Agricultural Specialist Full Time NEW

Job Description

The Agricultural Specialist (mid-level specialist) is responsible for representing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Ethiopia and other countries in the Horn of Africa including Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia. The incumbent monitors, analyzes, and prepares highly specialized reports on agricultural, marketing and trade policy developments for assigned agricultural commodities.  Responsibilities also include working with U.S. and host country government agencies and industries to resolve trade complaints, issues of non-compliance with host country import regulations, and administering market development programs. The incumbent develops and maintains key professional and social relationships (mid-to-high levels) to exchange information and gain cooperation on substantive trade and agricultural policy matters.

Qualifications and Evaluations

• Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Food and Agricultural Marketing, Agriculture, Agribusiness, International Trade, or Public Policy is required.
• All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.
• Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (4 weeks) upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
• You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement.
• You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
• You must complete the application form and provide the required documents.  Your application must address all the
• position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities
• listed.  If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
• Minimum five years of work experience in one or more fields of agricultural economics, agricultural policy, commodity trade, and marketing analysis/research that includes extensive analysis and report writing on complex subjects

Language: 

Fluency in Speaking/Reading/Writing English is required. Fluency in Speaking/Reading/Writing Amharic is required. (These may be tested)

Please address this language requirement in your ERA application.

Skills And Abilities:

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) to create documents and spreadsheets, maintain and update databases, and develop presentations. Use of FAS specialized software and data analysis programs. Must be knowledgeable in analyzing agricultural production, global agricultural trade concepts, and economic supply/demand concepts. Required to analyze and apply complex statistical data and maintain data sets for accurate commodity and trade reporting. Drafts highly specialized reports on markets and trade policy. Must have excellent time management skills to cope with the diversity of work and deadlines. Ability to work effectively with government, public, and private individuals to obtain information and resolve trade issues. (These may be tested)

Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

A hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the order listed below.  It is essential you accurately describe your status in your application, failure to do so may result in a determination that you are not eligible for a hiring preference.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER

1. 1. Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*

1. 1. AEFM / USEFM

1. 1. Foreign Service (FS) on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) with reemployment rights **

* IMPORTANT:  US citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”) preferably Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability, equivalent documentation, or certification.  A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.

** This level of preference applies to all FS employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.

For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, etc., please visit the 3 FAM 7210 Definitions.

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS

The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs only:

• • Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible. This does not apply when the hiring mechanism is TEMP or the work schedule is intermittent or irregular.

• • Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing.

The following apply to Locally Employed (LE) staff only:

• • Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible.

• Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, or an MBC score of less than 100 points on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible.

How to Apply:

Click the “Apply to This Vacancy” button at the top of the page to begin your application.  For an instructional video on how to apply click here.

https://erajobs.state.gov/dos-era/vacancy/viewVacancyDetail.hms?_ref=ykfkq3d3pt0&returnToSearch=true&jnum=71384&orgId=79
Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills (including English), and job related skills or requirements in your application.

You may edit your application any time before the vacancy closing date. If you fail to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date of this vacancy, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

For a copy of the complete position description, please contact the HR Office.

To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Office.

We foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace where employees can be themselves.  We invite qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Required Documents:

Note: Please upload all work experience copies of yours under “Other Document 1 or 2”

Please upload all applicable documents to your application. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

All Applicants:

• • Work Experience (required)

• • University Degree (required)

• • Driver’s License (if applicable)

• • Certificate (if applicable)

• • Resume/CV (if applicable)

In addition, Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants must submit:

• • Copy of Sponsor’s Travel Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)

• • Passport copy

• • DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)

• • SF-50 (if applicable)

Next Steps:

The HR Office will contact successful applicants.  For more information on applying for jobs or employment with us, please visit the U.S. Mission website https://et.usembassy.gov/jobs/

Thank you for your application and your interest in working with us.