Agricultural Economist

Foreign Agricultural Service • Beltsville, MD

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in Global Market Analysis (GMA), which supplies timely analysis and market intelligence to help meet USDA's trade policy, trade promotion and food security objectives. The incumbent will maintain and develop commodity forecasts, oversee data integrity, and coordinate the preparation and clearance of reports.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.
• Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.
• 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.
• 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.
• One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience independently applying economic theories, concepts, and techniques to the field of agriculture and/or trade in a professional setting.
• Experience writing, reviewing, and editing economic, agricultural, or international trade studies, working papers, and briefing materials.
• Experience identifying, defining, analyzing, and reporting market developments, trends, and policies affecting the world outlook of agricultural commodities and recommending courses of action.
• Experience leading or supervising a team including planning, organizing, and evaluating work.
• Experience briefing more senior leaders to obtain their support for recommended courses of action.
• Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Collects, evaluates, and analyzes data and market intelligence; prepares and reviews supply and demand estimates and forecasts for a large group of agricultural commodities, countries, and regions.
• Produces written and oral interpretive reports on agricultural market conditions, including but not limited to commodity circulars, country pages, quarterly U.S. agricultural trade reports, and international agricultural trade reports.
• Leads the work of a team to perform research, analysis, and associated functions which contribute to the accomplishment of the Agency’s mission to expand and maintain international market opportunities for U.S. agriculture.
• Represents FAS in intra- and inter-departmental commodity committees.
• Consults with representatives of other U.S. Government agencies, representatives of foreign governments, domestic and foreign producers, exporters, importers, farm organizations.

Benefits

• 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.
• Learn more about federal benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior