International Economist

Full Job Description

The U.S.

International Trade Commission is an independent Federal agency that provides the President and Congress with high-quality analysis and technical support on international trade, tariff and competitiveness issues; investigates and makes determinations in proceedings involving imports claimed to injure a domestic industry or violate U.S.

intellectual property rights; and maintains the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

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 General Schedule Qualification Standards (opm.gov).

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.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.

You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below. BASIC REQUIREMENT A.

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

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

In addition to meeting the education requirement above. You must also meet the experience requirement below.

To qualify at the GS-09 level, you must have one-year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 obtained in the federal or private sector which demonstrates all of the following, as it pertains to advanced technology and machinery industries: (i) The production of goods and services in international trade; (ii)The technical and economic factors influencing international trade and competitiveness; (iii) Commodity and trade data collection methods and analytical techniques; and (iv) U.S.

trade laws, agreements, and policies regulating international commerce.

OR GS-9 level, you may qualify using one of the following education: Possession of a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree relative to this position.

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. Major Duties:

This position is located in the Office of Industry and Competitiveness Analysis, Advanced Technology and Machinery Division, of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).

This division is responsible for covering manufactured products including (but not limited to) automotive and other transportation equipment, semiconductors and other electronic products, and heavy machinery equipment.

International Economists maintain broad, current subject matter knowledge of the industries, products, and markets assigned to the Division, as well as a deep understanding of the issues, programs, and policies that impact either segments of, or the entirety of, specifically assigned products, markets, and industries.

As an International Economist you will: Provide technical guidance and advice on the most appropriate method or procedure of analysis and evaluation in response to a wide range of projects relative to the market, economics, or competitive posture of the assigned industries or products.

Formulate project methodologies by identifying operational and analytical techniques that accomplish project objectives and produce explicit findings.

Provides historical insights and advice based on proven techniques and procedures. Provide guidance on alternatives and resolutions to problems.

Foresees the pros and cons of alternative solutions and explains them to other program and management staff.

Communicate with representatives from industry, providing information, referral, or assistance and requesting information on industry operations and trends.

Receives, analyzes, and resolves inquiries or complaints from industry and other government agencies. Independently prepare written materials on complex topics.

Prepares and delivers formal briefings for a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

Independently provide 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.

When entering a Federal job at a grade level lower than the highest promotion potential level, you may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses.

NOTE: Career ladder promotions are subject to supervisor approval, and all eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met in order to progress to the next grade level.