Announcement Number: Brussels-2024-021

Hiring Agency: US Mission to the European Union

Series/Grade: LE - 1515 11

Salary: EUR €7,147 /Per Month

Work Schedule: Full-time - 38 hours/week

Duty Location(s): Brussels, BE

Telework Eligible: No

For More Info: jobs.usembassy.be@state.gov

Duties

The employee is relied upon as an expert in animal and/or plant health issues ranging in complexity from a single country, such as Belgium, to regional responsibility that encompass many different countries within the Europe Region. These issues require a detailed understanding of the export and import regulations between countries and the U.S. with a focus on sanitary and phytosanitary issues. Factors that reflect complexity include communications with animal and plant health authorities in countries within the area of responsibility, the number of host countries, variety of agricultural commodities, variations in geographic areas in terms of climate and terrain and its impact on commodity availability, economic and political considerations between host countries and the U.S., and the expansion of U.S. trade with foreign nations. The employee provides expert consultation in resolving technical issues that may be blocking exports from the U.S. or releasing commodities from quarantine in a foreign country. Actively participates in prioritizing agency goals and activities in conjunction with the Foreign Service Officer (FSO).

The employee is the technical specialist in Brussels, Belgium for the APHIS portfolios of Safeguarding (protecting U.S. Agriculture), Trade Support, and Capacity Building. In this role, they will advise the Area Director and Regional Manager on key tasks related to conceptualization, prioritization, strategy, financial planning, negotiating, assisting with, and managing, the interest and participation of countries and other organizations, agreement writing, impact assessment, and all follow-up activities where regional issues of importance to APHIS occur. This position collaborates with various locally employed staff and FSOs within the countries of the European Union, United Kingdom, EFTA countries, and Israel by gathering intelligence on the local dynamics to communicate to HQ subject matter experts.

Qualifications and Evaluations

• EXPERIENCE: A minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, developing, directing, or evaluating agricultural health programs, or in dealing with scientific matters of an equivalent nature.
• JOB KNOWLEDGE: The European Union and region at large are countries where forward movement on any issue can be hindered by the history of issues, industries, institutions, and personalities. For this reason, the employee must master the relevant history and current dynamics of the region and be able to recognize trends and forecast possible future scenarios.
• EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Veterinary degree or a master’s degree in agriculture, biology, entomology, veterinary science, plant pathology, horticulture, zootechnics, or related.
• LANGUAGE: Fluency in English. Working knowledge in one other European language. This may be tested.
• SKILLS AND ABILITIES: The employee must possess a detailed knowledge of the animal and plant health laws, regulations, and policies of host country counterparts. Education, training, and experience in the principles of project management, budgeting and financial management and the ability to further develop and apply those principles is required.

All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications. All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) certification.