Deputy Assistant Secretary for China


Job Details

Summary

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for China is responsible for programs that promote U.S. exports and advance and protect U.S. commercial interests in China

This job is open to

  • Senior executives

    Those who meet the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).
  • The public

    U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Duties

The incumbent is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Global Markets and Director General (DG}, the Deputy Director General (DDG) of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, and the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Global Markets on all matters concerning international economic, trade, investment, and commercial policy programs and agreements with respect to this region, and oversees planning and execution of Commerce commercial diplomacy and export promotion strategies at United States Missions in the region.
  • Represents the Department in interagency and international meetings and negotiations on bilateral and regional economic, trade, investment, and commercial issues, including a leadership role in bilateral government and commercial exchanges and other government to-government meetings. Brings private sector perspective and input to these engagements as unique Commerce contribution.
  • Provides leadership for China in the planning, development, and execution of activities and initiatives that support Department, ITA and Global Markets short and long-term strategic goals and priorities.
  • Directs development and implementation of policies and programs that increase U.S. commercial opportunities in China through trade promotion, bilateral and regional trade policy development and implementation, business counseling and planning, market intelligence, business matchmaking, removal of trade barriers, commercial diplomacy and advocacy, and support for trade and investment strategies.
  • Directs a program to monitor economic and commercial developments and maintain in depth commercial and economic expertise to formulate and implement country-specific market access and promotion strategies that increase opportunities for U.S. companies in China markets.
  • Operates under GM enterprise-wide strategic planning, human capital management, and resource allocation processes and methodologies to optimize and promote consistency in goal setting, resource allocation, executive decision-making, policy coordination, and internal controls.
Requirements

Conditions of Employment
  • Background and/or Security Investigation required.
  • All members of the SES are subject to geographic relocation.
  • A one-year probationary period is required for new SES members.
  • Subject to pre-employment and employment random drug testing.
  • Public Financial Disclosure (SF-278 filing within 30 days is required).
OPM approval is required before appointing any current or former political appointee to a permanent position in the civil service. This includes anyone who has been a political appointee in the last five years.

Qualifications

All candidates for SES positions with the Federal Government must demonstrate leadership experience indicative of senior executive level management capability.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, your resume should demonstrate that you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), and the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQ's), listed below.

It is recommended that your resume emphasize levels of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, and program accomplishments and results. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the equivalent of the GS-15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state and local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations. Failure to meet all executive and technical qualification factors will automatically exclude you from further consideration.

Executive Core Qualifications: The following are the five ECQs and their competencies. The ECQs were developed to assess executive experience and potential, not to evaluate technical experience. ECQs measure whether an individual has the broad experience needed to succeed in a variety of SES positions.

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. (Competencies: creativity and innovation, external awareness, flexibility, resilience, strategic thinking, vision).

ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.(Competencies: conflict management, leveraging diversity, developing others, team building).

ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. (Competencies: accountability, customer service, decisiveness, entrepreneurship, problem solving, technical credibility).

ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.(Competencies: financial management, human capital management, technology management).

ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. (Competencies: partnering, political savvy, influencing/negotiating).

For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications at Example of ECQ statements are available at

Professional/Technical Qualifications:

  1. Demonstrated experience leading a large and geographically dispersed organization to achieve program results.
  2. Demonstrated executive experience in and knowledge of U.S. Government trade promotion programs and international trade, economic, and business issues to assist and advocate for U.S. business in international markets.
  3. Demonstrated expertise in Chinese politics and economic policies, including proficiency in Chinese non-market industrial policies, policies relating to critical and emerging technologies, and coercive economic actions within China and vis--vis trading partner.
IF SELECTED, you will be required to complete an ECQ package by drafting narratives for each of the ECQs and be certified by an OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in order to be placed in this position. If you are currently serving in a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed an SES Candidate Development Program and your ECQs were certified by an OPM QRB, you WILL NOT need to draft the ECQs.

Education

This position does not have a positive education requirement.

Additional information

Background Investigation/Clearance: This position is designated as Top Secret.

Financial Disclosure: This position is covered under the Ethics in Government Act, which requires comprehensive financial disclosures from employees. The appointee will be required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (SF-278), within 30 days after his/her appointment, and then annually thereafter.

Qualifications Approval and Probationary Period: Persons newly selected for career appointment to the Senior Executive Service must have their executive core qualifications approved by an Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board and will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Mobility: Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines.

Application materials: The materials you send with your application will not be returned.

Veterans' preference: VETERAN'S PREFERENCE IS NOT APPLICABLE TO POSITIONS IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE.

SSN: You will be required to enter your full social security number (SSN) only to initially access and create an account at the OPM USAJOBS website; however, only the last four digits will appear in your resume. Please DO NOT put your SSN on pages within your application package. Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Signature: Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.

