Assistant United States Trade Representative for Western Hemisphere

About the role

This position is located in the Executive Office of the President (EOP), Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Incumbent serves as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (AUSTR) for the Western Hemisphere.

Under the direction of the Deputy USTR, the AUSTR is responsible for all trade issues involving the Western Hemisphere, including managing trade negotiations, developing, implementing, and monitoring U.S. trade agreements, and overseeing the administration of those agreements.

What you will do

• 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.

Education

This position does not have an education requirement.

How you will be evaluated

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) listed above.

ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position.

The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

For more information regarding the SES, go to ***

Documents you must provide

• A complete application includes items described below.
• Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
• Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit.
• Some documents may not apply to all applicants.
• RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages showing all relevant experience.
• Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and TQs.
• ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable: CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEMBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
• SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification.
• CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee.
• STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Most recent performance evaluation.

What to expect next

To verify the status of your application, sign in to your USAJOBS account (***), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: ***

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

After a tentative job offer, we will conduct a security background investigation and drug screening. If the drug screening is negative and security background is cleared, then a formal job offer will be extended to candidate.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: *** Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: *** Males born after December 31,1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see ***) 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 Alternative Application.

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.