International Agricultural Development Specialist

Job Title: International Agricultural Development Specialist

Grade: GS-0101-13

Area of Consideration: All Sources

To apply for this position, you must be a U.S. citizen and be able to obtain a secret security clearance.  This is a USDA/FAS Excepted Service, Schedule B appointment for up to five years.

The individual selected for this position will be assigned to the Development Resources and Disaster Assistance (DRDA) Division, Office of Capacity Building and Development, Foreign Agricultural Service.  Primary responsibility will be the development and management of a diverse portfolio of international technical assistance programs involving agriculture, natural resource management, climate change, and related technical fields.  Specifically, the selected candidate will serve as a member of the DRDA's Rural Development and Natural Resources (RDNR) Branch.  S/he will develop and maintain close working relationships between FAS and USAID in order to manage a number of reimbursable collaborative programs involving the provision of USDA and Land Grant University technical experts to USAID operations both in Washington and abroad.  The selected candidate will oversee a variety of administrative and technical duties which include processing administrative documents, maintaining official travel and procurement files and liaising with FSA/Park Office Center, FSA/Human Resources, FSA/Management Services Division (MSD), FAS/Travel and the USDA National Finance Center (NFC).  As a secondary role, the selected candidate will be responsible for the coordination of technical assistance activities of the RDNR branch.  Overseas travel may be required on an occasional basis.

The mission of FAS/OCBD advances international agricultural trade and U.S. national security by strengthening the institutions and economies of developing countries through trade capacity building and agricultural development.  DRDA provides USDA technical assistance, training and information to cooperating countries and institutions to achieve sustainable agricultural production and food security, mutual economic growth, trade and scientific capacity building and conservation of natural resources and a protected environment.

Candidates should have at least a Bachelors degree and relevant experience in agriculture, international affairs, natural resource management, biological sciences or a related area. Familiarity with USDA and USAID agricultural and development programs is strongly preferred.  Proficiency in a major foreign language and overseas experience preferred. The position is located in Washington, D.C.

Skills Required:

1.  Demonstrated skills in planning, design and management of international technical assistance programs.

2.  Strong skills in project budget development and financial management.

3.  Knowledge of USDA and USAID international agriculture, natural resource management and development programs sufficient to participate in technical discussions.

4.  Ability to write briefing papers and memos for submission to higher agency officials.

5.  Interpersonal and personnel management skills to recruit and support approximately 25 technical experts detailed to USAID including conducting and drafting performance evaluations.

Interested applicants should provide the following: (1) a cover letter, (2) a resume, (3) a current performance appraisal if available and (4) a paragraph responding to each of the Skills Required listed above.

Hiring Arrangements: USDA employees may be able to be detailed from their home USDA agency (which would be reimbursed for personnel costs plus administrative costs), retain their career status, and return to their home agency at the conclusion of the assignment.

Please email or fax applications to:  

Dr. Sylvana Li

FAS/OCBD/DRDA/RDNR, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1033, 1400 Independence Avenue, Washington, DC 20250-1033

Phone: 202-690-2868

Fax: 202/720-6364

Email:  

*NOTE:* You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.

This notice expires close of business February 5, 2010.