KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct a virtual career expo Tuesday in conjunction with the University of Missouri for the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Both agencies relocated to the Kansas City area last fall, a controversial move that left dozens of vacancies in both departments as employees protested the move from Washington, D.C.
“This is a unique time for our nation and USDA continues to build the ERS and NIFA workforce using innovative techniques,” USDA Deputy Under Secretary Scott Hutchins said in a statement announcing the expo. “Both agencies deliver important scientific programs and services that support American agriculture.”
Current job openings — for economists, geographers, accountants, grant specialists, communications specialists and financial specialists — can be viewed online on the USA Jobs website.
The Economic Research Service, or ERS, “anticipates trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment, and rural America and conducts high-quality, objective economic research to inform and enhance public and private decision making,” according to the USDA.
Openings there includes positions for economists, editors, web publishers, graphic designers, geographers, administrative support and communications professionals.
“Kansas City has proven itself to be a hospitable city and a fruitful recruiting ground for our Agency,” NIFA Director Scott Angle said. “NIFA has the feel of a startup company right now. We don’t just need people with agricultural science backgrounds. We need people with budget, finance, and accounting experience. We need people with grants management skills. We need communicators. We’re hiring from the entry level to the Senior Executive Service level.”
Interested applicants may register for the virtual expo and sign up for information sessions, which will begin at 2 p.m. with the last one scheduled for 4 p.m., online.
