Crop Assessment Specialist

Foreign Agricultural Service • Beltsville, MD

6d

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• Must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Must 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.
• Incumbent will be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter.
• Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• 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.
• 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.
• Substantial experience of remote sensing techniques and automated data processing (ADP) technology, particularly image processing, GIS, and associated equipment.
• Experience with world production of assigned commodities, including agronomy, soil science, crop modeling, crop management practices, geography, crop reactions to weather stress, and local crop calendars.
• Experience with non-survey methods of production forecasting, including trend analysis, yield modeling, and remote sensing-based techniques.
• Experience with conducting research and gathering documentation in order to compile comprehensive reports.

Responsibilities

• Uses state-of-the-art computer hardware and software for satellite remote sensing imagery analysis and geographic information system operations, analyzes satellite data in assessing crop conditions in foreign and/or domestic areas.
• Plans and carries out projects for collecting detailed agronomic and economic data on world production of assigned commodities; utilizes agronomic models and guidelines for making crop forecasts.
• Analyzes and appraises agronomic factors affecting crop yields and the effects of economic plans, policies, and programs of specific foreign governments that are designed to increase or control production of assigned commodities.
• Certifies area and production estimates used by the Agency for simultaneous entry into USDA's Production Estimates database and the Production Supply and Distribution database.
• Prepares complex analytical reports, special alert reports, and technical papers based on study findings for publication; prepares and presents briefings on analyses and assessments.

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.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed