Trade and Development Agency Logo
Position Title
International Trade Specialist
Agency
Trade and Development Agency
Announcement Number
TDA-23-MP-11889348MR Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 to Wednesday, April 19, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2.

Do you meet any of the following eligibilities?

  • I am currently serving on a permanent career OR career/conditional appointment in the Federal service
  • I have previously served on a permanent career appointment
  • I have previously served on a permanent career conditional appointment and have completed 3 years of continuous creditable service
  • I have held a permanent career or career conditional appointment and have veteran preference
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation. For example, a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50 non-award) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your competitive status or a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.

 
(limit characters)
3. Do you meet any of the following eligibilities?
  • I am a current Pathways Intern with the agency where this vacancy is being announced and I am within the 120 day conversion time frame
To verify your eligibility, you must provide proof of current student status. Note: you must remain enrolled in the degree or certificate program to be eligible for this Internship.
(limit characters)
4.

Are you a current or former employee of a land management agency (Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation)?  You must meet the following criteria:

  • was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; and,
  • served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and,
  • performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; and,
  • if no longer employed by the land management agency, have been separated for no more than two years, and departed that position in good standing.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit relevant supporting documentation (e.g. SF-50, documentation of satisfactory performance such as performance evaluations, memorandum of record where the supervisor documented an acceptable performance level, or reference by supervisors, etc.).

(limit characters)
5.

Are you a current Federal civilian employee in the Competitive Service at the same grade level,or higher as this position with the same or higher promotion potential?
-OR-
Were you formerly employed as a Federal civilian employee on a permanent competitive appointment or have you obtained career-conditional status (and are within 3 years of the date of separation or are a preference eligible) and have you held the same grade as this position or higher with the same or higher promotion potential?

To verify your eligibility as a current or former Federal civilian employee, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:

  • career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
  • status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1).
(limit characters)
6.

(1) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who has been issued orders for a permanent change of station (PCS)? If yes, confirm you are indicated on the PCS orders; and that you:

  • have been married to the military member on or prior to the date of your spouse's PCS orders;
  • are relocating with your spouse to the new duty location; AND,
  • have not previously been appointed using this authority under these orders.

-OR-
(2) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating of 100 percent at the time of retirement or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?
-OR-
(3) Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources

To verify your eligibility for option 1 identified above, you must submit a copy of the PCS orders indicating you are authorized to relocate on those orders.

To verify your eligibility for options 2 and 3 identified above, you must submit the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15 and all supporting documentation identified on that document (e.g., Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service; death certificate and documentation identifying marital status at the time of death; disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service, etc.

 
 
(limit characters)
7.

Foreign Service Employee:  Do you meet ALL of the following eligibilities?

  • I have served in the Foreign Service under an unlimited, career-type appointment
  • I have completed at least one year of continuous service without a break of a workday under one or more non-temporary Foreign Service appointment
  • I have service that began with a non-temporary Foreign Service appointment counting towards the 3-year service requirement for career tenure and have been separated within the past 30 days from the career-type appointment in the Foreign Service
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) reflecting your nontemporary status. If you are outside of the 3-year requirement but are entitled to veteran's preference, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.
 
(limit characters)
8.

Career Transition Assistance Plan:  Do you meet ALL of the following eligibilities?

I am a current or former competitive federal employee displaced or surplused  from the agency hiring for this position; and

  • I am located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; and
  • I am currently in a position at the same grade level or higher than the position being announced; and
  • My last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
9.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan:  Do you meet ALL of the following eligibilities?

  • I am a current or former competitive federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position; and
  • I am located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; and
  • I am currently in a position at the same grade level or higher than the position being announced; and
  • My last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
10.

Certain Former Overseas Employees:  Do you meet ALL of the following eligibilities?

