USDA Agricultural Extension Specialist

Job Title:  Agricultural Extension Specialist

Grade:  GS-0301-14

 

Type of Appointment:  Excepted Service (Time Limited) Appointment

 

Length of Appointment:  up to 5 years

 

Area of Consideration:  All Sources

 

Duty Location:  Washington, D.C.

 

Opening Date of Announcement:  5/17/13

 

Closing Date of Announcement:  6/14/13

 

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position and be able to be security cleared for assignment. 

Overview:  The Development Resources and Disaster Assistance Division (DRDAD) is responsible for coordinating USDA participation in technical assistance, training, and development programs undertaken on behalf of developing nations. Specific emphasis is oriented toward, but not limited to, administering and implementing U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded programs under Participating Agency Service Agreements (PASAs) as well as agreements with other organizations and non-USAID countries.

The Agriculture Extension Specialist position is located in the U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau for Food Security (BFS), Country Strategy and Implementation (CSI) Office. The Agriculture Extension Specialist will work with local and international organizations, USAID field missions, and technical staff from the USAID Bureau for Food Security, regional bureaus, the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3), and other bureaus and offices to promote the development, design, and implementation of projects, programs, policies and strategies needed to provide rural extension, information, and advisory services for developing and transitional countries to make agricultural systems more productive, profitable, and sustainable. The position supports global food security objectives of the USG Feed the Future Initiative, which is directed towards increasing agricultural growth for smallholders, while improving nutritional indicators.

 

Duties/Required Skills:

 

1.  Individual must have expert knowledge of USAID design and programming processes and have general familiarity with the Feed the Future Initiative and its related Results Framework and USAID Agriculture, Global Climate Change and Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) strategies.

 

2. Extensive professional experience in international agriculture and rural development with demonstrated knowledge of international extension, information and advisory services systems trends (both public and private), and ability to analyze investment and policy implications for regions and countries, through publications, work experience, or other means.

 

3. Highly developed written and oral communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with other offices within USAID, other USG agencies, other donors, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

 

4. Demonstrated expertise in program and policy analysis, design, monitoring, and evaluation for agricultural sector and rural development programs, especially related to promoting innovation to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability of rural production systems and livelihood strategies.

 

5. Skills to plan, organize and direct team work and to negotiate effectively with management to accept and implement recommendations where the proposals involve substantial USAID resources or require extensive changes in established procedures

 

6. Ability to represent the USG at important international fora, to participate in workshops, conferences and seminars, and to organize discussions at major international symposia.

 

Please read all the instructions before you begin. 

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package to: FAS-SCHB-APPLIC@wdc.usda.gov with the subject line: OCBD-13-147 which includes the following:

1.     Resume

2.     MUST submit cover letter individually addressing your experience and qualifications of the “Required Skills”.

 

In addition to your Application Package, if you are applying for Veteran Preference, submit evidence of eligibility, such as DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or Application for Veteran Preference (Standard Form 15) and the proof requested on the form.

 

Applications that do not include a cover letter that directly and individually addresses the required skills will NOT be considered.

 

Attachment should be limited to a total of 5 MB or less, as emails with large attachments may be blocked by the USDA email firewall.

 

Direct all inquiries to:

 

Program Officer:  Sarah W. Librea

Branch:   RDNR

E-mail:  sarah.librea@fas.usda.gov

 

NOTE: A career status employee that is outside of FAS that accepts this position will be appointed to a Schedule B, Excepted Service time limited appointment.  This appointment does not offer re-employment rights back to career status within FAS, as described in CFR, Chapter 352.  The employee may seek re-employment rights from their losing agency prior to accepting this Schedule B appointment.  Please note that agencies are not required to grant re-employment rights.

 

REASONABLE ACCOMADATION POLICY STATEMENT:

 

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.