Agricultural Development Officer (Backstop 10), FS-03/02

FOREIGN SERVICE CAREER MID-LEVEL
Agricultural Development Officer (Backstop 10), FS-03/02

WHO ARE WE?
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has a long history of extending a helping hand to those people overseas struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country. It is this caring that stands as a hallmark of the United States around the world - and shows the world our true character as a nation.

USAID is listed as one of the top ten best places to work in the Federal Government by the Office of Personnel Management’s survey (Summer 2006).

WHAT ARE WE?
USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. With headquarters in Washington, DC, USAID fosters transformational development around the world. Our work supports economic growth and trade; agriculture and the environment; education and training; democracy and governance; global health; global partnerships and humanitarian assistance. We operate in four regions of the world: Sub-Saharan Africa; Asia and the Near East; Latin America and the Caribbean; and Europe and Eurasia. USAID employs individuals in the Civil Service and Foreign Service, as well as through Personal Service Contracts for service in Washington, DC and overseas.

WHERE ARE WE?
USAID’s headquarters is centrally located in downtown Washington, DC, at the prestigious Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. We are located right on the Federal Triangle Metro (Blue and Orange Lines). The office is within walking distance of restaurants, shops, Smithsonian Institution museums and Washington Monument. There is also a physical fitness facility and food court on site.

NOTES:

Current USAID Foreign Service career and career candidate employees are not eligible to apply to this announcement. Non direct hire staff including Personal Services Contractors and those under Foreign Service Limited Appointments are encouraged to apply to this announcement.

Multiple vacancies will be filled through this open announcement.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as referral lists may be forwarded to selecting officials at any time.

USAID is continually looking for opportunities to expand partnerships with the private sector to promote development goals. Candidates with private sector experience, knowledge, skills and abilities are encouraged to apply.

USAID is also seeking to expand its capability to respond to crises and disasters around the globe. The Agency is planning to develop “surge” capacity amongst its Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for such a response, and after going overseas. Persons applying for this announcement are also eligible to serve as “surge” officers, and will be provided special training.

DIVERSITY

USAID is committed to recruiting and deploying a diverse Foreign Service workforce that reflects the diverse nature of the U.S. labor force.

BENEFITS

Federal benefits include: 10 paid Federal Holidays per year; 13 days of paid sick leave per year; 13-26 days of vacation, depending on years of pertinent employment; Nationally recognized health insurance plans that offers choice and flexibility; Group Term Life Insurance program; and Long-term Care Insurance.

POSITION BACKGROUND:

An Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) in USAID is responsible for design, management (staff, financial, and technical resources), monitoring, evaluation and reporting of agriculture development programs that are part of U.S. assistance programs in developing countries. USAID ADOs contribute to USAID programs in the areas of country strategy development and agriculture and rural development program choices that include multiple areas such as rural livelihoods, agricultural production and food security, agribusiness and trade, agriculture policy, innovation systems, and human and institutional capacity building. USAID ADOs may also contribute to economic growth programs related to business, legal and institutional reform, privatization, and trade and investment.

DUTIES:

ADOs support agriculture and rural development assistance programs in developing countries by developing strategies, analytical models, and methodologies; analyzing data; and providing assistance and advice on agriculture and rural development issues.

Strategic Planning: For country, regional, or agency-wide programming, performs strategic analysis of trends, and future areas of opportunity and problems, as input to Agency strategic planning. Develops or contributes to strategic planning documents, country assistance strategies, sector strategies, and similar planning exercises. Employs analytical tools and insight to provide guidance to senior managers for decisions about allocation of resources to agriculture and rural development programs, and as input to cross-cutting issues such as environment or gender.

Program Analysis: Serves as a technical resource and advisor, providing analyses of agriculture and rural development sector trends relating to country of assignment to inform senior management and program managers of relevant factors that may affect the U.S. assistance program. Chairs technical evaluation committees for agriculture and rural development project proposals, and oversees contracted technical assistance and commodity interventions to agricultural programs in developing countries. Ensures statistical soundness of data used to track program performance, and proposes statistical indicators of program success. Communicates results of analysis both verbally and in writing to specialist and non-specialist audiences. Develops criteria for project and program evaluation statements of work and briefs evaluation teams regarding agricultural background and conditions within which USAID programs operate.

Agriculture Policy Guidance: Analyzes agriculture policies present in country of assignment and briefs and advises senior USAID and Embassy management regarding agriculture policy issues relevant to successful achievement of USG assistance objectives. Develops professional contacts with agriculture and other officials in the host country government, resident missions of the international financial institutions, bilateral donors, embassies, as well as within the local academic and business communities. Ensures coordination with all USG activities in the specific country agriculture sector. For Washington, develops and maintains a broad range of USG interagency contacts related to agriculture sector and economic growth foreign assistance programs.

Program Management: Sets the vision and leads the design of agriculture and rural development programs and projects. Develops project solicitations, and prepares technical project specifications and analyses as necessary for project approval and for initiating related procurement actions. Sets project performance benchmarks and monitors and evaluates project implementation progress. Programs typically include technical assistance and institutional development support to host country government policy agencies as well as private Non Government Organizations, business associations, think tanks and academic institutions. Leads agriculture and rural development initiatives and task force groups to accomplish programmatic goals. Plans and/or accomplishes special projects pertaining to agriculture and rural development programs.

Mentoring: Serves as supervisor and mentor to junior agriculture staff and to culturally diverse teams. Ensures that junior staff receive adequate training in the design, implementation, monitoring evaluation and reporting of agriculture programs and projects.