Hybrid Trade Specialist (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees) at Department of Transportation

Secret

Duties

As a Trade Specialist, you will: Liaise with division or office level personnel of government agencies and other shippers generating preference cargo, to assure that the laws and regulations as prescribed by the Act and that they are being met. Explain and interpret regulations as they pertain to government agencies' current programs as well as new and changed programs; address questions surfaced by shippers for both operational and logistical challenges and reporting requirements under cargo preference regulations. Maintain a monitoring and surveillance system to ensure that each shipper provide hard or electronic copies of bills of lading for each ocean shipment under its jurisdiction when required, provide periodic reports detailing its ocean shipment plan and non-US flag offers. Develop a personal liaison with division or office level managers to assure effective interface in programs involving utilization of US-flag ships and to promote their use over and above the legal minimum. Determine the specific information needed to maintain adequate surveillance of shipments; availability of source data, type and frequency of reports to be received, and a system for identifying shipments. The ideal candidate must be experienced in international maritime trade, international programs, or the promotion or administration of international transportation services. Candidates must have experience with or within the maritime industry, or ocean transportation shipments, are ideally suited.

Requirements

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. SECURITY CLEARANCE: Applicants must be required to obtain and retain a Secret Security Clearance. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding. DRUG TESTING: Tentatively selected candidates are required to undergo urinalysis in accordance with DOT 3910.1D entitled "Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace", which includes testing for marijuana. Marijuana is legal in some states, however it’s still illegal at the federal level. 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. 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).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the education or specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the GS-09 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-07 it must include: Experience tracking projects, communicating guidance, and/or performing data analysis on shipping records (i.e., import and export) for an organization. To qualify for the GS-09 on Education alone, you must have 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or have been awarded a master's or equivalent graduate degree. You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. 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 collecting and reporting on cargo shipping data, working with external organizations to access import and export shipping records, and/or providing guidance on regulatory shipping requirements. Examples may include but are not limited to work experience in shipping, supply-chain, logistics, freight forwarding, steamship company or port operations. 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 working with government agencies, organizations, or contractors/sub-contractors to access their import and export shipping records, ensuring regulatory compliance, and serving as a point-of-contact, or liaison, to internal and external stakeholders. Examples may include but are not limited to senior journeyman level work experience in shipping, supply-chain, logistics, or experience gained in several years of freight forwarding, steamship company or port operations. You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience. 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 - Use knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; work with, understand, and evaluate technical information related to the job; advise others on technical issues. Manages and Organizes Information - Identify a need; gather, organize, and maintain information; determine its importance and accuracy, and communicate it by a variety of methods. 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/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/ 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

Individual Occupational Requirements: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- marketing, business administration, political science, public administration, history, business or commercial law, economics, finance, international trade, or international relations.

Other Information

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, [email protected]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.