This position is part of the Office of the Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The work of the staff is essential to the success of the FAS mission of expanding exports of U.S. agricultural products and promoting world food security. The incumbent writes, edits, and distributes public information materials, sets editorial protocols and standards, and provides guidance to all FAS staff in meeting those standards.

Duties

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. The duties may include, but are not limited to: Writes/edits a variety of professional communications, including executive correspondence, reports, speeches, talking points, briefing materials, presentations, news releases, op-eds, articles, fact sheets, testimony, brochures, video scripts. Reviews/edits written materials to be disseminated, ensuring correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation; complete, clear, and logical statements; uniform technical terminology; consistent syntax and expression that conveys the desired emphasis. Analyzes intended audiences for USDA, TFAA, and FAS communications and ensures that complex, often-technical material is presented in a style, tone, and format that is accessible and understandable to those audiences. Ensures that written materials are consistent with applicable policies and standards, including standards set by the agency, the USDA Office of the Executive Secretariat, and the USDA Office of Communications, as well as Government Printing Office. Works collaboratively with FAS program areas and subject matter experts to obtain technical and policy information to be incorporated into such communications.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Selectee may be subject to satisfactory completion of a one-year trial period

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-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level) that demonstrates experience: 1) Reviewing writing material for clarity and/or for consistency with the agency's policies and/or style requirements; 2) Writing internal newsletters for employees and/or reports to headquarters consolidating submissions from various components; 3) Assisting with writing or editing scientific or technical documents, such as reports of research findings, training manuals, operating manuals, repair manuals, or technical specifications that are clear and useful to the intended audience; and 4) Utilizing desktop publishing technology to develop manuscripts, or various types of communication. OR Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Communications, Journalism, or English. FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates experience: 1) Utilizing word processing, graphics, desktop publishing packages, and/or publishing functions within Microsoft Word (table of contents, indexing, headings) to embed objects such as spreadsheets and/or tables from other sources such as Excel and PowerPoint; 2) Reviewing technical text for clarity, accuracy, statement of purpose, thesis, logical organization, and/or publishing suitability; 3) Communicating with researchers and/or other stakeholders, to gather technical statistical data and information from within and/or outside the agency; and 4) Utilizing publishing technologies to coordinate the work of others from conceptualization through printing and/or dissemination. You may be required to participate in a writing exercise or provide a writing sample prior to or during the interview process. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for the GS-11 grade level. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 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. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 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

This position does not have an education qualification requirement for the GS-12 grade level.
Please see above for education qualification requirement information for the GS-11 grade level.

Contacts

• Address Foreign Agricultural Service Human Capital Management Division 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Erricka Generoso
• Email: [email protected]