  • I am a former overseas Appropriated Fund employee.
  • I have completed 52 weeks of creditable overseas service in an appropriated fund position(s) as a family member during the time you accompanied a sponsor officially assigned to an overseas area.
  • I have received a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating.
  • I returned to the United States to resume residence less than 3 years ago.
For more information, review USAJOBS Former Overseas Employees resources

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50, and performance appraisal.
 
(limit characters)
11.

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past twelve months?
-OR-
Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past 36 months and are requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility due to your military service, status as a full-time student or other experience related to this position?
-OR-
Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who has completed at least 36 months of continuous service and has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility. If you are a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility, please also provide the necessary documentation to support your request.

(limit characters)
12.

Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?
 
For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources

To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist.

(limit characters)
13.

Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:

  • served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
  • are entitled to veterans' preference

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service.

(limit characters)
14. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:
  • recently separated (within the past 3 years);
  • are a disabled veteran;
  • served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition; OR,
  • received an Armed Forces Service Medal
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, you must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
 
(limit characters)
15.


Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:

  • have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more; OR,
  • are retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. You must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15

(limit characters)
16.

Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management?

Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration

  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • The Department of Defense (The Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System) Agreement
  • Nonappropriated Fund (NAF) employees of the Department of Defense
  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration
  • Corporation for National and Community Service
  • Tennessee Valley Authority
For more information, review Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems. [[Show "Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems" as hyperlink to http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=InterchangeAgreementsWithOtherMeritSystems]]
-OR-
Are you a current:
  • Postal Career Service Employee;
  • Postal Rate Commission Employee;
  • Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; or,
  • Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee
For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status.
 
(limit characters)
17. Reasonable Accommodations for taking the online assessments are provided on a case-by-case basis only to qualified individuals with a disability covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Do you have a disability (physical or mental) that you believe will interfere with completing the online assessments and require a Reasonable Accommodation?

(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
For items 1 and 2, please read the following statements carefully. Your response to the following questions will determine whether you will be eligible for this position or not. If you respond "No" to any question in this section, you will not be eligible for consideration for this position. (limit characters)
1. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire will be true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I provide may be investigated. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in me not being considered for this position.
(limit characters)
2. Are you willing to submit to an initial and periodic background investigation, including a fingerprint check and a credit check?
(limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
3. This position has a Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) that must be met in order to do the work of the position. Please certify whether or not you possess the QRF for this position. This experience must be clearly documented in your resume.

