Senior International Trade Specialist/Advisor

Job Description

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 increases American job and wage growth by combating foreign labor abuses and unfair trade practices in global supply chains that undermine U.S. prosperity and security.  The position requires the ability to provide expert advice to ILAB regarding opportunities in global commerce to create and enforce labor standards for trade agreements to combat child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking in global supply chains that undermine the American economy and security.   The Senior International Trade Specialist/Advisor will play an important role in identifying international labor interventions designed to produce the greatest benefit for American workers through ensuring fair trade and labor standards are executed by U.S. trade partners.  The position is expected to proactively seek opportunities and design activities through trade agreements and innovative partnerships with American businesses, labor organizations, community colleges and other vocational institutions, and public or private research laboratories. The position reports to the Trade Strategy and Initiatives Chief within ODUS and may be posted in Washington, DC or remotely.

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead development of trade agreement negotiation and implementation strategies to ensure a fair global trade environment focusing on labor rights and adherence to trade rules and standards, thereby minimizing foreign labor abuses such as forced labor, trafficked labor, and child labor within global supply chains. 

• Provide a rapid review of various types of international agreements and offer concrete recommendations for advancing American workforce development through integrated combined operations among apprenticeship programs, American domestic industrial base industries, vocational training and academic institutions, and capital investors. 

• 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 forced and child labor in the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), or Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Withold Release Orders, or Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

• Provide critical and time sensitive information regarding economic, cultural, or social circumstances which can affect a country’s capacity to adhere to international labor and trade 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 to deliver outcomes using a market systems approach for maximum impact in achieving ILAB objectives related to forced and trafficked labor, child labor, and illicit trade practices. 

• 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, academic institutions, foreign organizations, and research entities to promote U.S. employment, wage, and trade policy.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience and a graduate degree relevant to fields involving international law, international trade & finance, or international labor affairs.

• 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 U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), or Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), or Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), or U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 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, and upholding international agreements. 

• U.S. citizenship required (required by federal government for this position). The position may perform their work remotely with proper authorization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated design and adoption of Enterprise Risk Management approaches to promote innovation, achieve efficiency, foster accountab