Agricultural Specialist at the U.S. Consulate

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 Specialist - All Interested Candidates

Announcement Number: Lagos-2023-021
Location: Lagos
Promotion Potential: LE-10
Series/Grade: LE - 1515 10
Hiring Agency: Consulate General Lagos
Work Schedule: Full-time - 40 hours per week

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For USEFM - FS is 5/5.  Actual FS 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:
  • 25% or less
  • The Incumbent travels within Nigeria and surrounding countries, and the United States for training and trade mission support.

Duties

• The Agricultural Specialist is the lead advisor to the Lagos Agricultural Counselor and Foreign Agricultural Section Washington-based Analysts on highly complex trade policy, marketing and reporting issues affecting exports of U.S. agricultural products into Nigeria and the surrounding countries- the Republic of Benin and the Cameroon.
• The incumbent represents the diverse interests of U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. farmers and agribusiness in the countries covered by Foreign Agricultural Service-Lagos.
• S/he is responsible for providing guidance to the office staff on recruitment of candidates to participate in capacity building training such as the Cochran and Baulog Fellowships in the United States.
• The incumbent manages the office export credit guarantee programs for U.S. exported agricultural products, recruits agricultural related business representatives to attend trade shows in the United States to meet U.S. producers and distributors of agricultural products.
• Position is supervised by the Agricultural Counselor.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Education Requirements:

• A Master's Degree in Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Economics or Business Administration is required.

Experience:  

• Five (5) years of progressive experience in business, management, economic-policy analyses, particularly in agricultural related field is required.

Job Knowledge:  

• A thorough understanding of host countries' agricultural policies, trade policies and practices; thorough understanding of FAS programs, reporting requirements and procedures, goals and objectives, well as U.S. trading practices followed by U.S. exporters are required. Excellent knowledge of agribusiness in the U.S. and in Nigeria is required.

Evaluations:

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

Language:  

• Fluency in speaking/reading/writing of English is required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work in a team setting, and act as a leader in guiding the development of strategies to achieve the office goals is required.
• Must be able to prepare well-crafted factual based analytical reports that includes forecasts of future trends or expected changes in agriculture products production and utilization.
• Must be able to maintain objectivity when providing professional advice and recommendation.
• Must be skilled in using Microsoft office software programs for running statistical analysis, and developing power point presentation slides for use in office reports and for briefing office stakeholders.

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:

• For the current COVID-19 Requirements please visit the following link.
• 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”), Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability dated within the past six months, 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 14,526,446 (USD 57,021) / Annum

Application Closing Date
27th February, 2023

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Application Instruction

• All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Public Trust clearance.
• To apply for this position click the “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY” button at the top of the page. Click on the “Submit Application” button to complete your application process.  For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.

Required Documents:

• To qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested degree and / or transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide requested information, or the information is insufficient to verify eligibility, may result in disqualification for this position.

All Applicants:

• Residency and/or Work Permit
• Degree (not transcript)
• NYSC Certificate/Exclusion/Exemption

Eligible Family Member Applicants:

• Copy of Sponsor's Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
• DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
• SF-50 (if applicable)

Important Information and Notice

• Applicants who are invited to take a language or skills test, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email.
• For further information - the complete position description listing all of the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office.
• Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Mission in Lagos, Nigeria.