False Statements: If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be fired after you begin work, or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. The Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer.
  • Benefits

    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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Review our benefits

    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.
How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
  1. Resume (not to exceed five pages) review. Your resume should demonstrate possession of the technical qualifications and executive core qualifications. Typically, experience demonstrating the technical and executive core qualifications will have been gained at or above the equivalent of the GS-15 or its equivalent with state and local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations. Follow the instructions in the vacancy announcement carefully when preparing your resume and adhere to the page limitations. Any pages in excess of the page limit will not be considered.
  2. Basic qualification determination.
  3. Rating panel assessment of your executive core qualifications and professional technical qualifications.
  4. Structured interview and possible further interviews.
  5. Tentative selection by the hiring organization.
  6. OPM Qualification Review Board certification (as needed).
  • Benefits

    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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Review our benefits

    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.
  • Required Documents

    As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

    This is a resume-based recruitment. Applicants are required to submit only a resume which must provide detailed evidence of how they meet the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs).
    • Resume that does not exceed the five (5) page limit. (ECQ and PTQ sample experience should be incorporated in the resume and not separately).
    Additional documents you may submit:

    1. For current Senior Executive or individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility - You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your career appointment status in the SES.
    2. For OPM QRB certified SES Candidate Development Program graduates - You are encouraged to submit your OPM certificate of QRB ECQ approval.
    3. For current Federal employees - You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your current tenure, position title, series, and pay.
    4. Current or former Political Appointees (if applicable) - please note on your resume and attach an SF-50 (i.e. your appointment SF-50). OPM must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information.
    Documents not listed above including writing samples, recommendation letters, narrative ECQ and PTQ statements, and proof of veteran status will not be considered and will not be forwarded to the rating panel or selecting official.
  • How to Apply

    Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS by 11:59pm Eastern Time (ET) (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance. Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement:
    1. Click the blue "Apply Online" button.
    2. If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile.
    3. As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application.
    4. Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen.
    5. Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy.
    6. Submit the required documents.
    7. If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
    Agency contact information

    Christine Covington

    Phone

    202-###-####

    Email

    ...@doc.gov

    Address

    International Trade Administration

    1401 Constitution Ave NW

    Washington, DC 20230

    US

    Next steps

    The Executive Resources Operations Staff will provide notification of applicant status through periodic emails at the four points of the hiring process, as applicable, in a timely fashion. The four points of notification are: Application Received; Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Not Met; Panel Rating of Best Qualified (Application referred to the Selecting Official) or Panel Rating of Qualified/Not Qualified (Application not referred to Selecting Official); and Selected or Not Selected.Applicants can check the status of their application at any time after the announcement closes by accessing USAJOBS website.Select "My USAJOBS" and enter your ID and password. Click the link titled "Applications" and select the link under "Application Status" next to the name of the announcement. Your status will be updated as changes occur. If you have any questions, you may contact the Human Resources Specialist at the telephone number listed in the announcement.
  • Fair and Transparent

    The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
    • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
    • Reasonable accommodation policy
    • Financial suitability
    • Selective Service
    • New employee probationary period
    • Signature and false statements
    • Privacy Act
    • Social security number request
Required Documents

This is a resume-based recruitment. Applicants are required to submit only a resume which must provide detailed evidence of how they meet the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs).
  • Resume that does not exceed the five (5) page limit. (ECQ and PTQ sample experience should be incorporated in the resume and not separately).
Additional documents you may submit:
  1. For current Senior Executive or individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility - You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your career appointment status in the SES.
  2. For OPM QRB certified SES Candidate Development Program graduates - You are encouraged to submit your OPM certificate of QRB ECQ approval.
  3. For current Federal employees - You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your current tenure, position title, series, and pay.
  4. Current or former Political Appointees (if applicable) - please note on your resume and attach an SF-50 (i.e. your appointment SF-50). OPM must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information.
Documents not listed above including writing samples, recommendation letters, narrative ECQ and PTQ statements, and proof of veteran status will not be considered and will not be forwarded to the rating panel or selecting official.

How to Apply

Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS by 11:59pm Eastern Time (ET) (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance. Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement:
  1. Click the blue "Apply Online" button.
  2. If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile.
  3. As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application.
  4. Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen.
  5. Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy.
  6. Submit the required documents.
  7. If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.


Agency contact information

Christine Covington

Phone

202-###-####

Email

...@doc.gov

Address

International Trade Administration

1401 Constitution Ave NW

Washington, DC 20230

US

Next steps

The Executive Resources Operations Staff will provide notification of applicant status through periodic emails at the four points of the hiring process, as applicable, in a timely fashion. The four points of notification are: Application Received; Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Not Met; Panel Rating of Best Qualified (Application referred to the Selecting Official) or Panel Rating of Qualified/Not Qualified (Application not referred to Selecting Official); and Selected or Not Selected.Applicants can check the status of their application at any time after the announcement closes by accessing USAJOBS website.Select "My USAJOBS" and enter your ID and password. Click the link titled "Applications" and select the link under "Application Status" next to the name of the announcement. Your status will be updated as changes occur. If you have any questions, you may contact the Human Resources Specialist at the telephone number listed in the announcement.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request





 Commerce, International Trade Administration

 04/27/2024

 Washington,DC