The Supervisory Agriculturist serves as the Director for the Export Services (ES) unit and its staff. ES has primary responsibility to manage and coordinate export of trade of phytosanitary products from the United States (U.S.); maintain an internationally accepted system of phytosanitary certification in accordance with international standards; and abide by science-based, risk management decisions on petitions from foreign trading partners who want exported regulated articles from the U.S.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Front-line APHIS representative in international negotiations with high level foreign government officials in managing phytosanitary certificates for the export of U.S. agricultural plants/products. Coordinates activities between the PPQ line and staff to ensure cooperation and effective program operations. Coordinates phytosanitary trade issue management within PPQ, and plans, coordinates, or conducts studies relevant to the analysis of trade issues involved in the management of PPQ programs. Serves as an expert resource for PPQ in identifying emerging scientific issues and modern technical capabilities to be applied to PPQ trade issue management. Exercises final approval authority for reports provided to the IPMSP ADA relating to ES activities, accomplishments, and strategic planning. Formulates the staff budget, ensuring proper fiscal allocations and expenditures and monitoring funds and possible shortfalls or excesses. Develops and maintains close personal contact with officials in the U.S. and other countries in order to keep abreast of new advances in trade management and phytosanitary procedures. Provides overall direction, guidance, and expertise involving significant policy and program issues affecting PPQ's ES activities. Supervises and coordinates activities of a staff comprised mainly Senior Export Specialists.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male 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/.
• 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.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.

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. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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 in national plant health programs, including pest exclusion, export certification, domestic and exotic plant pest conditions such as pest free areas, production practices, and economics that affect the U.S.'s ability to safely import and export plants and plant products. Experience and mastery in the coordination of trade export for phytosanitary products from the United States and the maintenance of any internationally accepted system of phytosanitary certification in accordance with international standards. Experience and comprehensive knowledge of Federal regulations, agricultural quarantine inspection programs, principles, policies, and procedures, and mastery in the understanding of emergency and plant health programs and their organizational structures, and the principles of international trade. Experience and skills in oral/written communications to advise, consult, and negotiate with other U.S. government, foreign government officials, and industries, and possesses the ability and skill to thoroughly grasp the cultural intricacies and customs that are an inherent part of any high-level international negotiation. Experience directing subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees and resources. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]