.

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SUBSTITUTION OF THE FOLLOWING EDUCATION: Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree, OR LL.B. or J.D., 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. Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be considered. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant at the grade level.

Specialized experience to qualify at the GS-11 level: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience 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, and/or negotiations.
• Experience making recommendations on trade issues, policy positions, or negotiating strategies.
• Experience operating in an international business or trade policy and promotion environment

-OR-

SUBSTITUTION OF THE FOLLOWING EDUCATION: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR LL.B. or J.D., 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. Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be considered. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant at the grade level.

Specialized experience to qualify at the GS-12 level: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience 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, and negotiations.
• Experience making recommendations based on empirical trade information with interpretation and prediction of influences of economic, market, political events; and
• Experience developing strategies for U.S. business facilitation, trade and investment promotion initiatives, regulatory, and global trade-policy positions.

Specialized experience to qualify at the GS-13 level: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience conducting analytical work addressing critical international trade issues, U.S. business exports, reverse investment facilitation, and/or new trade development initiatives in key industries and world regions.
• Experience making recommendations of positions on trade issues, policy positions, or negotiating strategies.
• Experience developing and disseminating trade information to U.S. businesses or associations.

Notes: Education cannot be substituted at the GS-12 or GS-13 grade levels.