TERM Agriculturist (Foreign Program Specialist)

As an Agriculturist (Foreign Program Specialist), you will help reduce the risks associated with the entry and establishment of plant pests into the United States through the oversight, management, and facilitation of offshore safeguarding activities, clearances, and mitigations, by providing on-site operational service delivery, evaluation, and monitoring for Plant Protection and Quarantine's (PPQ) foreign-based preclearance and offshore programs.

• This is a Term appointment not to exceed 13 months. (Appointment may be extended up to 10 years without reannouncing). For more details click: Term Appointments

The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Delivers on-site service by conducting commodity inspections, monitoring and evaluating treatments, and certifying consignments of agricultural commodities for shipment to the United States.
• Monitors program operations and provides guidance and technical expertise to preclearance staff officials and managers related to operational problems or challenges related to these programs.
• Provides Preclearance and Offshore Programs (POP) management with expert opinion and advice aimed at establishing, evaluating, and improving pest management and mitigation activities, related policy, and the customer service experience.
• Plans and oversees the work of PPQ foreign employees, host country plant quarantine inspectors, and/or cooperator personnel assigned to the preclearance program.
• Gathers technical, and non-technical information to recommend protocol development or revision as necessary and identifies and resolves issues related to preclearance and offshore programs.
• Assists POP personnel with daily operational responsibilities: developing talking points, briefing papers, correspondence, program updates and reports, and regulatory decision-making.
• Serves on teams of POP and plant health and quarantine experts to study and/or respond to new/established plant health threats and assess the cost and effectiveness of current POP program activities.
• Researches pest and disease trends, program review findings, stakeholder support or opposition, that may impact current policy or operations, and provides that information to program staff.

  Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR Combination of education and experience: post high school education with courses equivalent to a major, which is defined as 24 semester/36 quarter hours, in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position, PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work.

FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement, applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Experience analyzing program operations and providing recommendations for resolution to colleagues, supervisors, and managers related to problems or challenges.
• Experience coordinating and leading work projects amongst team members and presenting findings to management.
• Experience developing reports and recommendations to inform modifications of standard operating procedures, work plans, job aids, and other documents pertaining to program topics.
• Experience coordinating with internal and external stakeholders (both written and orally) regarding program operations.

Note: There is no education substitution for specialized experience at this grade level.
 

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any specialized experience and/or selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, your application is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12386248