As a produce program expert within an assigned region, provides extensive advisory, liaison, and consultative technical assistance services for produce safety programs to the regulated community, State, Federal, Foreign, Tribal, and third-party regulators (i.e., auditors), university extension services, and Agency management. Major duties include:

• Serves as a produce technical expert supporting regional policy implementation and as a primary point of contact for planning and coordinating assigned regional programs.
• Advises on new advances in technology related to produce, new programs, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), in particular, the Produce Safety Rule, significant court decisions, and any new trends or scientific findings involving food products.
• Serves as program specialist and technical expert in supporting cases where violations involve precedent setting legal actions or the issues affect major industry practices.
• Leads the development, collection and interpretation of data regarding the safety of fresh produce and leads the development and evaluation of programs and the implementation of related laws and regulations in the assigned region designed to ensure consistency and balance throughout ORA and inter-Agency programs.
• Prepares and gives presentations at briefings, training sessions, consumer industry workshops, etc. This includes preparation of background materials on programs and policies for presentation and/or use in briefings and other meetings.

• Plans, conducts, and directs highly technical, complex, and multi-faceted inspections and in-depth investigations related to the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fresh produce for human consumption, is highly skilled in interview techniques as well as criminal investigation techniques; and routinely makes recommendations to regional and office management officials as to whether or not an operation involved in fresh produce growing, harvesting, packing, and holding is in compliance regarding Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) legislation, in particular, the Produce Safety Rule.

• Performs or leads multi-disciplinary teams to conduct in-depth investigations involving complaints of injury or death attributable to products regulated by the FDA. Investigations of injuries or death require special coordination and a high degree of insight and knowledge.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Only experience gained by the closing date will be considered.
• One year probationary period is required.
• Background security investigation is required.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• College transcript(s) are required

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1. Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.

2. E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires, and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.

3. Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

4. Pre-employment physical required: No

5. Drug testing required: No

6. License required: Yes (valid State Driver's license).

7. Mobility agreement required: Yes.

8. Moving expenses authorized: No.

9. Immunization required: No.

10. Relocation Incentive: May be authorized.

11. Recruitment Incentive authorized: No.

12. Student loan repayment incentive authorized: No.

13. Annual leave for non-federal service authorized: No.

14. Bargaining Unit Position: Yes.

15. Position requires ability to lift heavy objects up to 50lbs.

16. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing of the announcement.

17. Please be advised that this position will be subject to FDA's strict prohibited financial interest regulation and therefore, may require the incumbent of this position to divest of certain financial interests. Applicants are strongly advised to seek additional information on this requirement from the FDA hiring official before accepting this position.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience directly related to the position to be filled which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

GS-13: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service which includes applying practical knowledge of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to the production of safe fresh produce products; planning, implementing and executing the development of policies, regulations and/or procedures on the safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fresh produce; communicating technically and/or legally complex materials to diverse audiences; and demonstrating community interaction which includes education and outreach with the farming community and federal/state/local officials.

DOCUMENTING EXPERIENCE: In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the percentage of times the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above.

EDUCATION STATEMENT - Individual Occupational Requirement: This position has an education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades) to document that you have met the education requirement. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to beginning employment. Most colleges and universities offer unofficial transcripts online - please check your school website to obtain a copy quickly. If you have Federal status and are currently or were previously on an appointment in this occupational series, you do not need to submit transcripts at the time of application. Instead, you should submit an SF-50 showing that you were on an appointment in this occupational series.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the job opportunity announcement closes, a review of your résumé and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job.

If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your responses when compared to your background information, you may be deemed ineligible or your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your skills and abilities.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Basis of Rating: Category rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of the following quality categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified or Qualified.
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics). You do not have to respond to the KSA's separately, but your resume should contain sufficient information to demonstrate possession of the Competencies/KSA's.

1. Planning and Coordination.

2. Compliance Activities.

3. Problem Resolution.

4. Communication.