Summary

ABOUT THE COMMISSION

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission is a Congressional advisory commission mandated to monitor, investigate, and report to Congress on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China.

The Commission's full mandate is posted at https://www.uscc.gov/charter.

This job is open to

• The public
  
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Administratively Determined, Full-Time, Term-Appointed Position (The initial term of appointment is one year and is generally renewed annually by mutual agreement. The position is not covered by provisions of 5 USC that apply to Executive Branch employees regarding appointment, termination, competitive service selection, and pay related rules and regulations.)

Duties

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direction of the Director of Security and Foreign Affairs, the position is responsible for policy and issue analysis of China and U.S.-China relations, primarily in the fields of security and foreign affairs.

1. Monitor, investigate, and assess developments relevant to the Security and Foreign Affairs Team's portfolio including, but not limited to, the topics identified in Requirements and Qualifications, below.

2. Prepare detailed written and oral analyses and assessments of issues within the Security and Foreign Affairs Team's portfolio.

3. Work with designated senior staff and team members to support hearing co-chairs in developing, planning, and executing Commission hearings.

4. Serve as a subject matter expert and advisor for Commissioners on issues within the Security and Foreign Affairs Team's portfolio, in support of their advice to Congress, and in briefings and advice to staff of Members and Congressional committees.

5. Research and draft assigned portions of the Commission's Annual Report.

6. Support Commissioners in their mandate-related duties by providing the information necessary for Commission deliberations, briefings to Congress, and other substantive engagements as well as coordinating the logistics required to arrange, execute, and follow up form such events and meetings.

7. Draft Congressional testimony, talking points, and other communications for Commissioners and represent the staff at conferences and with government, academia, and private sector groups.

8. Conduct literature reviews, expert interviews, and other initial research to identify potential avenues for Commission research products and public hearings.

9. Provide substantive review on external contracted research reports.

10. Develop and sustain a professional network of China-focused professionals in the U.S. government, private sector, and academia.

Senior Policy Analyst:

1. Mentor junior team members and assist in developing templates and processes for implementing the Commission's research cycle.

2. Lead ad hoc teams in project-based work, establishing milestones and timelines, and managing the project, workflow, and quality control of input from other teammates (non-supervisory role).

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Open to all qualified U.S. Citizens.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1. All candidates must be available to work in-person in Washington, DC.

2. Applicants must be eligible for a Top Secret//SCI security clearance. A previous or current active clearance is not a prerequisite for applying for or initiating employment.

Applications may be reviewed, and interviews conducted on a rolling basis as applications are received, so we encourage applicants to submit applications as early in the process as possible.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

1. Strong and demonstrated ability to present information clearly and concisely through both written and oral reports. This includes quickly identifying the core questions in a request, devising an appropriately scoped research approach to those questions, and providing the results of that research in a succinct and compelling manner.

2. Advanced research, analytical, and evaluative skills, including the ability to synthesize and analyze large amounts of disparate data on emerging and/or controversial issues.

3. For Analysts, demonstrated knowledge of three or more, and continued growth in multiple, of the following areas. For Senior Analysts, experience working in or demonstrated knowledge of at least five of the following areas:

• China's foreign policy and global diplomatic activities;
• China's domestic politics and policy-making;
• China's military strategy and the organization, capabilities, and activities of the People's Liberation Army (PLA);
• China's development of technologies for defense applications, the defense research and development (R&D) ecosystem, and military-civil fusion initiatives;
• China's internal security policies and apparatus, to include CCP inspection and discipline organs, the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the People's Armed Police (PAP), and the judicial, procuratorial, and penal systems;
• China's policies and activities relating to transnational security challenges, including drug flows, cybersecurity, nonproliferation, public health, information control, transnational repression, and others;
• China's relations with Taiwan;
• China's policy toward Hong Kong; and
• U.S. foreign policy related to China and the Indo-Pacific (including U.S. alliances and other partnerships in the region) and U.S. military strategy, capabilities, and activities in the Indo-Pacific.

4. Professional proficiency in Mandarin Chinese, to include ability to effectively utilize original language sources of electronic and print information in developing policy-relevant original research and analysis.

