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Summary

This position is in the Research and Promotion Division (RPD) of the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) Livestock and Poultry Program (L&P), which carries out the development and federally mandated oversight of research and promotion (R&P) programs, commonly known as checkoff programs, created to maintain and expand markets for agricultural commodities.

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.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Attends board meetings for assigned programs; and often times these meetings cover controversial and precedent-setting issues.
• Reviews board marketing communications and research and education studies/projects submitted for the Secretary?s approval to ensure compliance.
• Prepares notice and comment rulemaking for proposed commodity promotion programs and amendments to current programs.
• Monitors board enforcement activities to ensure that they are effective and impartial and the proprietary information is not disclosed to board members.
• Prepares responses to congressional and other high-level correspondence pertaining to assigned programs, which may involve controversial and complex topics.
• Provides expert technical guidance to lower grade level employees in the Division assigned to assist in the specific area of responsibility.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• 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/.
• Prior to an official offer, selectee will be required to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) acknowledging/accepting that geographic mobility is a condition of employment. Failure to sign the MOU will result in withdrawal of the job offer.

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:

• Experience presenting information to individuals and groups through written and oral communications, to include attending board meetings, developing regulatory documents to describe, justify, and establish legal requirements, and prepare other correspondence as necessary for departmental officials.
• Experience working collaboratively with other USDA agencies or programs on issues important to USDA stakeholders.
• Experience working with external agricultural stakeholders such as trade associations, agricultural producer groups, or research and promotion programs (checkoffs).
• Experience developing procedures, standards and policies to improve program consistency and efficiencies.

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:

• Experience approving budgets and marketing plans, projects, contracts, by-laws and policies; researching and analyzing economic or business data.
• Experience presenting information to individuals and groups through written and oral communications, to include attending board meetings, developing regulatory documents to describe, justify, and establish legal requirements, and prepare other correspondence as necessary for departmental officials.
• Experience working collaboratively with other USDA agencies or programs on issues important to USDA stakeholders.
• Experience working with external agricultural stakeholders such as trade associations, agricultural producer groups, or research and promotion programs (checkoffs).
• Experience developing procedures, standards and policies to improve program consistency and efficiencies.

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.

Additional information

• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, 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. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
• 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.
• Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee’s duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
• Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
• Worksite Information: This is a 100% remote position that must be located within the 50 United States, its territories, or possessions. The duty station for a remote designation is the selectee’s home and must be established within the defined geographic options prior to start date. The selectee is not required to regularly work from a government facility however, the option may be available.