FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS OFFICER (TRAINEE)

Summary Foreign Service Trainees work and train in Washington, D.C. as civil service employees for an average of 18 to 36 months, followed by conversion to the Foreign Service/assignment to an overseas post. Those who demonstrate the needed competencies will be commissioned into the Foreign Service and can look forward to professional careers with increasing rank and responsibility, averaging 25 years. Additional information can be found here: Duties

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Works effectively with other FAS program areas and other agencies.
• FSO Trainees undergo comprehensive training while stationed in Washington, DC, where they participate in and complete all components of their training program under the guidance of their supervisors.
• The duties described represent the expectations at the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments may entail a narrower scope, require less autonomy, and involve less complexity.
• Administer market development and credit guarantee programs; develop and implement agricultural trade missions and trade shows; and cultivate productive working relationships with domestic agricultural industry groups.
• Coordinate and devise a global agricultural commodity analysis strategy, furnishing timely dependable market insights on production, consumption, trade, stock, and price data.
• Conduct analyses of market conditions, governmental policies, and commercial practices to furnish policy makers with actionable insights supporting USDA export programs, trade policies, and market access endeavors.
• Draft various documents including correspondence, briefing materials, market profiles, and background information pertinent to agricultural trade.
• Identify, monitor, and contribute to removal or mitigation of agricultural tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade, along with technical, sanitary, and phytosanitary barriers. Provide support for market access initiatives through policy analysis.
• Participate in the monitoring of USDA trade promotion and food assistance programs.
• Contribute to the formulation of strategies to administer these initiatives. Implement development activities aimed at advancing trade and food security objectives.
• Develop long-term trade strategies to address evolving trade policies. Qualifications

For the

GS-09 LEVEL: In order to qualify for this position at the GS-09 level applicants must possess one of the following: 1. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service OR 2. Have qualifying education OR 3. Have a combination of specialized experience and qualifying education. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-09 level based on specialized experience applicants must possess one year or more of specialized experience that was equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal service that has provided them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed in order to successfully perform the duties of the position at the GS-09 level. Specialized experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors, be paid or unpaid, and is typically gained in the same field as the position being filled or another very closely related field. Applicants qualifying for the GS-09 level based on experience must provide evidence of the following type of specialized experience in their resume. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating: Experience assisting with professional work in one of the following three areas: Assisting in the evaluation of government regulatory policies and/ or economic data related to trade or food security. Assisting with the application of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to analyze markets and commercial trends, assess agricultural conditions, and/or assess production supply and demand. Assisting in planning and implementation of export promotion campaigns or food and agricultural development initiatives. OR Education: In order to qualify for the GS-09 level based on education applicants must have successfully completed a master's degree (or equivalent) or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, in a field of study directly related to the duties of this position, such as economics, business, food and agriculture sciences, development, public policy, international relations, communications, law, or other directly related fields of study from an accredited university. Applicants qualifying for the GS-09 level based on education must submit copies of their college transcripts. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating. OR Combination of Specialized Experience and Qualifying Education: Applicants qualifying for the GS-09 level based on a combination of experience and education must show evidence of their experience in their resume and they must submit copies of their college transcripts. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating.

For the

GS-11 LEVEL: In order to qualify for this position at the GS-11 level applicants must possess one of the following: 1. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service OR 2. Have qualifying education OR 3. Have a combination of specialized experience and qualifying education. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-11 level based on specialized experience applicants must possess one year or more of specialized experience that was equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal service that has provided them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed in order to successfully perform the duties of the position at the GS-11 level. Specialized experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors, be paid or unpaid, and is typically gained in the same field as the position being filled or another very closely related field. Applicants qualifying for the GS-11 level based on experience must provide evidence of the following type of specialized experience in their resume. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating: Experience assisting with or performing professional work in two of the following three areas: Independently conducting qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of government policies related to trade or food security and synthesizes findings into reports. Independently conducting market research to identify shifts in consumer behavior and emerging market trends to develop strategic recommendations that inform marketing campaigns or stakeholder engagement efforts. Independently conducting qualitative and quantitative research and analysis to assess markets trends, agricultural conditions, and/or supply and demand of commodities to produce analytical reports to inform decision-makers and stakeholders. Independently planning and implementing of export promotion campaign activities or food and agricultural development initiatives. OR Education: In order to qualify for the GS-11 level based on education applicants must have successfully completed at least three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree such as economics, business, food and agriculture sciences, development, public policy, international relations, communications, law or other directly related fields of study from an accredited university. Applicants qualifying for the GS-11 level based on education must submit copies of their college transcripts. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating. OR Combination of Specialized Experience and Qualifying Education: Applicants may have combinations of successfully com