USAJOBS Hiring for International Relations Specialist (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees) at Washington, DC Full Time

Duties

As an International Relations Specialist at the full performance level, you will:

• Be responsible for analyzing and assessing international, surface and intermodal transportation policies and programs, and recommending the formulation of international surface and intermodal transportation and trade policies, and United States policies regarding the formulation of transportation and trade facilitation program issues.
• Perform highly complex technical analysis of international transportation and trade matters, and formulates, recommends and provide expert policy advice on international surface and intermodal transportation issues to the Office Director to promote initiatives for domestic and international program activities.
• Prepare correspondence in response to Congressional and public inquiries about DOT decisions, positions and policies with respect to transportation and international trade with foreign countries.
• Maintain effective liaison and executive level relationships with of U.S. and foreign governments departments, industries, and financial institutions that are involved in the economic, financial and physical aspects of transportation trade activities.

Ideal Candidate Statement: OST is looking for a seasoned, motivated and self-reliant professional who can share their expertise in planning, implementing, and monitoring initiatives impacting international transportation and trade program activities. This position is located in the DOT building, which sits directly across the street from the Metro and a few blocks away from the National’s Baseball stadium. OST has flexible work schedules and flexible health benefits.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
• You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

Conditions Of Employment

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• DRUG TEST: This position has been determined to be a critical safety/security position as defined in the Department of Transportation (DOT) Order, DOT 3910.1D entitled “Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace.” Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing.
• SECRET CLEARANCE: This position requires a Secret clearance. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To Qualify For The GS-11 On Experience, You Must Have At Least One Year Of Experience Equal Or Equivalent To The GS-09 It Must Include

• Experience researching or implementing public policy or international program activities; including research, analysis and written recommendations in support of policy development, international transportation or trade issues, policies or regulations excluding civilian/military logistical operations (i.e., procurement, supply, movement/maintenance of equipment, materials, and/or personnel, etc.) or similar office operations work.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To Qualify For The GS-12 On Experience, You Must Have At Least One Year Of Experience Equal Or Equivalent To The GS-11 It Must Include

• Experience with the responsibility for the direction and coordination of research, analysis, or other equivalent professional work involving international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs excluding civilian/military logistical operations (i.e., procurement, supply, movement/maintenance of equipment, materials, and/or personnel, etc.) or similar office operations work.

To Qualify For The GS-13 On Experience, You Must Have At Least One Year Of Experience Equal Or Equivalent To The GS-12, It Must Include

• Experience with the responsibility for the development, direction and/or coordination of international transportation or international trade OR other equivalent professional work excluding civilian/military logistical operations (i.e., procurement, supply, movement/maintenance of equipment, materials, and/or personnel, etc.) or similar office operations work affecting public policy issues of the United States work involving divergent views and opinions and presenting them in written format as a regular and recurring part of your job.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Technical Competence (International Transportation and/or Trade) – Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform analytical, evaluative, advisory, or similar work pertaining to international transportation, trade, foreign direct investment, bilateral and multilateral agreements, goods and services, trade restrictions and controls, foreign market structures and trends, competitive relationships, negotiations, equity in industry practices, and protection of the public interest; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the international trade transportation industry regulatory controls, operations, policies, and practices requiring a practical knowledge of economic theory and transportation economics, but does not require full training and professional competence in economics; advises others on technical issues.
• Planning and Evaluating – Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
• External Awareness (Leadership) – Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national, and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders’ views; is aware of the organization’s impact on the external environment.
• Stakeholder Management – Knowledge of the concepts, practices, and techniques used to identify, engage, influence, and monitor relationships with individuals and groups connected to a work effort; including those actively involved, those who exert influence over the process and its results, and those who have a vested interest in the outcome (positive or negative).
• Interpersonal Skills (Leadership) – Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.

For all types of consideration, 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

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Degree: major or equivalent, or a combination of courses totaling at least 24 semester hours in international law and international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; or 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics/quantitative methods.

OR

Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, in one or more of the social sciences, or in the humanities, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

OR

Experience: four years of appropriate experience in one or more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.

Evaluation Of Experience

Qualifying experience that provided an intimate knowledge of a foreign country or geographic area may have been gained through residence, study, teaching, business or commercial activities, military service, newspaper work, military or civil government activities, missionary or inter-national relief work, or other experience in foreign countries. It may also have been gained through teaching college-level courses in international relations or problems associated with a specific foreign geographic area.

To qualify for positions at grades GS-12 and above on the basis of experience, this experience must have included either (a) responsibility for the direction and coordination of research, analysis, or other professional work in one or more of the fields listed in A above, or (b) specialized professional work involving a high level of difficulty and responsibility in one or more of these fields.

Additional Information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.