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Interdisciplinary Staff Officer

Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The incumbent serves as the Staff Officer in the OPHS, Laboratory Regulatory Operations (LRO). This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled in any of the job series listed. In addition to the specialized experience requirements, applicants must meet the educational requirements for at least one of the series described in the announcement. Applicants may only be appointed to job series/position titles for which they meet all experience and educational requirements.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/01/2021 to 10/15/2021
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$93,494 to - $146,120 per year

(Additional Information for pay by location)

Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Albany, CA
Athens, GA
Saint Louis, MO
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
FSIS-21-MMP-11218882-KDL
Control number
616134700

Duties

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  • Participates in providing key leadership and program direction as a scientific professional in the critical mission related process to modify and improve the efficiency of existing food safety testing programs.
  • Establishes overall scope and operational plans for their projects in consultation with senior staff members and/or the Executive Associate for Laboratory Services (EALS).
  • Maintains surveillance of significant developments related to the assigned program area, prepares analyses of the implications of these developments, and recommends program modifications.
  • Develops, publicizes, and garners support for the program agenda by meeting with other FSIS program officials, key executives within FSIS and USDA, and other interested parties.
  • Assist Senior Staff Officer with planning, developing, reviewing, and establishing laboratory information QA/QC procedures for use within all FSIS laboratories to ensure the quality system is implemented correctly and consistently.
  • Monitors laboratory information system and data processing QC procedures, information system documentation, and system validation records to ensure the quality of laboratory data and testing results are compliant Agency procedures/standards.
  • Assures current/valid QC methods are utilized and recommends changes and/or enhancements to laboratory information processing procedures/strategies.
  • Supports the Senior Staff Officer Configuration Manager (CM) in the development and execution of the configuration management program for the FSIS Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) in accordance with FSIS and USDA directives.
  • Serves as an information resource between all Field Service Laboratories (FSL) and representatives of other FSIS program areas, federal agencies, state and local governments, and industry on matters pertaining to laboratory information systems.
  • Participates in audits pertaining to the FSLs and addresses laboratory information system audit findings.
  • Assist Senior Staff Officer with establishing overall goals, objectives, priorities, and operational plans of projects and continually assesses and adjusts them accordingly in consultation with the EALS.
  • Advises both technical and non-technical audiences on laboratory testing programs, methods, procedures and data management at meetings and conferences.
  • Conducts studies, projects and surveys which may be broad in scope and significance to evaluate the effectiveness of both operational and public health performance related to food safety testing program implementation and modernization.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 level) that demonstrates broad professional knowledge of chemical or microbiological principles, theories, practices and established methodology sufficient to perform the full range of duties involved in analyzing a wide variety of meat, poultry, and egg product samples to make solid determinations.

Experience using microbiological or chemical knowledge to perform research in order to procure new or modified laboratory methods for evaluation and implementation throughout the laboratory system.

Experience designing and developing laboratory information structures to record, transform, and report laboratory analysis results, performing minor adjustments and basic maintenance on scientific laboratory information technology systems; using and maintaining laboratory information technology systems to analyze data to inform future laboratory system operational plans, and assist with system security operations.

Experience must demonstrate written and oral communication skills in developing and presenting new laboratory program proposals as well as evaluations of existing laboratory programs to scientific and non-scientific audiences including agency executives.


Time in grade:
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-12 grade level for consideration for the GS-13 grade level).

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Minimum education for the 1320 occupational Series:Degree: Physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.

OR

Combination of education and experience:
course work equivalent to a major as shown above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Minimum education for the 0403 occupational Series:Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent.

OR

Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR APPLICATION THAT REFLECT THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS.

Additional information

If selected your pay will be reflective based upon the locality pay of the area of the position.

Albany, CA:
Salary: $112,400.00 to $146,120.00
St. Louis, MO:
Salary: $93,494.00 to $121,543.00
Athens, GA:
Salary: $97,078 to $126,202.00

- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployed Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): 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 applications must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

- This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

- 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).

- This position is eligible for up to 4 days telework per week and other flexible work arrangements. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.

- 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. To see more information visit CHCO Council.

- More information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses and Schedule A Disabled may be found on the USAJOBS website.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:

  • Information Management
  • Technical Competence
  • Oral/Written Communication
  • Knowledge Management
  • Attention to Detail
  • Team Work
  • Organizational Performance Analysis
  • Computer Skills
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. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Non-Competitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need to meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

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 including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11218882

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