Agricultural Marketing Specialist at the U.S. Consulate General

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Agricultural Marketing Specialist - All Interested Candidates

Announcement Number: Lagos-2021-057
Location: Lagos
Hiring Agency: Consulate General Lagos
Series / Grade: LE - 1517 10
Promotion Potential: LE-10
Work Schedule: Full-time - 40 hours per week

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For USEFM - FP is 5/5.  Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.
  • All Interested Applicants / All Sources
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period

Summary

• The work schedule for this position is: Full Time (40 hours per week)
• Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (6 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required: 50% or less (The incumbent travels within Nigeria, surrounding countries and the United States for training, marketing activities, and trade mission support).

Duties

• The incumbent is responsible for representing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Nigeria including regional coverage of Benin and Cameroon.
• S/he facilitates linkages between U.S. exporters and Nigeria importers, identifies marketing practices to increase trade opportunities, and resolves market access issues affecting U.S. agricultural products.
• Develops and maintains a broad range of industry and government stakeholder contacts (working-to-mid levels) to gain cooperation on substantive agricultural matters.
• Analyzes and drafts reports on agricultural commodities, market developments, and market policy.
• Implements and evaluates various planned projects and activities, including market promotional and trade development programs.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements
Experience:  

• Minimum of three years of work experience required in one or more fields of agricultural economics, agricultural/product marketing, agricultural policy, business/project management, and marketing analysis/research that includes significant analysis and report writing.

Job Knowledge:  

• Good knowledge of Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) goals, programs, reporting requirements and procedures, and of U.S. agricultural polices and trading practices.
• Thorough knowledge of agricultural practices, market conditions, and government policies in Nigeria.
• Knowledge of Nigeria structure and responsibilities of various Ministries and offices, congressional and National Assembly processes as it relates to economic, trade and agricultural policy matters is required.  
• Good understanding of international agreements relating to agricultural policy and agricultural economic supply/demand theories and concepts is required.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics, Food and Agricultural Marketing, Agriculture, Agribusiness, or International Trade is required

Evaluations:

• This may be tested. Please specify your level of proficiency in the language listed.

Language:  

• Fluent reading/writing/speaking of English is required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook) to create documents and spreadsheets, maintain and update databases, and develop presentations.
• Ability to use software for reporting purposes.
• Must be familiar with agricultural production, global agricultural trade concepts, general marketing strategies, and economic supply/demand concepts.  
• Required to analyze statistical data and maintain data sets for accurate commodity and trade reporting.
• Must have the ability to draft detailed, complex reports on markets and trade policy, as needed.
• Must have excellent time management skills to cope with the diversity of work and deadlines,
• Ability to work effectively with government, public, and private individuals to obtain information and resolve trade issues is required.   

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO):  

• The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Qualifications:

• All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits
Agency Benefits:

• Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Lagos, Nigeria may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.
• For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.
• The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

Other Information:

• Hiring Preference Selection Process:  Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

Hiring Preference Order:

• AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
• AEFM / USEFM
• FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

* Important

• 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”), 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 Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
• For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.

Marketing Statement:

• We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

Salary
NGN 12,772,559 (USD $53,596)

Application Closing Date
17th May, 2021