Summary:
The U.S. Mission in Maputo-Mozambique is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the Agriculture Specialist position in the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) office.
Supervisory Position:NoRelocation Expenses Reimbursed:No
Duties
The Agricultural Specialist (entry-level specialist) is responsible for representing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Maputo, Mozambique. The incumbent researches and prepares reports that provide agricultural commodity and trade policy intelligence, best agricultural, food, and beverage trade prospects and advice for U.S. agricultural stakeholders and on other relevant topics for assigned agricultural commodities. Responsibilities also include advocating for U.S. agricultural interests by implementing projects, identifying appropriate actions, and resolving trade problems. The incumbent identifies, develops, and maintains professional and social relationships and consultative contacts (working-to-mid levels) to gain cooperation on substantive agricultural matters.
Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:
All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a:
- Security certificate; or
- Public Trust security clearance.
All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.
Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
Education Requirements:
See the qualification section for the education requirements.
Evaluations:
You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement.
You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
You must complete the application form and provide the required documents. Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
Qualifications:
EXPERIENCE: Minimum three years of work experience required in one or more fields of agricultural economics, agricultural policy, commodity trade, and marketing analysis/research that includes significant analysis and report writing.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Reminder: Please ensure you enter your Hours Per Week, not your Hours Per Day, when completing your work experience.
EDUCATION: Minimum bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Food and Agricultural Marketing, Agriculture, Agribusiness, or International Trade is required.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.
Language:
English – Fluent (Reading/Speaking/Writing) is required. This may be tested.
Portuguese – Fluent (Reading/Speaking/Writing) is required. This may be tested.
Please address this language requirement in your ERA application.
Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:Agency Benefits:
The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees.
For Eligible Family Member (EFM) applicants, benefits should be discussed with the HR Office. The pay plan is assigned by the HR Office and confirmed by Washington, D.C.
Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:
A hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the order listed below. It is essential you accurately describe your status in your application, failure to do so may result in a determination that you are not eligible for a hiring preference.
HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER
- Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
- AEFM / USEFM
- Foreign Service (FS) on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) with reemployment rights **
* IMPORTANT: US citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”) preferably Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability, equivalent documentation, or certification. A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
** This level of preference applies to all FS employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, etc., please visit the 3 FAM 7210 Definitions.
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs only:
- Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible. This does not apply when the hiring mechanism is TEMP or the work schedule is intermittent or irregular.
- Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing.
The following apply to Locally Employed (LE) staff only:
- Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible.
- Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, or an MBC score of less than 100 points on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible.
HOW TO APPLY?
To apply, access the following link: Seeker – Vacancy – Detail Overview
Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills (including English), and job related skills or requirements in your application.
You may edit your application any time before the vacancy closing date. If you fail to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date of this vacancy, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
For a copy of the complete position description, please contact the HR Office.
To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Office.
We foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace where employees can be themselves. We invite qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
The U.S. Mission is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS Status.
Please note that CDC and the U.S. Government NEVER require payment of any money in connection with a job application.
Required Documents:
In order to qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested documentation as verification of the educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide the requested documentation, or the documentation you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you will not be considered for this position.
All Applicants:
• ID/Passport and/or Work Permit
• University Transcript (Certificado de cadeiras feitas for positions requiring university studies or a degree)
In addition, Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants must submit:
•Copy of Sponsor’s Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
• Passport copy
• DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
• SF-50 (if applicable)
Next Steps:
The HR Office will contact successful applicants. For more information on applying for jobs or employment with us, please visit the U.S. Mission website https://mz.usembassy.gov/jobs.
Thank you for your application and your interest in workin
