The incumbent serves as senior policy advisor and/or negotiator on complex trade policy issues affecting agricultural trade in commodities of animal origin and as the key subject-matter expert and lead FAS and/or USDA negotiator on policies affecting agricultural trade for a particular range of commodities and associated issues, including disease outbreaks. This position requires a Top Secret security clearance

Duties

Advises on highly political and sensitive trade issues including, as assigned, those related to international agreements and/or market access, subsidy or animal disease outbreaks affecting U.S. agricultural trade interests. Provides expert technical leadership and policy guidance on foreign markets and/or international organizations and multilateral bodies that may affect agricultural trade in animals and associated products. Provides expert technical leadership in the design of outreach efforts related to foreign markets; negotiations and/or enforcement activities, including international disputes and animal disease outbreak responses affecting agricultural trade. Serves as the primary FAS liaison to other USDA agencies, other U.S. agencies invested in international trade issues impacting animals and associated products. As assigned, represents USDA at high-level discussions and/or negotiations with foreign officials and at international meetings. Plans, directs, and coordinates the execution of, or individually develops and prepares, special analyses and interpretations that cut across established organizational and functional lines of USDA for assigned portfolio in AD Establishes and reports on performance measures by coordinating extensive knowledge and creativity into the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of relevant activities and programs. Represents FAS in the interagency decision-making apparatus with the standing to do so at the highest working level.

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.
• 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.
• In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the 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 Top 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-15 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-14 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience negotiating international trade agreements and/or international organizations. Expert knowledge of U.S. and international trade law and U.S. trade policy and the underlying economic theories, principles and concepts to serve as an expert in U.S. agriculture regarding international agricultural trade and the international agricultural situation. Experience analyzing the economic interrelationships among agricultural production and international trade, current events, economic trends and trade policy issues affecting foreign markets, including knowledge of foreign consumption patterns, attitudes, tariffs, subsidies, domestic agricultural policies, standards and facilities. Expertise in analyzing highly complex and sensitive problems related to trade policy, develop recommended policy positions, and execute trade policy decisions. 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: Tanesha Tillman
• Phone: 202-572-5986
• Email: [email protected]