Senior International Trade Specialist/Advisor

ICF is hiring a Senior International Trade Specialist/Advisor to perform a critical role within the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary (ODUS) of the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) at the U.S. Department of Labor. ILAB creates American jobs and increases American wages by combating foreign abusive labor practices that undermine U.S. competitiveness in global supply chains. The Senior International Trade Specialist/Advisor will play an important role in identifying cost-effective international labor interventions designed to produce the greatest benefit for American workers because of investments made by ILAB. The position is expected to look for opportunities that enhance American worker job and wage opportunities through trade agreements, as well as advance innovative partnerships with American businesses, labor organizations and research institutions. The position reports through the ILAB Chief Economist to the Trade Policy and Strategy Chief within ODUS. The position requires the ability to provide expert advice to ILAB regarding opportunities in global commerce to combat child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking in global supply chains that undermine American worker jobs and wages. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Conduct market research, analyze market trends, map adversary/competitor landscapes, and develop strategies to minimize foreign labor abuses within global supply chains. 

• Provide a rapid review of various types of trade agreements and provide concrete recommendations for advancing American worker interests.

• Serve as a subject matter expert on international trade policies and procedures and provide technical advice regarding, but not limited to provisions and enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Withold Release Orders. 

• Provide critical and time sensitive information regarding economic, cultural, or social circumstances which can affect a country’s capacity to adhere to international standards. These duties necessitate the ability to obtain and broadly share information on major U.S. government trade programs and operations.

• Review and evaluate international programs, operations, and initiatives in relation to the effectiveness to deliver outcomes using a market systems approach. 

• Participate in meetings, conferences, or committees to promote ILAB goals and objectives.

• Cultivate international and domestic contacts, liaisons, and relations at all levels of the private sector, other U.S. government agencies, and foreign organizations to promote U.S. employment, wage, and trade policy.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience with a master’s degree or 8 years of relevant work experience with a bachelor’s degree. Master’s or bachelor’s degree in relevant fields include business administration, economics, international business, international trade, finance, political science, or public policy.

• Demonstrated expertise in international trade across the whole of U.S. government, with a focus on trade agreements, enforcement, and implementation related to  combating child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking within global supply chains such as working with the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), or the U.S. Department of State.

• Expertise in trade policy and ability to assist the various offices within ILAB to maximize direct economic benefits for American workers through international engagement advancing fair trade, the elimination of abusive labor practices, child labor and upholding international agreements. 

• An ability to engage and expand upon the growing discipline of economic statecraft across the whole of the U.S. government.

• Security Clearance: Obtain low-level security clearance (U.S. citizenship, having resided in the U.S. for the past 2 years, and ability to perform the work of this position from a location within the United States)

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated private sector business experience, having engaged in the import and export of U.S. goods or services, within international foreign markets.

Professional Skills

• Superb writing skills, including economic policy brief writing with an ability to tailor the tone, content and form of written output to different audiences and to suit a variety of formats; ability to synthesize information and communicate in an accurate and coherent manner

• Humility to receive feedback, revise deliverables, and accept directions from others.

• Ability to think strategically, creatively and to find innovative ways to respond to emerging organizational and project needs

• Detail-oriented and deadline-driven with strong organizational skills

• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with changing requirements and priorities

• Strong cross-cultural, interpersonal, management, and collaboration skills in highly complex structures involving multiple teams and stakeholders

• Critical thinking, sound problem solving, and decision-making skills

• Highly self-motivated and able to work independently as well as in team settings

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

 

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is:

$80,743.00 - $137,263.00

DC Client Office (DC88)