This position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA), U.S. Codex Office (USCO). The position is being filled under the Pathways Student Internship Authority which is designed to provide students a paid internship who are interested in careers in food safety, trade, or a closely related subject.

Duties

The incumbent provides assistance to higher level administrative and professional staff by performing administrative work as assigned. These tasks are designed to increase knowledge and understanding of USDA's mission and the activities of the organization within assigned area of specialty and/or interest. Assignments will vary by Agency, Office, and Division. The major duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Validates and processes documents which pertain to the organization’s work. Assembles and inputs information into databases and other systems. Prepares reports, gathers current data, tracks and reports on status of assignments, etc. Uses word processing equipment, automated applications, and agency systems for purposes such as correspondence, web content development, reports, manuals, timekeeping, completion of travel documents, and other administrative support functions. Schedules appointments and makes meeting arrangements in accordance with instructions from the supervisor or other senior staff. Receives and files correspondence, records, reports, and other materials. Contributes to a productive and nondiscriminatory work environment through written and oral communications and interpersonal relations. Performs a variety of administrative and/or clerical tasks related to the work of the program, staff, division, or team to which assigned.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
• Must be in good academic standing as defined by the agency as a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Complete a minimum of 480 internship hours (320 hours if a waiver is received) to be eligible for conversion
• Enrolled at least half-time at a qualifying educational institution
• A signed participant agreement is required for employment under Pathways
• Satisfactory Background investigation and/or fingerprint check
• If selected, you will be required to successfully complete a two-year trial 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/
• The internship will expire 180 days after completion of the designated academic course of study.

Qualifications

Individuals must have been accepted for enrollment or be enrolled during the current (Fall 2024) and next upcoming (Spring 2025) semester and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in an accredited/qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Pathways Intern Program Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must meet Pathways Intern Program Eligibility Requirements as shown below by the closing date of the announcement. *Spring 2024 graduates will be required to provide proof of continued enrollment in the form of transcripts, acceptance letter or other appropriate documentation at the time of tentative selection. If no proof of continued enrollment is provided at that time, you will no longer be eligible for this internship. Applicants must be currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment from a qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis. Applicants must be seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) and be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.0 or equivalent) to qualify for the intern program and to stay throughout the duration of their intern program. *If your school uses an alternate grading system, you must submit proof and explanation of the grading system with your application or you will not be considered for this position. The duties of the position must be related to the student's academic field of study or career interests Position Qualifications: Applicants must meet position qualifications requirements as shown below at the time of appointment. The agency must be able to verify that the education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed. GS-04: Completion of 2 academic years of post-high school study or have completed an associate's degree. One full academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent as defined by the accredited college or university. One full academic year of graduate education is defined as 18 semester hours or the equivalent as defined by the accredited college or university.

Education

College Transcripts: You must submit a copy of your college transcript or high school diploma/GED certificate as proof that you meet the educational requirements for the grade to which you are applying. You may submit unofficial copies of transcripts at the initial phase of the application process; however, if selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entrance-on-duty. See "Required Documents" section for more details.

MUST PROVIDE all transcripts/proof of current AND future enrollment/acceptance, and/or current AND future class schedule.

All academic degrees or course work must be completed in an educational institution that has obtained accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov/.

Contacts

• Address Office of the Secretary 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Melanie Bieller
• Email: [email protected]