Agriculture Officer (Junior Foreign Service Officer)

Description Agriculture Officer (Junior Foreign Service Officer)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. Our work supports economic growth and trade; agriculture and the environment; education and training; democracy and governance; global health; global partnerships and humanitarian assistance.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), listed as one of the top ten best places to work in the Federal Government, is currently recruiting Executive Junior Foreign Service Officers. These positions are located overseas; almost all of which are in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean region, Asia and the Near East, or Eastern Europe and the former Soviet States.

As an Agriculture Officer you will have a wide range of responsibilities, including:

1. Agriculture Program/Project Management and Administration

2. Agriculture Program Planning
a. Participate and assist in the development of plans and programs for technical assistance, strategic planning, and other activities within the sector. Conceptualize the design, documentation, and/or management of centrally administered agriculture programs/projects that may be targeted toward a specific country/situation or to a specific development problem. Develop concept papers, project authorizations, and project amendments, in line with the Agency regulations and guidance. Contribute to the development of USAID s agriculture program strategy and design.
b. Assist in the planning of a broad range of agriculture program activities, including identifying opportunities for integrating development assistance principles with economic growth and development sector programs; participate in the formation of policies and guidelines to further agriculture development activities.
c. Act as a liaison with counterparts in other USAID regional and central bureaus to develop agency wide policies, strategies, performance indicators, assessments, and evaluations of programs.

3. Special Projects. Perform a variety of duties related to special projects involving program issues that contain complex elements and research in the sector. Assist in managing special cross-cutting initiatives and task force groups to accomplish programmatic goals. These groups may review specific programs at the organization or develop new initiatives in various program areas.

Federal benefits include:

• 10 paid Federal Holidays per year
• 13 days of paid sick leave each year
• 13-26 days of vacation
• depending on years of employment
• Nationally recognized health insurance plans that offers choice and flexibility
• Group Term Life Insurance program
• Long-term Care Insurance
• and much more!

Requirements ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

Applicant must have a graduate degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in one of the agricultural sciences, such as, but not limited to: agribusiness, agronomy, animal science, aquaculture, crop/plant science, entomology, food science and technology, forestry, horticulture, human nutrition, plant pathology, rural sociology, soil science, or agricultural economics, education, or engineering.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have a graduate degree (masters or doctorate) in a functional area directly related to the position(s) applied for and must be a U.S. citizen. Applicants must have advanced degree and citizenship at time of application.

Medical Clearance - A medical clearance for the applicant is required prior to being hired for this position. Foreign Service members must be able to serve at any overseas post. Many facilities are remote, unhealthy, or have limited medical support. Therefore, each applicant must meet medical fitness standards which are, of necessity, often more rigorous than those of other professions. Prior to being appointed to the Foreign Service, applicants must have a thorough medical examination and receive an unlimited medical clearance for assignment worldwide. After receiving a conditional offer of employment, each applicant is provided with instructions for the examining physician(s), which outline the precise requirements. Applicants living within a fifty-mile radius of Washington, DC, must have the medical exam performed by the Department of State Office of Medical Services. USAID considers the medical condition of eligible family members for assignment purposes. Therefore, USAID requires medical clearances for eligible family members before they can travel overseas to accompany an employee on assignment at US Government expense. Family members, who, for medical reasons, cannot accompany an employee on an overseas assignment, are eligible to receive a separate maintenance allowance.

Worldwide Availability - Worldwide availability is an essential qualification for appointment to the Foreign Service. Foreign Service Officers will spend the majority of their careers overseas and must be willing to accept assignments at any USAID location, almost all of which are in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Middle East, and Europe and Eurasia. Once appointed, the incumbent of an assigned position may be reassigned/relocated to any geographical location where the employees' services are needed as determined by headquarters.