FAS Foreign Service Careers

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is one of the U.S. government’s four foreign affairs agencies as designated by the Foreign Service Act of 1980. The core mission of FAS is to facilitate trade and international cooperation, which are critical to the vitality of the U.S. agricultural sector.  

The FAS team includes more than 130 Foreign Service officers posted around the globe. FAS agricultural attachés serve as the eyes, ears and voice of American agriculture around the world. They are the front‐line professionals representing the Department of Agriculture in 93 field offices at U.S. diplomatic missions covering 171 countries. 

Is the Foreign Service Right for You?

As a Foreign Service officer, you can expect to spend two-thirds of your career overseas. You’ll have the opportunity to experience foreign cultures, make friends around the world, and help shape history.

Your day-to-day work will be varied and ever-changing. One day you might be out in the field analyzing local crop production and the next you might be meeting with government ministers about a sensitive trade policy issue. You could wind up organizing events to promote U.S. food and beverage products to consumers overseas or you might find yourself negotiating with local customs officials to facilitate entry of a U.S. commodity shipment into your host country.

This State Department quiz may help you to decide if this is the right career choice for you: https://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/quiz/

Subject to change without notice