Agriculturist (Trade Director)

Summary The Trade Director assigned to the Phytosanitary Issues Management (PIM) staff, plays a major leadership role with respect to planning, coordinating, and directing the resolution of plant health issues involving import and export trade in plants and plant products. Responsibilities The duties may include, but are not limited to: Primary responsibility is serving as frontline USDA manager for addressing phytosanitary concerns affecting agricultural trade. As a U.S. negotiator leads, participates in, or supports intensive pre-negotiation preparation and strategy development. During trade negotiations plays a major role in establishing and maintaining the tenor of discussions on phytosanitary matters for which APHIS is responsible. Point of contact between the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) staff, International Services, Veterinary Services, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), other Federal/State Agencies, and industry on trade issue management matters. Provides strategic advice to other trade managers in USDA, ensuring that trade policies conform to the international standards of the IPPC and NAPPO. Plans, coordinates, or conducts studies relevant to the analysis of trade issues involved in the management of APHIS programs. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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, entomology, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: post high school education with courses equivalent to a major, which is defined as 24 semester/36 quarter hours, in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position, PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work. FOR THE GS-4 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of the steps of the Federal rule making process related to the Federal Administrative Procedure Act, the Plant Protection Act, and other statutory and regulatory authorities. Familiar with the Federal Register notice and comment process. Communicate and consult effectively and tactfully to lead, mediate and resolve complex problems with domestic and international stakeholders, industry groups, or non-governmental organizations. Considers and plans for possible outcomes, both best case scenarios and acceptable alternatives. Participate in or lead pre-negotiation and/or bilateral negotiations with foreign governments by applying international agreements such as WTO, IPPC, NAFTA, with particular attention to the plant health aspects of these agreements and with a thorough grasp of the cultural intricacies and customs that are an inherent part of high-level international negotiations. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. 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. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100 to receive selection priority. Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.