Supervisory Agriculturist (Overseas Preclearance Area Director)

Full Job Description

Help lead Preclearance and Offshore Programs' mission to reduce the risk associated with the entry and establishment of plant pests into the United States by providing oversight, management, and facilitation of offshore safeguarding activities, clearances, and mitigations.

You will be assigned to Santiago, Chile with responsibility for multiple preclearance programs and multinational employees.

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.

Current GS-14s interested in this temporary reassignment are preferred.

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-14 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: Leadership with plant diseases, pests, and agricultural systems programs using science-based solutions to address complex problems.

Management of plant quarantine programs, including inspections, treatments, and compliance with international standards.

Experience running cost-effective preclearance programs that included budgeting, staffing, and cost recovery.

Supervisory experience creating an inclusive work environment, setting work assignments based on agency mission, measuring and adjustment of workload distribution, and performance evaluation.

Work solving technical and policy challenges between the US and international industry and government partners. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. You are qualifying for the position based on education.

You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and 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. Major Duties:

• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Display proficiency in the following five competencies essential for leading and managing people: Accountability, Conflict Management, Developing Others, and Human Capital Management.
• Ensuring the preclearance programs area of coverage is in compliance with APHIS, other Federal, and local requirements for personnel, staffing, budget and accounting, facilities, safety and security, and transportation.
• Ensures all aspects of work and obligations for preclearance programs in foreign countries are met in a timely manner and consistent with APHIS and U.S. government requirements.
• Manages assigned personnel, which may be foreign based and/or U.S. assigned, and coordinates the effective and efficient implementation of preclearance program operations.
• Provides technical, financial, operational, and administrative oversight for assigned programs, and works to continually evaluate and improve them from a programmatic and cost-effective perspective.
• Fulfills all reporting requirements in a timely manner as identified and/or assigned.
• Resolves disputes and problems with others by using effective problem solving, conflict resolution, and negotiation techniques.
• Provides recommendations for how best to use information and insights to improve programs and procedures.
• Communicates how organizational and management goals are linked and cascaded to individual and work performance, and how the accomplishments support organizational goals through staff meetings.