Agricultural Ministry Expert (Ag Econ) Job in Washington DC Metro Area - 97092424 - ZA2XJUMO5PQ5K

Job Title:
Agricultural Ministry Expert (Ag Econ)

Department:
Department Of Agriculture

Agency:
Foreign Agricultural Service

Job Announcement Number:
FAS-OFSO-PRT-11-002

SALARY RANGE:
$123,758.00 - $155,500.00 /year

OPEN PERIOD:
Thursday, February 17, 2011 to Saturday, December 31, 2011
SERIES & GRADE:GS-0110-15

POSITION INFORMATION:
Full-Time  Temporary position not to exceed 13 months with an opportunity to extend up to 3 years.

DUTY LOCATIONS:
1 vacancy - Washington DC/TDY Afghanistan

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:
U.S. Citizens

JOB SUMMARY:

First cut-off March 12, 2011.

The U.S. Government's (USG) Agriculture Assistance Strategy for Afghanistan mobilizes support for the Afghan Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) to revitalize Afghanistan's agricultural economy and increase income and jobs.  The six Agricultural Ministry Experts work with MAIL providing advice and expertise to the Ministry on prioritization, transformational change of the Ministry, outreach and communication with stakeholders, strategic planning and performance management, important issues and developments in the implementation of the National Agricultural Development Framework (NADAF) and providing appropriate services to its populace.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• Position requires a world wide medical clearance issued by the State Dept
• Position requires incumbent to obtain/maintain a Secret security clearance
• Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable)

Additional Duty Location Info:
1 vacancy - Washington DC/TDY Afghanistan

Specific Duties Related to Technical Area of Expertise:

As the Ministry Expert to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) in Afghanistan in your area of technical expertise, the incumbent will:

Assist the MAIL in closely coordinating with and facilitate working with USDA and University partners who are actively implementing agricultural projects in Afghanistan;

Mentor MAIL staff engaged in agricultural development programming in your area of expertise.

Review and assess the current programs in your area of expertise in Afghanistan to identify strengths, weaknesses and causes of ineffectiveness;

Propose models for program improvements, strategies to resolve identified issues within the NADAF framework and elaborate any subsystems that need to be developed;

Support MAIL in developing proposals for rules and regulations in your area of expertise in Afghanistan;

Support MAIL in developing project proposals for agricultural development programming in your area of expertise in Afghanistan;

Providing necessary guidance to the MAIL in matters relating to policies, planning and legal framework for your area of expertise in Afghanistan;

Assist MAIL with increasing the capacity of the units who undertake policy formulation and development for your area of expertise in MAIL and externally.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Knowledge, Skills Abilities (KSAs).  Please submit a narrative response individually and separately addressing each of the following:

1.  Significant knowledge of agricultural economic tools including value chain analysis and how these can be used in national policy development particularly in developing, conflict, or post-conflict societies.

2.  Extensive knowledge, skills and experience in providing national program technical leadership in a public sector organization such as a federal or state department or agency.

3.  Broad knowledge of agriculture and natural resource management issues. This experience would reflect understanding of the dynamics and demands of developing, conflict, or post-conflict societies.

4.  Ability to prioritize and define priorities and to weigh various approaches to achieve objectives, foresee possible impact of actions taken and to motivate changes in approach or funding as warranted; and to analyze project activities and administrative processes and initiate action for improvements.

5.  Demonstrated ability in strategic planning, policy analysis, development and implementation in area of technical expertise.

6.  Demonstrated ability in the guiding/mentoring and training of host government technical and program staff. 

7.  Good research, analytical, writing, and oral communication skills, and a high degree of personal initiative to enable the incumbent to effectively seek, advocate and gain acceptance of ideas.

8.  Fluency in spoken and written English required; knowledge of Dari or Pashto is highly desirable.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

A.   Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

OR

B.  Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.

Appointment to this position is pending your ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Prior to appointment, the person selected for this position must be determined physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties; and also pass a medical examination (which includes vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and mobility of extremities) given by an authorized government physician.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required; and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledges, skills, and abilities associated with this position as defined below. When describing your knowledges, skills, and abilities, please be sure to give examples and explain how often you used these skills, the complexity of the knowledge you possessed, the level of the people you interacted with, the sensitivity of the issues you handled, etc.

BENEFITS:

You may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, with costs shared with your employer. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#FEHB.

Life insurance coverage is provided. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#life

Long-Term Care Insurance is offered and carries into your retirement. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#ltci

New employees are automatically covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). If you are transferring from another agency and covered by CSRS, you may continue in this program. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#retr

You will earn annual vacation leave. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#VACA

You will earn sick leave. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#SKLV

You will be paid for holidays (per the U.S. Embassy holiday leave schedule) that fall within your regularly scheduled tour of duty.

You can use Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts for expenses that are tax-deductible, but not reimbursed by any other source, including out-of-pocket expenses and non-covered benefits under their FEHB plans. More Info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#FSA

R&R Travel:  Appointments assigned to Afghanistan will be eligible for two R&R trips during a one-year tour.  Administrative leave is not authorized for R&R and employees must charge their time away from to post to accrued leave in accordance with 3 FAM 3724. Travel for R&R will be approved in accordance with 14 FAM 567.2-4b (7) (d), which provides for economy class travel.  However, employees are not precluded from upgrading tickets to business class at their own expense.

Regional Rest Breaks (RRBs):  In addition to the R&R's , three Regional Rest Breaks, with five days of administrative leave per Regional Rest Break, are provided to those covered by paragraph 11 during a one-year tour or 12 months of temporary duty (prorated to one regional rest break per six-month month temporary duty).  These rest breaks should be judiciously scheduled during the tour to provide the benefits as designed.  These should not be used within 30 days of the end of the tour.  Each regional rest break includes an airline ticket to Dubai (or the equivalent to any other location) and five days of administrative leave.  Employees are responsible for hotel, meal, and all other expenses.  Employees must have served 60 days in Afghanistan to be eligible.

Premium Pay: Employees on temporary duty are eligible for Title 5 premium pay.  Bi-weekly pay cap is waived.

SPECIAL ALLOWANCES

Employees will be eligible for post differentials and allowances
in accordance with Department of State regulations.  Employees
earn the foreign post differential, which is currently 35 percent of
salary, after serving 42 continuous days at post.  After 42 days,
the post differential will be payable back to the first day.

Employees will also be eligible to receive danger pay, calculated
as a percentage of basic pay for regular duty hours only (currently
35% for Afghanistan).  Danger pay begins to accrue after four hours
of service in-country, and is provided for every hour of regular
duty worked at post.  Danger pay is terminated when a person leaves
country.

http://aoprals.state.gov/Web920/locationaction.asp?MenuHide=1&CountryCode=1109

OTHER INFORMATION:

This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.

HOW TO APPLY:

You must submit your application so that it will be received by the closing date of the announcement.

You may send your application via e-mail to prt@fas.usda.gov With a Subject line:  FAS-OFSO-PRT-11-001

Submit a narrative statement responding to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) identified in the announcement. This information will be used to determine your eligibility and/or rating and is required.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Audrey Armstrong
Phone: (202) 401-0167 Agency Information:
USDA/FSA/DAM/HRD/FASB
1400 Independence Avenue SW
STOP 0593
Washington, DC 20250
US

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Selected applicants will be required to pass a fingerprint check and obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Selected applicants will be required to obtain and maintain a class "1" medical clearance from State Department.

Selected applicants will be required to complete country specific orientation and training.