Financial Economist (Country Risk) -Direct Hire

Summary

Announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days of the closing date. This announcement will be used to fill vacancies through OPM-authorized Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for STEM (Scientific, Technical, Engineering and Mathematic) positions at the GS-11 through GS-15 grade levels. This position is processed under Direct Hire authority. Veterans' Preference and Category Rating procedures DOES NOT APPLY. For more information, click here. About this agency

Duties

This position is located in the Country Risk and Economic Analysis Division (CREA), Office of Economic Analysis, Export-Import Bank of the United States. The CREA is primarily responsible for assessing the external creditworthiness of approximately 140 countries. In that capacity, CREA participates in two important country risk for a: 1) it serves as the Secretariat for the Inter-Agency Country Risk Assessment System (ICRAS), whose risk ratings determine the budget cost levels for all USG international loans, guarantees, and insurance; 2) it is a major participant in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Country Risk Experts' Group, which determine risk classifications that set minimum risk premia for all member export credit agencies. In addition, CREA is responsible for researching country risk methodological issues and making recommendations intended to refine the country risk rating process. Finally, CREA conducts economic analysis of issues pertinent to the operations of EXIM Bank. At the full performance level, duties include, but are not limited to: Determines recommended ICRAS ratings for both sovereign and non-sovereign medium- and long-term markets. When necessary, defends recommended ICRAS ratings before the ICRAS forum. Ratings before the ICRAS forum. Develops arguments to justify a country's appropriate final OECD risk classification. Analyzes the impact of various macroeconomic indicators on country creditworthiness and formulating recommended alterations to ICRAS and/or OECD country risk modeling. Provides written and oral briefings for board directors, senior management and staff (particularly the lending and asset management divisions) on country conditions and medium-term repayment prospects. Communicates oral and written to external clients in Spanish; Convert documents from English to Spanish.

Qualifications and evaluation

You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications above. This position is processed under a Direct Hire authority; therefore, veteran's preference and Category Rating procedures do not apply. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this position, your resume and supporting documentation will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. You will be notified by email if your application is forwarded to the hiring official for further consideration. If it is determined that your technical competencies do not meet the proficiency requirements for this position to move forward to the next evaluation stage, you will be notified by email.

How to apply

Effective September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in accordance with the Merit Hiring Plan. If you have not already done so, please update your resume under your profile before applying for any federal job. For additional details, visit click the following link. Applications will only be accepted online; however if you are unable to apply online, please contact the Agency Contact Person listed below. To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The following is a link to preview the occupational questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13043683 The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/08/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account here, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Required documents

Your application package should include the following documents: Your Resume (applicants are required to submit a resume with job title, series/grade (if federal employee), duties and accomplishments, employer's name, starting and ending dates of employment, number of hours worked per week, and annual salary). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete and you will not receive consideration for this position. Effective September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in accordance with the Merit Hiring Plan. If you have not already done so, please update your resume under your profile before applying for any federal job. For additional details, visit click the following link. Unofficial Transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment. Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable. Special Priority Selection rights under CTAP or ICTAP: Copy of your agency notice (RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc); Copy of your most recent performance appraisal (with at least a satisfactory rating), Most current SF-50 showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, position title, grade level, and duty location. Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD-214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF)15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter, if applicable. If a DD-214 (Member Copy 4) is not available, other documentation listing the beginning and ending dates of active service and the type of discharge must be submitted to verify eligibility. Submission of any required documents listed in vacancy announcement, if applicable. Please note that if you do not provide all required information/documents, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

Additional information

Current or Former Political Appointees: Pursuant to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) oversight authority under section 1104(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.) and section 5.2 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, OPM requires agencies to seek their approval prior to appointing any current or former political appointee to a permanent position (without time limits) in the civil service. A former or recent political appointee is someone who held a political appointment covered by OPM's policy within the previous 5-year period. OPM's oversight in this area safeguards merit system principles as well as fair and open competition free from political influence. If you are currently employed, or have been employed within the last 5 years, you must disclose this information. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Please visit the following link for the types of political appointments. Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. Information about ICTAP or CTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here to access OPM's Career Transition Resources website. Veterans: All veterans must meet the qualification requirements of the position for further consideration. For more information on veterans' preference, please click here. 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. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Ethical Standards/Financial Disclosure: EXIM is committed to the highest ethical standards. As an employee, you will be covered by the criminal conflict of interest statutes and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. You will be required to complete new employee ethics training within 3 months of your appointment. If this position is subject to financial disclosure requirements (either public or confidential depending upon your position), you will be required to complete a new entrant financial disclosure report within 30 days of your appointment.