Clarification from the agency

All qualified United States Citizens or Nationals, CTAP/ICTAP eligibles

IMPORTANT APPLICATION DEADLINE: This is an open continuous announcement. The initial cutoff date will be November 16, 2018. All applications received by this date will be eligible for referral provided candidates meet all eligibility and qualification requirements and provided the responses to the assessment questions place the candidate in the best qualified group of candidates referred. Subsequent cutoffs for each location will be established based on need. Vacancies may not be available in all locations after the initial cutoff date.

This position is located in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) with potential vacancies in Gloucester, MA; Elizabeth, NJ; New Bedford, MA; Hampton, VA; Indianapolis, IN; Silver Spring, MD; Seffner, FL; Hollywood, FL; Seattle, WA; Bellingham, WA; Dutch Harbor, AK; Richmond, CA; Long Beach, CA; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; and Ventura, CA.

Because of the level of interest anticipated for these positions, you will be asked to select up to five duty locations for which you wish to receive consideration, and to rank your location choices in order of preference. You are encouraged to choose carefully and please select only those locations where you would be willing to accept a position. You may wish to consider such things as the cost of living in the duty location(s) you select.

You will be referred for only those locations you choose and for which you are within reach for consideration. If you are selected you will not receive offers for all locations you choose. Every effort will be made to select you for your highest possible choice of location.

As a Consumer Safety Officer, you will perform the following duties:

• Conduct audits of seafood processing facilities and vessels to evaluate the safety, healthy and quality ofseafood products in accordance with program policy.
• Assist with the implementation of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control point (HACCP) process infacility audits and inspections to identify violations and recommend corrective actions.
• Provide guidance and information to seafood industry customers and to team members in support ofinspection and audit activities.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills while collaborating with Federal, State, national, local andindustry contacts.

These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-3; the ZP-2 is developmental leading to such performance.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• Must be suitable for Federal employment.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• Qualifications requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.
• If selected, required to complete OGE Form 450 financial disclosure.

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.

The ZP-2 is equivalent to the GS-07/09. The ZP-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12.

NOTES:

* A one year probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.

* This position is not in the bargaining unit.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Incumbent will be required to complete and sign a Mobility agreement as work assignments may dictate future movement between geographic locations to accommodate industry demand for inspection services. 
• Incumbent will be required to sign a mixed tour agreement as the position may require the incumbent to work various schedules to meet industry demand.
• Incumbent must possess a valid driver's license to travel to seafood processing locations, and/or transport samples for inspection, on a regular and recurring basis

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Incumbent must possess sensory abilities (sight, smell, taste) which are capable of detecting and identifying abnormalities (defects) in product characteristics.
• Incumbent must be able to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted.

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards.  This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy

To qualify for the 0696 series:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:

A. A bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree in quality assurance or a related degree that included at least 30 semester hours in one or a combination of the following: consumer laws, biological sciences, food science, chemistry, pharmacy, physical sciences, food technology, nutrition, medical science, engineering, epidemiology, veterinary medical science, legal investigations, law enforcement, or related scientific fields that provided knowledge directly related to consumer safety officer work.

The 30 semester hours may include up to 8 semester hours in statistics, or course work that included the principles, theory, or practical application of computers or computer programming.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- Courses consisting of at least 30 semester hours in the fields of study described in paragraph A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To meet specialized experience requirements, as defined below, the applicant’s work experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary to perform at the grade level of the position. Qualifying experience involves enforcing laws and regulations to protect consumers from foods, drugs, cosmetics, fabrics, toys, equipment, and household products that are defective, dangerous, impure, unwholesome, ineffective, or improperly or deceptively labeled or packaged. Please see the specific requirements below.

To qualify at the ZP-2 or GS-07:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-1 or GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Assisting with quality assurance in food processing facilities or vessels to evaluate the safety, healthy and quality of food products in accordance with policy or specifications; and
• Providing guidance and information to food industry customers and to team member in support of inspection and audit activities.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: One full year of graduate level education.

OR

SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT as demonstrated by a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions below:

1. A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study;
2. A GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study;
3. Class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college;
4. Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above.

To qualify at the ZP-3 or GS-11:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Auditing seafood processing facilities or vessels to evaluate the safety, healthy and quality of seafood products in accordance with program policy;
• Working with processing operations to develop Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and quality management programs; and
• Providing guidance and information to seafood industry customers and to team member in support of inspection and audit activities.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above.

NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of two years is qualifying for combination.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position.  If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions) and place you in one of the three pre-defined categories.  The categories are “gold”, “silver” and “bronze”.  However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered.  Candidates placed in the “gold” category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility:  Within each category, those entitled to veterans’ preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed.  Preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) depending on the position and grade level of the job. For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

ALL GRADES:

• Knowledge of food processing facility operations.
• Ability to communicate orally.
• Ability to communicate in writing in order to dictate inspection criteria and results.

ZP-2 ONLY:

• Ability to interpret regulatory or legal material as it pertains to food processing.
• Knowledge of the Hazard analysis and Critical Control Point to audit and inspect raw and processed food’s safety, quality and health of the products.
• Knowledge of the food industry to provide guidance and information to support customers and team members in inspection and audit activities.

ZP-3 ONLY:

• Ability to interpret regulatory or legal material as it pertains to seafood processing.
• Knowledge of the Hazard analysis and Critical Control Point to audit and inspect raw and processed seafood’s safety, quality and health of the products.
• Knowledge of the seafood industry to provide guidance and information to support customers and team members in inspection and audit activities.