Senior Analysts only:

1. At least five years of relevant professional work experience with three or more years on China-related security issues.

2. Professional work experience representing your organization to external audiences or customers, leading projects, or supervising other employees.

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher.

Additional information

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Commission actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and values having a variety of views, backgrounds, and experiences on the team. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of that individual's protected characteristics, including: race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and childbirth), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, uniformed service, or sexual orientation.

The Commission will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities as appropriate. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The Commission participates in the E-Verify Program established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you are hired by the Commission, the Commission will verify with the DHS and the SSA that you are eligible for employment in the United States.

Benefits. As federal government employees, Commission employees are eligible to participate in federal employee benefits programs, to include: health insurance; dental and vision insurance; life insurance; and a retirement plan (FERS), including the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a 401k-like retirement savings program. Employees accrue and may use annual and sick leave in accordance with Commission policies and procedures. For more information, please visit https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits.

• Benefits
  
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How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Commission will evaluate your cover letter, resume, and writing sample to assess your qualifications and experience. The Director of Security and Foreign Affairs, Executive Director, and appropriate staff will interview the top candidates. The Chairman and/or Vice Chair may interview the final candidates. The final hiring decision will be made by the Executive Director.

Interviews will consist of two parts: 1) interviews with the Director of Security and Foreign Affairs, Executive Director, and appropriate staff; and 2) a writing test.

• Benefits
  
  Review our benefits
• 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.
  
  Please read the "How to Apply" section.
  
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
  schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply
  
  Submit a complete application package containing all of the below required documents in one PDF file via email to Opportunities@uscc.gov. Incomplete application packages or information not received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date will not be considered.
  
  1) Cover letter, to include:
  
  a. Position title.
  
  b. Vacancy number.
  
  c. Brief statement outlining your interest in the Commission and this position and how you heard about this position.
  
  d. Concise, point-by-point responses to the requirements and qualifications you meet.
  
  e. Your availability to begin work in-person in Washington, DC.
  
  f. Your salary requirements.
  
  g. Name and contact information for two professional references, one of which must be a current or past supervisor
  
  2) Resume
  
  3) Current Writing Sample
  
  The writing sample can be on any topic; writing relevant to the position being sought is strongly preferred; writing and editing must be your own work and should not exceed 5 pages.
  
  Agency contact information
  
  
  
  Human Resources
  
  Email
  
  opportunities@uscc.gov
  
  Address
  
  US-China Economic and Security Review Commission
  
  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  
  Suite 602
  
  Washington, DC 20001
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER APPLYING
  
  After submitting your application package, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your application materials. Please note this email confirmation is not automated and may take 2-3 business days to receive. You will be contacted via email if we would like to schedule an interview or require additional information. All applicants will be notified once the position has been filled.
• 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
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Please read the "How to Apply" section.


If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Submit a complete application package containing all of the below required documents in one PDF file via email to Opportunities@uscc.gov. Incomplete application packages or information not received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date will not be considered.

1) Cover letter, to include:

a. Position title.

b. Vacancy number.

c. Brief statement outlining your interest in the Commission and this position and how you heard about this position.

d. Concise, point-by-point responses to the requirements and qualifications you meet.

e. Your availability to begin work in-person in Washington, DC.

f. Your salary requirements.

g. Name and contact information for two professional references, one of which must be a current or past supervisor

2) Resume

3) Current Writing Sample

The writing sample can be on any topic; writing relevant to the position being sought is strongly preferred; writing and editing must be your own work and should not exceed 5 pages.

Agency contact information



Human Resources

Email

opportunities@uscc.gov

Address

US-China Economic and Security Review Commission

444 North Capitol Street, NW

Suite 602

Washington, DC 20001

US

Next steps

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER APPLYING

After submitting your application package, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your application materials. Please note this email confirmation is not automated and may take 2-3 business days to receive. You will be contacted via email if we would like to schedule an interview or require additional information. All applicants will be notified once the position has been filled.

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
• Criminal history inquiries
• Financial suitability
• Selective Service
• New employee probationary period
• Signature and false statements
• Privacy Act
• Social security number request