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Agricultural Economist

Department of Agriculture
Foreign Agricultural Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Employee will independently collect, review, evaluate and analyze foreign economic data and market information on the supply, demand, trade and prices of specified agricultural commodities as they impact U.S. export prospects.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/05/2020 to 06/11/2020
Salary
$48,670 to - $77,396 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Both domestic and international travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
9
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
RG-10832481-20-FAS
Control number
570153000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Recent graduate who has, within the previous two years, completed a qualifying Associate's, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, professional, vocational or technical degree or certificate program. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation have up to six years after degree completion to apply.

Duties

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  • The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Applies economic techniques and principles in the analysis of factors and conditions impacting the competitive posture of the U.S. agricultural industry in the global environment.
  • Assists in the assessment, collection, and analysis of current and historical trends of economic data, formulating conclusions and preparing reports.
  • Provides analyses of world-wide supply, trade, marketing and consumption of agricultural commodities and products with emphasis on their impact directly or indirectly on U.S. exports.
  • Supports the work of the agency to resolve routine problems and provide quality customer service and advice on a regular basis.
  • Represents the agency at meetings with other agencies, participating in educational seminars and consulting with staff of domestic and foreign industry and trade associations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
  • Satisfactory Background investigation and/or fingerprint check
  • Successful completion of one-year trial period
  • Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/
  • As a condition of employment, satisfactory completion and favorable adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check may be required for this position.
  • Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
  • Position may be eligible for telework.
  • Employee participation in telework is at the discretion of the supervisor.

Qualifications

To qualify, you MUST meet all program and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements;

  • Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years.
  • Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met.
BASIC REQUIREMENT:
Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

OR A combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level) that demonstrates:
  • Ability to resolve routine problems and provide customer service, advice, and assistance on routine matters.
  • Oral and written communications skills sufficient to clearly explain and describe data or issues involving work responsibilities.
  • Proficiency with computer and software tools with an understanding of their applicability.
  • Economic research or reporting.
OR1 year of graduate level coursework in agricultural economics, economics, applied economics, international economics, agribusiness, international agricultural development, or related.

OR Superior academic achievement

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
  • Ability to resolve routine problems and provide customer service, advice, and assistance on routine matters with economics or agricultural budget.
  • Oral and written communications to internal and external audiences including team members, supervisors, and partner organizations.
  • Conduct evaluation, collection, and analysis of current and historical trends of economic data, as well as formulating conclusions and report preparation.
  • Preparation of tables, charts, graphs, or maps to better illustrate and support analytical conclusions.
  • The application of economic techniques and principles using mathematical and/or econometric models, statistical techniques, and software.
OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree in agricultural economics, economics, applied economics, international economics, agribusiness, international agricultural development, or related.

OR 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a M.S. or equivalent graduate degree in coursework shown above.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required.
  • This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.
  • You are qualifying for the position based on education.
  • You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
  • This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07/09 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Transcripts including the date your degree was conferred are required. Applications will not be considered without this documentation.

Additional information

  • Recent Graduate appointments are intended to last for 1 year. Recent Graduates who satisfactorily complete all the USDA Recent Graduates Program requirements may be non-competitively converted to a Term or Permanent appointment in the competitive service. Conversion is not guaranteed. Recent Graduates converted to Term appointments may later be non-competitively converted to a Permanent competitive service position.
  • If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entrance on duty.
  • A Pathways Participant Agreement will be required if you are selected for a position. The agreement must be signed by all applicable parties prior to entrance on duty.
  • First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
  • This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the duty location of the position. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.
  • Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
  • Selection will be at GS-0110-07/09 with the possibility of conversion to a term or permanent GS-0110-07/09, with promotion potential to the GS-09 level. Conversion eligibility and position is not guaranteed and depends upon the program unit's needs.
CONVERSION REQUIREMENTS Recent Graduates may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service. To be eligible for conversion the Recent Graduate must meet all of the following:
  • Successfully complete at least 1-year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the Program as outlined in the Participant Agreement.
  • Demonstrate successful job performance.
  • Meet the qualifications for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

Category rating procedures will be used to rank and select eligible candidates. The following quality categories will be used: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. Within each quality category, veterans' preference eligibles will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Your final category placement will be based on your responses to the assessment questionnaire.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or 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/10832481

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