Agriculturist (Foreign Service Officer Career Candidate) Full Time NEW

Job Summary

Foreign Service Officer Trainee APHIS International Services (IS) will hold a Foreign Service Officer Informational Webinar on June 17 at 7pm EST via MS Teams. You must register for this event if you would like to join. Please register now to join us. The webinar presentation will be posted APHIS International Services website, www.aphis.usda.gov/aphisoverseas immediately following the webinar. Click “Learn more about this agency” for additional position information.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. In addition to meeting the Basic Education requirements for the job series for which you are applying, as described in the Education section of this vacancy announcement, you must also meet the Minimum Qualification requirements for the grade level(s) for which you are applying: For the Veterinary Medical Officer, FP-0701-05 (GS-11 equivalent) level: Applicants that possess the Basic Education Requirements for the 0701 series, as described in the Education section below, qualify for the 0701 position at the FP-05 level. For the Veterinary Medical Officer, FP-0701-04 (GS-12 equivalent) level you must possess one of the following: 6 years of specialized experience, one year that was equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service (FP-05/GS-11) that provided you with the ability to perform the duties of the position at this level. This experience must be documented in your resume/application for this position. Examples of qualifying specialize experience include: Participating in analyzing plant, insect, and/or animal health conditions, along with related government policies and regulatory processes, and determining the effect of such conditions. Participating in compiling, reviewing, and analyzing technical reports on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues, pests, diseases and the economic, market, and technical data relating to production, trade, consumption, prices and other factors affecting the safeguarding of U.S. agriculture. Assisting with planning, coordinating, or conducting analyses relevant to trade issues and with designing and developing solutions for the successful management of these issues. Participating in the identification, monitoring, and removal of technical, sanitary and phytosanitary barriers to agricultural trade. Participating in investigating, researching, preparing, and providing advisories identifying agricultural health alerts, new regulations and other updates affecting all entities of export/import trade. Participating in determining and implementing agricultural capacity building and development activities to enhance trade and food security objectives. OR – A Master’s degree in a Veterinary program that followed your DVM from an accredited college or school in an area of specialization including, but not limited to: animal science; avian medicine; food safety; Infectious diseases; veterinary clinical sciences; pathology; biomedical sciences; veterinary anatomy; veterinary preventative medicine; comparative biological sciences; epidemiology; veterinary parasitology; molecular veterinary biosciences; public health; microbiology; immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology; wildlife; zoological animal medicine; or sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer. Applicants must submit copies of college transcripts to document this degree. For the Entomologist, FP-0414-05 / Plant Pathologist, FO-0434-05 (GS-11 equivalent) level you must possess one of the following: 6 or more years of specialized experience, at least one year of which was equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service, FP-06 (GS-09 equivalent), that provided you with the ability to perform the duties of this position at the FP-05 (GS-11 equivalent) level. This specialized experience must be documented in your resume/application for this position. Examples of qualifying specialize experience include: Participating in determining plant, insect, and/or animal health conditions; Participating in identifying disciplines and multi-disciplinary mixes for risk assessment/hazard evaluation of plant or animal health issues related to international trade; Participating in identifying phytosanitary trade issues and providing input as needed; Preparing and providing advisories identifying pest alerts, new regulations and other updates affecting export/import trade; Participating in agricultural capacity building and development activities to enhance trade and food security objectives. OR – A Master’s degree in plant pathology/entomology; or a related scientific discipline. OR- Equivalent combinations of education and experience as described above are qualifying for this job series at this grade level. For the Entomologist and Plant Pathologist, FP-0414/0434-04 (GS-12 equivalent) level you must possess: 12 or more years of specialized experience, at least one year of which was equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service, FP-05 (GS-11 equivalent), that provided you with the ability to perform the duties of this position at this level. This specialized experience must be documented in your resume/application for this position. Examples of qualifying specialize experience include: Participating in analyzing plant, insect, and/or animal health conditions, along with related government policies and regulatory processes, and determining