Federal Position Descriptions
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Director General for the United States and Foreign Commercial Service and Assistant Secretary for Global Markets

Director General for the United States and Foreign Commercial Service and Assistant Secretary for Global Markets, Department of Commerce
Responsibility
Management Scope

The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service had a budget of $328 million in fiscal 2016 and consisted of 1,086 employees.3

Primary Responsibilities

• Directs the activities of the Global Markets unit (GM), the largest by size and budget within the International Trade Administration (ITA)
• Works closely with fellow assistant secretaries for industry and analysis, and enforcement and compliance
• Provides strategic direction for the establishment and execution of programs to promote U.S. exports
• Directs the development and implementation of integrated export promotion and commercial diplomacy strategies to expand market access and increase U.S. exports
• Provides strategic management oversight for a network of trade professionals in the U.S. and worldwide responsible for U.S. firms’ entry into foreign markets and expansion of exports
• Promotes investment in the United States
• Leads ITA and regional trade policy development and negotiations for matters within the scope of GM regional responsibilities
• Directs programs and coordinates SelectUSA, a federal program to promote and facilitate business investment in the U.S.
• Provides strategic direction for the development and implementation of programs to identify and address market- and/or regional-specific trade barriers
• Provides strategic direction for the management of government-to-government and government activities to foster business-to-business bilateral and regional commercial engagement
• Directs programs to assist U.S. firms to compete successfully for foreign procurements and coordinates U.S. government advocacy resources and authority
• Serves as chief liaison with American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the union to which members of the Foreign Commercial Service belong

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Accomplished executive with C-suite experience and a strong record of leading a large and diverse private- or public-sector organization

Competencies

• Strong business acumen and the ability to shape and direct execution of U.S. policy, particularly regarding trade and investment
• Track record of being an effective communicator and manager in a large and diverse organization, including the ability to achieve results with diverse stakeholders ranging from members of the diplomatic corps to Congress to union officials

Past Appointments
  • Arun Kumar (2014 to 2016): Partner, KPMG, LLP; Founding CEO and CFO, three Silicon Valley tech companies4
  • Suresh Kumar (2009 to 2014): President and Managing Partner, KaiZen Innovation; Special Advisor to the Clinton Foundation; Johnson and Johnson’s Worldwide Consumer Pharmaceuticals5
  • Israel Hernandez (2005 to 2008): Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce and to the Acting Undersecretary for International Trade; Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush; Deputy to Senior Advisor Karl Rove6
AGENCY

Department of Commerce

Mission: The mission of the department is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity.

COMPENSATION

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)1

REPORTS TO

Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade2

SENATE COMMITTEE

Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

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Footnote
  1. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  2. https://www.commerce.gov/sites/commerce.gov/files/media/files/2015/docorgchartfinal.pdf
  3. https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=152324&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=1&Save=0#O152324
  4. https://www.commerce.gov/directory/arunmkumar
  5. http://2010-2014.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2010/02/12/suresh-kumar-confirmed-assistant-commerce-secretary-and-director-gene.html
  6. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/hernandez-bio.html
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