This position is located in the Office of the Administrator (OA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The incumbent in this position serves as a Staff Assistant to the Office of the Administrator and works closely with the OA senior leadership in the day-to-day operations of the agency.

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. Presents proposals to senior leadership and other top Agency officials for new or revised policies. Comprehensive knowledge of planning and organizing complex work, evaluating work accomplishments, and the management process to prepare long-range and short-range planning guidance in accordance with broad agency program policies and objectives. Ability to compose narrative material in a concise, well-organized, and grammatically correct manner. Communicate controversial and problematic positions to senior level management officials with little or no knowledge of agency programs. Ability to work well with others, build coalition, and represent the interests of the organization, including being tactful to maintain relationships at different organizational levels. Provide advice and counsel to senior leadership on sensitive and controversial issues. Develop new guides and methods when existing policies and methods do not apply.

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.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• 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/.
• Testing Designated Position: 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.

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-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: Assisting senior leadership on day to day operations of an agency using comprehensive knowledge of Agency program goals and objectives. Planning, organizing, and evaluating work accomplishments. Explaining and/or justifying findings and recommendations to top level Government officials and communicating both orally and in writing. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Working with senior leadership on day-to-day operations of an agency including planning and organizing complex work, evaluating work accomplishments. Preparing long-range and short-range planning guidance. Interpreting data, explaining and/or justifying findings and providing recommendations to top level government officials. Note: There is no education substitution for this 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.

Contacts

• Address Foreign Agricultural Service Human Capital Management Division 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Tanja Blagmon
• Phone: 202-869-9068
• Email: [email protected]