Agricultural Market Reporter (Specialty Crops Market Reporter)

This position is located in the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Program (SCP), Specialty Crops Market News Division field office. The assigned office is responsible for collecting, analyzing, preparing, and releasing market news data for fresh fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops. In this position, the selectee will serve as a Market Reporter responsible for covering a large portion of assigned markets with increasing responsibility at each grade level.

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.
• Collect, analyze and disseminate daily market information for fruits and vegetables.
• Contacts the many firms by face-to-face or telephone interviews, in collecting and analyzing information relative to general and specific market conditions.
• Reconciles each price quotation to the originating growing area by commodity unit of sale, size, variety, grade and other distinguishing factors.
• Studies daily and seasonal operations as well as market reports from various widely scattered and distant production areas.
• Prepares and disseminates a number of daily, weekly, monthly, and special market reports covering local sales on the wholesale market or information that may be of interest to the trade.
• Keeps abreast of general economic informational material and new developments and trends in the marketing of fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops.

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: Assisting in reporting agricultural commodity markets by unit of sale, size, variety, and grade. Using information technology to compile and track data pertaining to agricultural commodity market reporting and analysis. Collecting and preparing market quotations for publication, radio, or news services; or marketing or commercial production. OR one (1) full year of graduate level education in Agriculture, Agricultural Business, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Animal Science, Communications, Dairy, Horticulture, Marketing, or related field of study. 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). 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: Utilizing database systems to enter, analyze, and generate reports on agricultural commodity market data. Reporting agricultural commodity markets by identifying and documenting products based on unit of sale, size, variety, and grade. Recommending new or revised policies, methods, and techniques to improve the collection and dissemination of market information. OR master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Business, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Animal Science, Communications, Dairy, Horticulture, Marketing, or related field of study. 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: Conducting analysis or research on production and market conditions to report markets and advise on issues. Developing new policies, methods, and techniques in the collection and dissemination of market information. Analyzing, evaluating, and reconciling data to accurately identify market developments and shifts in marketing patterns. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Business, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Animal Science, Communications, Dairy, Horticulture, Marketing, Meat Science, Poultry Science or related field of study. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for the GS-07/09/11 grade levels. 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 LEVEL: 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.