Agricultural Economist

This position is in Global Market Analysis (GMA), which supplies timely analysis and market intelligence to help meet USDA's trade policy, trade promotion and food security objectives. The incumbent will maintain and develop commodity forecasts, oversee data integrity, and coordinate the preparation and clearance of reports.

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.

Collects, evaluates, and analyzes data and market intelligence; prepares and reviews supply and demand estimates and forecasts for a large group of agricultural commodities, countries, and regions

Produces written and oral interpretive reports on agricultural market conditions, including but not limited to commodity circulars, country pages, quarterly U.S. agricultural trade reports, and international agricultural trade reports.

Leads the work of a team to perform research, analysis, and associated functions which contribute to the accomplishment of the Agency’s mission to expand and maintain international market opportunities for U.S. agriculture.

Represents FAS in intra- and inter-departmental commodity committees. Consults with representatives of other U.S. Government agencies, representatives of foreign governments, domestic and foreign producers, exporters, importers, farm organizations.

Employees of the following USDA agencies who apply for this position, whose current permanent grade is equal to the grade of the advertised position, and whose selection would result in a relocation outside the commuting area of their current duty station may not currently be considered for selection to this position: Agricultural Research Service; Economic Research Service; National Institute of Food and Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service; United States Forest Service; Food and Nutrition Administration; Foreign Agricultural Service; Rural Development and component organizations; the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area, to include the FPAC Business Center, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Risk Management Agency, and Farm Service Agency and Farm Service Agency County employees; Office of the General Counsel; and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. This guidance is in alignment with the court order dated October 13, 2026, in American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, et al. v. United States Department of Agriculture, Case No. 26-cv-09976-VC (N.D. Calif.). You must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the incumbent will be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter. You must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis. USDA/FAS offers Telework and work schedule flexibilities as described in the Benefits section. The U.S. Government utilizes Trusted Workforce 2.0 to implement Continuous Vetting (CV) as a-whole-of government approach to personnel security. If selected for this position, you will be subject to continuous automated record checks of criminal, financial, and public record databases throughout your period of eligibility or employment, replacing traditional periodic reinvestigations.

Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.