Quality Ranking Factor: Demonstrated professional-level experience planning and executing training programs and project preparation activities to support infrastructure development in emerging economies.
(limit characters)
4. Select the ONE response that best describes the education you possess that demonstrates you meet the Basic Qualification Requirement for International Trade Specialist.
(limit characters)
We will evaluate your resume and responses to this Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification and must be supported by your resume and supporting documents. (limit characters)
5. Select the one statement that best describes the experience and/or education level that demonstrates you meet the Minimum Qualification requirements to perform the duties of an International Trade Specialist, GS-1140-11.
(limit characters)
6. For the International Trade Specialist, GS-1140-12: Do you possess at least one year of specialized experience that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-11 level in the Federal service? Specialized experience is defined as experience that is in or directly related to the line of work of this position and has equipped you with the knowledge and competencies to successfully perform the duties of this position. More specifically, this requirement involves: Professional level industry-specific research related to infrastructure and large-scale development projects; Conducting research and providing project support services, such as preparing grant agreements, scopes of work for contracts, studies, feasibility studies, or other grant activities related to foreign assistance programs; Experience conducting and providing research on international trade, technical, and economic trends; Experience implementing foreign assistance programs, trade policy, commercial development, finance, banking, or other capital investment activities; Developing and maintaining business relationships with U.S. and foreign private sector representatives and government officials in the development of major infrastructure projects.
(limit characters)
7. For the International Trade Specialist, GS-1140-13: Do you possess at least one year of specialized experience that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-12 level in the Federal service? Specialized experience is defined as experience that is in or directly related to the line of work of this position and has equipped you with the knowledge and competencies to successfully perform the duties of this position. More specifically, this requirement involves: Expertise in conducting industry-specific research related to infrastructure and large-scale development projects; Providing high-level project services, such as drafting grant agreements, developing scopes of work for contracts, conducting feasibility studies, or other grant activities related to foreign assistance programs; Implementing the terms of foreign assistance programs, trade policy, commercial development, finance, banking, or other activities that contribute to the development of infrastructure initiatives or other similar initiatives requiring capital investment; Developing and maintaining business relationships with U.S. and foreign private sector representatives and government officials in the development of major infrastructure projects.
(limit characters)
For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Select only one letter for each item. Failure to support your answer to this questionnaire in your resume may result in a lowered score or loss of consideration. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
8. Develop foreign assistance programs, training programs and curricula that support trade capacity building activities, U.S. export promotion goals and host country development goals.
(limit characters)
9. Analyze trends in economics and business, and U.S. trade competitiveness.
(limit characters)
10. Analyze host country project development barriers to avoid potential problems and issues.
(limit characters)
11. Evaluate infrastructure project proposals and training requests to determine their viability and sustainability.
(limit characters)
12. Identify growth sectors, possible foreign buyers, and U.S. exporters related to prospective projects.
(limit characters)
13. Conduct research on international trade, technical, and economic trends.
(limit characters)
14. Analyze international trade, technical, and economic trends related to Global Programs/initiatives like the Global Procurement initiative. (limit characters)
15. Plan and coordinate event related program activities, such as conferences, trainings, and trade missions designed to promote trade capacity building, U.S. exports and host country development.
(limit characters)
16. Evaluate project proposals and training requests and review contract deliverables and invoices to maintain that appropriate work is being performed on schedule and within budget.
(limit characters)
17. Monitor the progress of U.S. export promotion and foreign assistance programs to ensure that objectives are being met.
(limit characters)
18. Recommend modifications to programs and trainings, as needed, to ensure success.
(limit characters)
19. Perform financial, technical, or other forms of due diligence to ensure the viability of potential beneficiaries of assistance programs.
(limit characters)
20. Draft reports based on analysis of key infrastructure sectors such as transportation, telecommunication, and energy.
(limit characters)
21. Finalize reports on project financing and goals, and how they promote U.S. exports and economic development.
(limit characters)
22. Compile and organize information for internal briefing papers and other forms of communication on project status.
(limit characters)
23. Using numerous sources of information, prepare written materials for presentation to senior-level decision makers. (limit characters)
24. Prepare and deliver formal remarks on project related topics.
(limit characters)
25. Interview senior public and private sector representatives to gain information related to projects.
(limit characters)
26. Prepare and deliver oral briefings, formal speeches, and presentations involving complex technical information related to key infrastructure sectors, such as transportation, telecommunications and energy.
(limit characters)
27. Lead effective meetings with diverse stakeholder groups.
(limit characters)
28. Make authoritative presentations on the status of projects to a wide variety of audiences.
(limit characters)
29. Conduct thorough research to identify project-related information.
(limit characters)
30. Review technical analyses to identify gaps in information and logic.
(limit characters)
31. Edit prepared materials and makes recommendations to ensure accuracy of project-related information and analysis.
(limit characters)
32. Utilize quantitative analysis skills to develop and review budgets for complex program-related activities.
(limit characters)
33. Assist in the development of strategies to address gaps in information and logic.
(limit characters)
34. Works collaboratively with others within an organization to acquire or share information.
(limit characters)
35. Works collaboratively with internal and external entities to further overall project objectives.
(limit characters)
36. Work collaboratively with public and private sector organizations and individuals to lead or direct accomplishment of overall project objectives
(limit characters)
37. Share and communicates information with a variety of agency stakeholders to encourage the accomplishment of project goals and priorities. (limit characters)
38. Speak authoritatively on behalf of an organization.
(limit characters)