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USDA Climate Change Fellows Program

Overview

USDA is seeking qualified applicants for inclusion in the USDA Climate Change Fellows Program (CCFP).  Climate change presents real threats to U.S. agricultural production, forest resources, and rural economies. Producers and land managers across the country are experiencing climate impacts on their operations through shifting weather patterns and increasingly frequent and severe storms, floods, drought, and wildfire.  The American agriculture and forest sectors have incredible potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, generate renewable energy and deliver lasting solutions to the climate crisis. Through research, conservation practices and partnerships, USDA aims to find solutions to agricultural challenges, enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, producers and private foresters. Successfully meeting these challenges will require USDA to staff a diverse set of employees with the expertise to implement USDA’s climate change strategy.

USDA’s Climate Change Fellows Program (CCFP) allows USDA to hire Climate Change Fellows through a time-limited appointment in the Excepted Service under “Schedule A” hiring authority, as specified in 5 CFR 213.3102(r). Initial appointments for candidates may be for up to a 2-year period.  Additional 1-year extensions may be made; however, the appointment cannot exceed a total of 4-years.  The initial periods for specific CCFP appointments will be determined based on expected duration of projects, exposure to diverse program areas, the nature of a developmental assignment, and/or the duration of assignments that meet workforce planning objectives.

Please note that an appointment in the CCFP confers no rights to further Federal employment in either the competitive or excepted service upon expiration of the appointment.  Fellows interested in remaining with USDA at the end of their fellowships must compete and be selected for competitive service vacancies.

Scope

Projects will involve working with USDA employees on climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts across the Department. This may include assistance with implementation of the USDA-and climate change-relevant portions of the Inflation Reduction Act, analysis related to agriculture and forestry technologies and practices that can provide climate change adaptation and mitigation benefits, assistance with economic and policy analysis in the areas of agriculture, forest management and climate change, and/or development of science-based tools and information products that will help improve management of working lands in light of climate change, among other tasks.

Individual USDA agencies will develop specific position descriptions under the CCFP to meet their needs. Current/open positions are linked below, and candidates may also submit the required information for general interest in the Program.

How to Apply

Current/open positions are linked below. In order to apply, candidates must:

  1. Have completed undergraduate or graduate education as of the time of appointment.
  2. Submit the following via email to sm.oce.oeep.applications@usda.gov:
    • Resume and/or Curriculum Vitae, including reference information
    • Cover Letter
    • Undergraduate and/or Graduate Transcripts (unofficial accepted)
  3. In the subject line of your email, please indicate the position description you are interested in (or “general interest”).

Currently Open Positions

USDA Office of the Chief Economist, Office of Energy and Environmental Policy is seeking applicants to serve on their climate change team.  OEEP serves as a focal point for the Department’s energy, environmental markets, and climate change activities, positioning USDA and the people we serve to meet future challenges and opportunities. OEEP is based out of Washington, D.C., and houses the Office of Climate Change Program Office (CCPO), Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU), and the Office of Environmental Markets (OEM).

OEEP is currently accepting applications for the following positions:

Duty location: Location negotiable after selection.

Salary: The salary rates will depend upon the selectee's duty location and GS level.  Please see OPM’s 2023 General Schedule (GS) Locality Pay Tables.

Next Steps

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply no later than May 15, 2023 for a Summer 2023 start date.

For questions, please email sm.oce.oeep.applications@usda.gov.