Assistant United States Trade Representative for Western Hemisphere.

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in Washington, DC seeks an Assistant United States Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere to advise the Deputy USTR on policy and strategy, lead a team of trade professionals, and coordinate interagency efforts in negotiations across North and South America and the Caribbean.

The role requires expertise in U.S. trade laws, strong leadership, and the ability to represent U.S.

Qualifications

• Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) demonstrating commitment to the rule of law, leading people, achieving results, and driving efficiency.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. trade policy, law, and international negotiations affecting the Western Hemisphere.
• Experience coordinating interagency processes and engaging foreign counterparts to secure cooperation.

Responsibilities

• Lead Western Hemisphere trade policy analysis, strategy, and team oversight.
• Chair interagency committees and advocate U.S. positions in negotiations.
• Represent the U.S. in international trade talks and coordinate with governments and private sectors.

Skills

ECQs & Leadership

Trade policy knowledge

Interagency coordination

Job description

Duties

As Assistant United States Trade Representative for Western Hemisphere, your typical work assignments may include the following:

• Serving as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (AUSTR) with responsibility for Western Hemisphere trade issues. This includes serving as the principal advisor to the Deputy USTR and the USTR on trade policy and strategy related to the Western Hemisphere and managing a team of trade professionals that provide analysis, insight, and recommendations on private sector activity, government officials, legislation, policy issues, and economic developments in the Western Hemisphere.
• Chairing interagency committees responsible for establishing, analyzing and administering U.S. Government trade and investment policy toward the Western Hemisphere and coordinating with other interagency committees to develop, defend, and advocate USTR positions in trade negotiations and agreements.
• Representing the U.S. in international trade negotiations in the Western Hemisphere, which include North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
• Maintaining and directing liaison efforts with advisory committees established to provide advice to U.S. negotiations on trade matters to include coordinating initiatives across U.S. Government agencies to encourage private sector investment related to trade matters in the Western Hemisphere and developing, advising on, and articulating negotiating positions for U.S. trade policy and bilateral trade agreements involving countries in the Western Hemisphere.
• Performing a full range of first-level supervisory responsibilities to include planning work to be accomplished by staff, setting and adjusting short-term priorities, and preparing schedules for completion of work.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Direct Deposit is required
• Be at least 18 years old and obtain a favorable security determination.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Subject to a 1-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• You will be required to complete ethics orientation within three months of appointment and submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment.
• You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• Supervisors in the executive branch have a heightened personal responsibility for advancing government ethics. You will be required to review the 14 General Principles of Ethical Conduct at 5 CFR 2635.101.
• There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations. Please read these documents using the URLs provided below:
• Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/compact-council
• FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation), and https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/cjis#:~:text=FD%2D258%20Privacy%20Act%20Statement
• SEAD-3-Reporting-U (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information). https://www.dni.gov/files/NCSC/documents/Regulations/SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).

Technical Qualifications (TQs)

TQ1: Expert knowledge of and experience in trade issues affecting Western Hemisphere, including a thorough understanding of U.S. trade laws, regulations and policy frameworks related to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM) and bilateral trade negotiations.

TQ2: Expert experience leading interagency processes and in securing the cooperation of foreign counterparts, governments agencies, and other high ranking officials, and the ability to blend together diverse backgrounds and interests during negotiating sessions.

TQ3: Demonstrated skill in preparing written policy briefing and option papers, as well as in making presentations to senior level officials in the public and private sectors, including Congress, and to foreign government officials on technical information and policy issues.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECqs)

In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There Are Five ECQs

• ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
• ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
• ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
• ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
• ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Note

If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

This position does not have an education requirement.

Additional information

Veterans Preference

Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

Mobility

Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

Tiering

The Department/Agency structures its SES positions into categories (i.e. tiers) to determine the pay range for each position. The categories are based on the position scope, breadth, functions, and placement within the structure of organizational levels across the Department/Agency.

Males born after December 31,1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.