Policy Analyst (Trade)
What you'd do
These positions are located in the Executive Office of the President (EOP), Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR): Office of African Affairs Office of Agricultural Affairs & Commodity Policy Office of Environment & Natural Resources Office of Innovation & Intellectual Property Office of Labor Affairs Office of World Trade Organization (WTO) and Multilateral Affairs Office of China, Mongolia, and Taiwan Affairs
Major duties
As a Policy Analyst (Trade), GS-0301-14/15, your typical work assignments may include the following: - Serving as negotiator on assigned issues in trade agreement negotiations and in other bilateral engagements with foreign governments; - Analyzing laws and regulations of foreign countries, as well as international agreements, including World Trade Organization agreements and U.S. trade agreements; - Developing and executing strategies to advance and achieve U.S. trade policy objectives; - Building coalitions and consensus among diverse groups and views on U.S. trade policy objectives in negotiations; - Representing the U.S Trade Representative with team projects across the U.S. government interagency and contributing substantive expertise on assigned issues to interagency teams; - Preparing of briefing materials, talking points, Congressional testimony, and speeches for the U.S. Trade Representative, Deputy U.S. Trade Representatives, Assistant U.S. Trade Representatives, and other senior executives on trade-related issues.
What you need to qualify
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: All applicants must meet the qualification requirements outlined below to be considered minimally qualified for this position. The qualification requirements are in accordance with the OPM Qualification Standards. ALL QUALIFICATIONS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have a minimum of one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility comparable to the next lower grade or comparable pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS THE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SPECIALITY AREAS: A. Sub-Saharan Africa - Developing and advancing trade and investment policy initiatives with respect to Sub-Saharan African countries, including preparing negotiation strategies and policy positions, engaging foreign governments and stakeholders, and analyzing region specific trade and investment laws and regulations. B. Agricultural Trade - Developing policy positions and preparing economic analyses and policy options papers on agricultural trade issues, including tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade; and supporting the negotiation, implementation, and oversight of agricultural trade agreements. C. China, Mongolia and Taiwan - Developing and advancing trade and investment policy initiatives with respect to China, Mongolia, and Taiwan, including preparing negotiation strategies and policy positions, engaging foreign governments and stakeholders, and analyzing region specific trade and investment laws and regulations. D. Environment and Natural Resources - Participating in trade-related environmental negotiations; researching and analyzing foreign environment laws and regulations; and contributing to development of trade policy positions related to environmental protection and natural resource management. E. Innovation and Intellectual Property - Researching and analyzing intellectual property laws and treaties; participating in negotiations regarding intellectual property protection and enforcement; developing trade policies regarding intellectual property. F. Labor Affairs - Participating in labor-related policy discussions or negotiations; analyzing foreign labor laws and practices, and international labor standards; and contributing to development of policy positions addressing labor standards and workers' rights in the context of trade commitments. G. WTO & Multilateral Affairs - Addressing trade issues involving subsidies and non-market policies and practices, including those related to state-owned enterprises; supporting negotiations and policy development to address unfair trade practices. You may qualify at the GS-14 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: Applicants must have at least one full-time year (52 weeks) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector, that demonstrates all of the following: A. Participating in negotiations on trade issues or engagements with foreign governments with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas; B. Building coalitions and consensus among diverse groups and views on trade or policy issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas; C. Independently developing policy positions on trade or issues with respect to at least one of the specialty areas; D. Researching and providing analysis for laws and regulations of foreign countries related to trade or issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas; E. Acting as a subject matter expert in team projects related to trade policy or issues with respect to at least one of the specialty areas; AND F. Communicating the results of research and analysis and advocating policy positions on trade policy or issues with respect to at least one of the specialty areas, both verbally and in writing. You may qualify at the GS-15 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: Applicants must have at least one full-time year (52 weeks) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level or pay band in the Federal service, or equivalent experience in the private sector that includes all of the following: A. Leading international negotiations or engagements, such as with foreign governments, on trade policy or issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas; B. Building coalitions and consensus among diverse groups and views on trade or policy issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas; C. Leading or coordinating the development policy positions on trade or issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas; D. Compiling and analyzing research related to laws and regulations of foreign countries related to trade or issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas; E. Leading and planning time-sensitive team projects across agencies (or similar complex organizations) on trade policy or issues with respect to at least one of the above specialty areas; AND F. Communicating the results of research and analysis on trade policy or issues with respect to at least one of the above topics, both verbally and in writing, to Cabinet/Subcabinet-level or C-suite-level executives. 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.
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