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Program Assistant

Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in a county office of the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program, Texas Area, SPRS-District 4, Veterinary Services, APHIS.  The incumbent acts as Office Manager and works under the direct supervision of the county supervisor.  Coordinates all office functions with personnel involved, monitors radio communication with all employees and monitors horseback river patrol activities via computer when inspectors are on river patrol.  Employee performs clerical duties for the Supervisory Animal Health Technician and the county Animal Health Technicians (Mounted Patrol Inspectors).

Salary Information:  First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.

This is a term appointment not to exceed 4 years. (Appointment may be extended up to 8 years without re-announcing.) For more details click: Term Appointments

APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open date: 09/26/2017
Closed date: 10/02/2017
Location
Work site options
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$32,844 - $43,303 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 05
Promotion potential
05
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Travel Required
25% or less - Travel for training and work assignments may be required 25% of the time.
Appointment type
Term
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Service
Security clearance
Other
Announcement number
24VS-APHIS-MA-2017-0697
Control number
480239200

This job is open to

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Duties

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The duties may include, but are not limited to:

  • Incumbent takes care of all business which involves the routine operation of the county tick office, working independently and without supervision the majority of the time.
  • Receives visitors to the office, refers visitors to proper personnel; routes incoming phone calls;
  • Employee maintains Program Records.  This entails knowledge of State and Federal Laws and Regulations governing the Fever Tick Eradication Program concerning the different types of quarantines, treatments, and movement of livestock.   Keeps track of quarantined premises and responds to inquiries. Incumbent alerts the supervisor and inspectors of discrepancies in the paperwork and dates of release of quarantine.
  • Receives visitors to the office, refers visitors to proper personnel; routes incoming phone calls; incumbent transmits, receives and relays official messages via voice radio communication to Mounted Patrol Inspectors.  Maintains updated information and is familiar with emergency contacts: border patrol, sheriff’s department, police department and medical services, to be able to promptly respond to any type of emergency.  Communication files and logs are maintained daily as required by communication regulations. 
  • The incumbent monitors the progression of employees performing horseback patrols along the Rio Grande River using a Spot Satellite Tracking Device.   In the event an inspector being monitored fails to proceed normally with patrol, or signal stops, the program assistant will attempt to contact the employee via radio and alerts supervisor or other employees if they cannot be reached.  Incumbent must be able to handle emergency situations; contacting proper authorities, explaining the needs of the employee and directing them to their location for immediate care.
  • Incumbent is responsible for creating maps to distinguish areas of interest within the county; these include quarantine areas, systematic areas with livestock that will require assistance in an emergency situation; horseback river trails, and buffers around infested premises, and mapping areas to comply with Texas Animal Health Commission tagging regulations for livestock in the systematic area.  Employee will make maps as needed for supervisor and Mounted Patrol Inspectors.
  • Incumbent maintains inventory of all county equipment assigned to his/her work area such as radios, firearms, vehicles, etc.; including office equipment.  Incumbent requests supplies when needed. Submits purchase requests for supplies to be purchased on the field.  Incumbent prepares documents to initiate action for transfer, sale, report of loss, damaged and unserviceable property, or disposition.
  • Incumbent keeps inventory and identification records of livestock in permanent quarantine areas, as per Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas Administrative Code.   All inspections are uploaded into the database and quarterly reports of county activity are submitted to Texas Animal Health Commission for compliance with regulations.
  • Incumbent reads and screens all incoming correspondence, publications, regulations, and directives, etc.: handles routine items and routes them to the appropriate party accordingly. 

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Subject to satisfactory completion of one year trial period.

Special Conditions:

  • Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation
  • Successful completion of a 1 year or trial period (if new hire to the Federal service)
  • Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty to this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
  • Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee’s duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
  • The work is primarily sedentary but requires some walking, standing, stooping, and bending to access files and respond to inquiries.
  • Work is performed in a normal office setting located in a rural atmosphere.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including the following specialized experience and/or education, as identified by grade level.

FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 level) that demonstrates:
  • Using software packages to produce a variety of documents, e-mail, and updating calendars.
  • Utilizing standard office procedures in order to conduct routine work and knowing when to refer issues to a supervisor for further guidance.
  • Preparing routine correspondence or reviewing the correspondence of others, ensuring that spelling, grammar, and formatting are correct.
  • Maintaining an inventory of items and requesting supplies when needed.
OR 4 years of successfully completed education above the high school level; OR equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
 

TRANSCRIPTS are required if:

  • You are qualifying for the position based on education.
  • You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
  • This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-5 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. To learn more about combining education and experience for this series, click the following:  Combining Education and Experience for Clerical and Administrative Support Positions

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.

Additional information

  • This position is subject to unscheduled overnight details of undetermined lengths in the event of animal health emergencies or other conditions requiring immediate response, as required by the Agency. (Extensive periods of time may be designated for overnight details.)
  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible see http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
  • More than one selection may be made if another vacancy occurs within 90 days of the issuance of the certification of eligibles.
  • Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: USDAs TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
  • Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
  • E-Verify: Federal law requires agencies to use the E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. If you are selected as a newly hired employee, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS E-VERIFY system. Under the system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.
  • It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. See more information at: http://www.chcoc.gov/transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=6465

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures using category rating. The category rating procedure is used to rank and select eligible candidates. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories:  Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.  Within these categories, applicants eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans.  Category placement will be determined on applicants' quality of experience and the extend they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

  • Ability to use office equipment, computer technology, and automated business systems
  • Knowledge of correspondence, document processing, records, files, and reports including those regulated by the FOIA and Privacy Act
  • Ability to provide executive assistance and representation
  • Ability to identify priorities, changing work requirements, meet deadlines, and lead others
  • Written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
  • Animal disease eradication, health monitoring, and animal identification program support knowledge
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions.  Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.  Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to and including removal from the Federal Service.


To view the application form, visit: https://aphis.usda.ntis.gov/cp/?event=jobs.previewApplication&jobid=F4AA9675-0176-4FE4-90BE-A7F600890A1C

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. MRP offers an array of occupations and is committed to diversity in the workplace. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team!

USDA is a great place to start or continue your career. USDA is ranked as one of the top 10 "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government" by the Partnership for Public Service (http://bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/overall/large). Rankings are based on employee feedback regarding satisfaction with their work experience.

Agency contact information

Human Resources
Phone
612-336-3227
Fax
612-336-3560
Email
MRP.APPLICATION.HELP@aphis.usda.gov
Address
USDA APHIS MRPBS
250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410
Minneapolis, MN, 55401
United States

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