the effect of such conditions. Participating in compiling, reviewing, and analyzing technical reports on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues, pests, and diseases and the economic, market, and technical data relating to production, trade, consumption, prices and other factors affecting the safeguarding of U.S. agriculture. Assisting with planning, coordinating, or conducting analyses relevant to trade issues and with designing and developing solutions for the successful management of these issues. Participating in the identification, monitoring, and removal of technical, sanitary and phytosanitary barriers to agricultural trade. Participating in investigating, researching, preparing, and providing advisories identifying agricultural health alerts, new regulations and other updates affecting all entities of export/import trade. Participating in determining and implementing agricultural capacity building and development activities to enhance trade and food security objectives. OR – A related Master’s Degree and 6 or more years of specialized experience, at least one of which was at the GS-11(FP-05) level. OR – A PhD degree in a discipline related to entomology or plant pathology. TRANSCRIPTS are required. This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. 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 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:Analysis of plant, insect, and/or animal health conditions, government policies, and regulatory processes affecting the agricultural market and import/export interests of U.S. stakeholders.Compilation, review, and analysis of technical reports on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues, pests, and diseases and their effects.Compilation, review and analysis of economic, market, technical and data relating to production, trade, consumption, prices and other factors affecting the safeguarding of U.S. agriculture.Addresses specific phytosanitary concerns with host countries. When trade issues focus on animal or plant health and quarantine matters, the incumbent’s role may include negotiations in conjunction with the APHIS programs.Manages international phytosanitary trade issues with APHIS programs. Plans, coordinates, or conducts analyses relevant to trade issues and designs and participates in the development of recommendations for courses of action.Participates in identifying disciplines and multi-disciplinary mixes for risk assessment/hazard evaluation of plant or animal health issues in order to instill a proactive approach to U.S. goals in international trade.Prepares briefing memoranda, correspondence, briefing books, market profiles and other background information for APHIS, USDA, and other entities on a variety of subjects.Prepares oral/written briefings as required, with thorough analysis of political, policy options and strategies.Provides analytical information/advise on plant health issues in conjunction with APHIS goals and strategies.Participates in the identification, monitoring and removal of technical, sanitary and phytosanitary barriers to agricultural trade.Assists in coordinating Departmental objectives in the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), U.S. CODEX, and other international organizations.Investigates, researches, prepares, and gives advisories identifying pest alerts, new regulations and other updates affecting all entities of export/import trade.Develops effective working relationships with international and domestic agricultural industry representatives, trade associations, cooperators, and other APHIS stakeholders.Coordinates/facilitates duties related to the import/export of animals and/or plants and their byproducts. Works with APHIS programs to determine the absence of infectious, contagious or communicable disease or parasitism.

Position Start Date:

06/15/2026

Position Close Date:

06/26/2026

Salary Offered: 63780 – 132258 USD Per Year

USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), International Services (IS) seeks candidates for the APHIS Foreign Service Officer (FSO) training program. Successful applicants will be placed on an applicant inventory. If selected, complete the required training program (which may last from 6 – 18 months), and fulfill all mandatory requirements, you will be assigned overseas to assist in carrying out APHIS safeguarding, trade facilitation, and capacity-building mission. These are excepted service positions in the Foreign Service and may be filled as Veterinary Medical Officers in the 0701 job series; Entomologists in the 0414 job series, or Plant Pathologists in the 0434 job series, dependent on selectee’s qualifications. Selectees will have a strong background in science and upon successful completion of a training program, will be APHIS Foreign Service Officers ready to serve at overseas posts. The training program lasts from 6-12 months. Trainees that complete all medical and security clearances, fulfill all training requirements, and gain approval by APHIS management, will be posted overseas at US Embassies representing the interests of the USDA abroad. Candidates should be interested and enthusiastic about living in a foreign country for extended periods of time. Qualified candidates will be invited to attend a day-long virtual Assessment Center. This will take place for one day between September 14-18, 2026. APHIS careers site APHIS Emergency Response

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