The Economic Research Service (ERS) of USDA has two Senior Leadership vacancies that we’d like to call to your attention: 1. Associate Director, Resource and Rural Economics Division; 2. Branch Chief, International Demand and Trade Branch, Markets and Trade Economics Division

ERS serves as the economic research and policy analytical arm of the USDA. The mission of ERS is to provide economic and social science information and analysis for public and private decisions regarding agriculture, food, the environment, and rural America. To learn more, please visit www.ers.usda.gov.

Critical to one's success in these roles will be: An advanced degree; Intellectual leadership within the fields of economics or statistics; Proven ability to lead a top quality, multidisciplinary group of researchers

Details on each position are provided below: The Economic Research Service (ERS) seeks an Associate Director responsible for coordination and oversight of planning, development, and review of the Resource and Rural Economics Division (RRED) program of research, analysis and data development. The Resource and Rural Economics Division (RRED) focuses on the uses of resources by agriculture, the impact of agriculture on the environment and rural areas, incomes earned from agricultural activity and the effect of earnings and policy on the value of agricultural assets, as well as demographic and economic trends in the farm and nonfarm rural economy. Responsibilities in this position incorporate all subject matter areas covered by the Division and all phases of program planning, development, execution, and review. The incumbent provides special assistance to the Director in initiating, planning, and coordinating Division research programs with other USDA and U.S. Government agencies and outside institutions. The Associate Director also plans, coordinates, manages and reviews day-to-day staff analyses, coordinates divisional policy studies, and contributes to the overall management and administration of the Division. Major administrative responsibilities include staff recruiting, development, and training activities. ERS-M13N-0019, Supervisory Agricultural Economist, GS-0110-15(Close: Wednesday, February 27, 2013) – Federal Employees; ERS-S13N-0018, Supervisory Agricultural Economist, GS-0110-15 (Close: Wednesday, February 27, 2013) – All US Citizens

The Economic Research Service (ERS) seeks a Branch Chief responsible for planning, directing, and managing the International Demand and Trade Branch (IDTB) program of agricultural economic research, analysis, and information dissemination. The Branch Chief is responsible for providing the overall management of the highly technical components of the IDTB program and for providing the expertise needed in decision making and management of the IDTB. The incumbent is responsible for managing a number of technically complex projects involving selecting or developing the most appropriate and current research methodologies, often of great complexity, and applying them to complicated economic problems. The Branch Chief is also responsible for identifying research activities and resources required to complete the work assigned to the International Demand and Trade Branch. ERS-M13N-0021, Supervisory Agricultural Economist, GS-0110-15 (Close: Monday, March 11, 2013) -- Federal Employees; ERS-S13N-0020, Supervisory Agricultural Economist, GS-0110-15 (Close: Monday, March 11, 2013) -- All US Citizens