Agronomist
What you'd do
This position is located in the USDA, Office of the Chief Economist, Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP). OPMP's mission is to: 1) integrate and coordinate the pest management efforts of the Department; 2) provide data and analyses to EPA to better inform pesticide regulatory decisions; and 3) provide a Departmental focal point for farmers, grower organizations, EPA, and State Land Grant institutions regarding pesticide and pest management issues.
Major duties
Serves as an authoritative source in agronomy and the assessment of weed management practices and risk/benefit evaluations for herbicide registration and review. Serves as an herbicide-focused agronomist and provides scientific and technical guidance based on knowledge about FQPA, FIFRA, and FFDCA and crop production practices, particularly related to weed management practices Independently identifies developments in science policy issues and/or pesticide regulatory decisions that have implications for agriculture, including implications of international pesticide-related activities. Writes scientific documents for internal/external purposes on risk assessment, the environment, agronomic management practices, integrated pest control measures, and regulatory impacts of decisions. Uses a variety of analytical methods and techniques to assess a wide range of scientific, legal, and risk issues related to pest management and pesticides. Develops and coordinates the sharing of information scientific advice within OPMP and providing coordination/guidance to agronomists across the Department on herbicide and weed management issues as needed. Represents OPMP and USDA on various agronomy-related committees. Provides independent scientific and regulatory advice on weed management and herbicide issues to USDA agencies. Plans and coordinates environmental evaluations and risk assessments involving complex crop production systems, including specialty crops, and large ecological systems. Provides scientific briefings orally or in writing for senior officials. As needed, aids in assessing risks associated with chemical, biological, physical hazards, and other threats to agriculture and the food supply. Establishes and maintains relationships with agency officials, other government officials, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, university personnel, industry representatives, grower groups, etc. Coordinates scientific activities with other major program offices at USDA and EPA. Serves as a liaison with EPA, USDA staff, and Land Grant and industry scientists involved in risk assessment and decision making related to pest management/pesticides to ensure assessment of technology is characterized correctly. Presents results of analyses to USDA, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders, and prepares plans to mitigate the biological and economic impacts of proposed pesticide and pest management regulatory decisions. Represents OPMP and USDA at events related to weed management and herbicides. Participates in panels, makes presentations, leads workshops, and participates at national meetings.
What you need to qualify
To be considered minimally qualified fort this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying. Qualifications: 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. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Basic Requirements AND Minimum Qualification requirements as listed below. BASIC REQUIRMENTS: Degree: agronomy; or related discipline of science that included at least 30 semester hours of course work in the basic plant sciences, including at least 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, such as those dealing with plant breeding, crop production, and soil and crop management. OR Combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours in the basic plant sciences, including a minimum of 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education Evaluation of Education: Course work in such subjects as botany, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant breeding or genetics, plant ecology, plant pathology, microbiology, agronomy, or those dealing with basic soil-water-plant relationships of an agronomic or ecologic nature may be used to meet the 30-semester-hour requirement in the basic plant sciences. Agronomy courses include agronomy, fieldcrops, field crop production or management, soil and crop management, plant breeding and development, weed control, and similar courses, including those in soils, biochemistry, plant physiology, etc., provided they dealt with principles, methods, or procedures that are applied directly in agronomic work and in the solving of agronomic problems. IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS ABOVE, YOU MUST ALSO MEET THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At the GS-14, Qualifying experience for GS-14 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-13 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience conducting scientific risk assessments and/or benefits assessments for herbicide regulatory decisions; experience leading analyses of risk assessment issues relevant to pest management and herbicides; and experience identifying regulatory alternatives and evaluating risk mitigation options for herbicides. Mastery knowledge of relevant pesticide federal laws, particularly FQPA, FIFRA, and FFDCA is required. 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.
Before you apply
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