International Programs Specialist

Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food and agriculture issues based on public policy, the best available science and effective management. The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) links U.S. agriculture to the world, improves foreign market access for U.S. food and agricultural products, builds new markets, improves the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace, and provides food aid and technical assistance to foreign countries.

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Duties

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• 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.
• Provide technical support and expertise in one or more program areas, such as international trade finance; agricultural trade capacity building programs; scientific exchange initiatives; and related international development activities.
• Assist with the coordination and implementation of agricultural capacity building and scientific exchange programs, including helping deliver science based training and technical assistance.
• Support the administration of program financial requirements and internal controls by helping ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies.
• Contribute to the negotiation, development, and implementation of agreements and cooperative activities involving FAS, other USDA agencies, academic institutions and international or foreign counterparts.
• Provide information, participate in briefings, and represent program areas in discussions with internal and external partners as assignments become more complex.

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.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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
• This is an *office-centered position*you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.

Qualifications

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

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level), which may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors, that demonstrates all the following: assisted with program or project support for international or agricultural development or trade activities; helped collect and organize information for capacity-building or technical assistance work; and used written or oral communication to share basic program information or support team tasks. Experience may be from the public or private sector.

OR 1 full year of graduate level education

OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND must meet certain GPA requirements.

TO QUALIFY AT THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 grade level), which may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors, that demonstrates all the following: conducts research, gathers data, and provides inputs for reports, briefings, and analytical products; implementing, coordinating, and evaluating agricultural assistance programs; conducts assessments and provides initial interpretations of international trade issues, conditions, and events.

OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree.

OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.

TO QUALIFY AT THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level), which may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors, that demonstrates all the following: program or project management support activities such as designing, implementing, monitoring, or evaluating international or agricultural development or trade programs; draft or review documents or agreements for capacity-building or technical assistance; assisted in providing technical information or training to stakeholders; written and oral communication to present findings or support program discussions.

OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.

TO QUALIFY AT THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 grade level), which may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors, that demonstrates all the following: independently carried out program or project management activities such as design, implementation, monitoring, or evaluation for international or agricultural development or trade programs; led or contributed to developing, negotiating, and implementing capacity-building or technical assistance agreements; provided technical leadership and consultation for program activities in rural development, natural resources management, scientific exchange, or trade; and used written and oral communication to present findings, recommend activities, and represent an organization in discussions with internal and external partnersNote: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required if:

• You are qualifying for the position based on education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement.
• This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07 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 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.

Additional information

• Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (
• Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).
• Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.
• For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.
• This position is being concurrently announced under Delegated Examining Announcement Number DE-13029924-26-FAS-DJ. This announcement is open to all qualified candidates. Applying to both announcements may expand the possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information.
• First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
• Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will NOT be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
• 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.
• Recruitment or Relocation Incentives will NOT be considered.his position is in a bargaining unit with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 3976.
• For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.