Agricultural Statistician

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT # 25-02

Position Title, Series, & Grade: Agricultural Statistician, MA-1530, MA 11-13 (This is not equivalent to GS pay schedule)

Salary Range: $42,431 - $81,087 Base (does include locality pay). Salary commensurate with qualifications.

Promotion Potential: MA-18

Opening Date: March 11, 2026 Closing Date: March 25, 2026

Duty Location: Louisville, KY (1 vacancy)

Area of Consideration: The local commuting area of the duty locations listed (No Relocation Expenses Paid)

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The Federal Milk Market Administrator is an excepted service agency under the Schedule A, 213.3113 (f)(4) hiring process. The objective of a Federal Milk Market Administrator’s office is to administer the terms and provisions of regulations referred to as a federal milk order. Federal milk orders establish minimum prices that regulated dairy plants and milk handlers must pay Grade A dairy farmers for milk, based on how the milk is used. The milk order requires that these payments be pooled so that dairy farmers under an order are paid an average price for their milk, regardless of how it is used.

Primary Duties of the Position:

• Perform research, analytical, and regulatory work concerned with the economics and marketing of milk and milk products or commodities under the provisions of Federal Milk Marketing Orders.
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness during the pool process to assure proper application of federal order provisions in the pool computation process.
• Gather statistical information and analyze data that reflect a clear understanding of current dairy industry.
• Use specialized analytical, statistical, or econometric software, and other information technologies as needed.

Qualification Requirements:

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least 15 semester hours in statistics or in mathematics and statistics combined; or at least 6 semester hours in statistics and 9 additional hours in one of the following: Physical or life science, dairy or food science, or education, or engineering. (Credit towards meeting statistical course requirements may be given for courses in which 50 percent of the course content appears to be statistical methods, e.g., courses that include studies in research methods in psychology or economics such as tests and measurements or business cycles, or courses in methods of processing mass statistical data such as tabulating methods or electronic data processing.)

Applicants who do not have a degree must have the appropriate semester or quarter hours as described above and experience that, when combined with the education, would equal a 4-year course of study. The experience should have equipped the applicant with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform at the grade level to which appointed.

Evaluation Criteria:

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any specialized experience, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, your application is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used. Applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Special Requirements:

• Must be a United States citizen.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• Subject to satisfactory completion of a one-year probationary period.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.

Application Procedures:

Please submit requested information via email on or before the deadline to Beavin@malouisville.com. Applicants must submit copies of their unofficial college transcripts and detailed resume, which includes personal contact information, education history, work history, and military history. Please reference the Job Announcement Number to which you are applying in your application documents. Complete applications must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on March 25, 2026.

Failure to submit all required documents will result in elimination from consideration. All application material must be emailed by the closing date.

To claim veterans’ preference, veterans are to provide a copy of their DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Veterans with service-connected disability and others claiming 10-point preference are to submit form SF-15, Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference. (Standard forms may be downloaded at OPM’s website http://www.opm.gov/forms/standard-forms/.) These documents are required and must be submitted when applying for the position in order to receive veterans’ preference consideration in the hiring process.

Merit Hiring Plan Essay Questions

The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question with your resume.

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.

2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.

3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.

4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Additional Information:

Additional selections may be made from this announcement.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of appointment and work schedule. They include retirement plan, health and life insurance, Thrift Savings Plan (Government 401(k)) with matching contributions, paid holidays, vacation & sick leave. Optional programs include dental and vision insurance, and flexible spending accounts (health and dependent care), and mass transit/van pool reimbursement.

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Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability

New employee probationary period

Privacy Act

Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service

Signature and false statements

Social security number request

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Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $42,431.00 - $81,087.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person