Summary This is a market reporter/auditor position in the Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Division. Market News provides producers, buyers, government agencies, and interested members of the trade timely, accurate, and impartial agricultural commodity information. This includes economic factors such as supply, demand, movement, distribution, prices, price trends, and other related factors on which market decisions can be based. Responsibilities 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: Studies operations, as well as market reports from production centers, to analyze and evaluate the significance of data collected from local sources. Makes recommendations to the supervisor relative to new or revised policies, methods, and techniques in the collection and dissemination of market information in response to shifts in patterns. Establishes and maintains statistical price series on the species of livestock, poultry, eggs, hay, grain, and meat and calculates averages thereof. Compiles evidence to be used as a basis for formal action against those who have violated the provisions of the Act. Provides advice concerning the records they must maintain and when inadequacies are found, specifies the necessary adjustments to affect compliance. Makes presentations describing investigation procedures and results, and relevant developments to other interested agency personnel. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level) that demonstrates: Collecting and preparing market quotations for publication, radio, or news services; or marketing or commercial production. College teaching, extension, or research work in the field of production or marketing; or inspecting. Grading, sampling of a commodity for official or trade recognized certification. Investigating or compliance work on regulatory statutes. OR 1 full year of graduate level education OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9). Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience with evaluating production and market conditions for livestock, poultry, eggs, meat, hay, grain and their related products in order to report markets and advise the supervisor on complex issues. Experience with livestock, poultry, eggs, meat, hay, grain and their related products collected, processed, stored, marketed and distributed in order to make recommendations to the supervisor relative to new or revised policies, methods, and techniques in the collection and dissemination of market information in response to shifts in marketing patterns. Experience grading livestock, poultry, eggs, meat, hay, grain and related products in order to accurately report markets. Communicates orally and in writing to discuss market conditions with trade members and to prepare reports. OR Masters or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in the field of Agriculture, Agriculture Business, Marketing, Animal Science, Agronomy OR LL.B. or J.D., if related. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience with evaluating production and market conditions for livestock, poultry, eggs, meat, hay, grain and their related products in order to report markets and advise the supervisor on complex issues. Experience with livestock, poultry, eggs, meat, hay, grain and their related products collected, processed, stored, marketed and distributed in order to make recommendations to the supervisor relative to new or revised policies, methods, and techniques in the collection and dissemination of market information in response to shifts in marketing patterns. Experience grading livestock, poultry, eggs, meat, hay, grain and related products in order to accurately report markets. Evaluates and reconciles complex and sometimes contradictory information and data, and accurately determine and describe significant market developments. Communicates orally and in writing to discuss market conditions with trade members and to prepare reports. OR: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in Agriculture, Agriculture Business, Marketing, Animal Science, Agronomy or LL.M., if related Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07/09/11 GRADE LEVELS: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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. Education This position does not have an education qualification requirement. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection. Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. Worksite Information: This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Additional information regarding ad hoc, occasional, or reoccurring telework may be obtained at a later time from the hiring manager or program during the hiring process.