The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is a small but dynamic foreign affairs agency with approximately 90 offices around the world. Overseas, Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) are responsible for supporting FAS efforts in agricultural trade promotion; market intelligence, trade policy; trade capacity building and food security. FSOs can expect to spend about a quarter of their career serving in USDA/FAS headquarters in Washington, D.C., in positions throughout the agency.
Duties
- FSO Trainees undergo comprehensive training while stationed in Washington, DC, where they participate in and complete all components of their training program under the guidance of their supervisors.
- The duties described represent the expectations at the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments may entail a narrower scope, require less autonomy, and involve less complexity.
- Administer market development and credit guarantee programs; develop and implement agricultural trade missions and trade shows; and cultivate productive working relationships with domestic agricultural industry groups.
- Coordinate and devise a global agricultural commodity analysis strategy, furnishing timely dependable market insights on production, consumption, trade, stock, and price data.
- Conduct analyses of market conditions, governmental policies, and commercial practices to furnish policy makers with actionable insights supporting USDA export programs, trade policies, and market access endeavors.
- Draft various documents including correspondence, briefing materials, market profiles, and background information pertinent to agricultural trade.
- Identify, monitor, and contribute to removal or mitigation of agricultural tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade, along with technical, sanitary, and phytosanitary barriers. Provide support for market access initiatives through policy analysis.
- Participate in the monitoring of USDA trade capacity building and food assistance programs and contribute to the formulation of strategies to administer these initiatives.
- Implement development activities aimed at advancing trade and food security objectives.
Here is a link to a video and more details about being a USDA Foreign Service Officer: Careers | USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
View the position requirements and how to apply here: USAJOBS – Foreign Agricultural Service Officer
