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Veterinary Medical Officer

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

Summary

If selected, you will serve as a Veterinary Medical Officer in Veterinary Services (VS), Field Operations (FiOps) with the responsibility for overall import/export operations at the assigned Port Office and other facilities to facilitate safe international movement of live animals, aquaculture, germplasm or associated materials capable of causing the introduction of diseases to animals.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/28/2022 to 05/11/2022
Salary
$66,214 to - $103,176 per year

A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized.

Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Locations
Dunseith, ND
1 vacancy
Dona Ana County, NM
1 vacancy
Luna County, NM
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
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
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DH-11475593-22-VS
Control number
651399700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. Current veterinary students who will complete their degree by June 30th, 2022, may also apply, however DVM conferral is required before start date.

Duties

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  • The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
  • The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Planning and coordinating procedures to inspect animals, birds, aquaculture, germplasm and byproducts to determine freedom from disease and eligibility to enter/depart the US
  • Evaluating and coordinating the inspection and approval of livestock export inspection facilities and pre-export isolation facilities
  • Inspecting quarantined animals, and overseeing facility operations and determining eligibility for approval of import quarantine facilities
  • Determining disposition of smuggled or otherwise ineligible animals, birds, products and associated materials subject to international movement
  • Reviewing and processing import permit applications for an extensive variety of live animals
  • Coordinating the day-to-day activities of all incoming and outgoing shipping with federal agency regulatory officials
  • Directing safe, humane care and treatment of animals to ensure safe transport and adequate, sanitary operations at inspection facilities
  • Providing instruction and on-the-job training in applicable laws, regulations, policies, and inspection methods associated with animal disease control and eradication programs

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Individuals who were born male 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 E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
  • Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
  • Conferred Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree with application. See "Education" section below for more details.
  • May be required to travel and work both in and outside of the United States, and must possess and maintain a United States Passport and obtain an Official Government Passport in the exercise of these duties .
  • Work may involve strenuous physical demands, including but not limited to restraining large animals and operating heavy equipment, riding horseback, slippery concrete floors, and handling herbicides and pesticides.
  • May involve long periods of standing, walking, running, climbing, pushing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
  • Work hours are nonstandard and may require long hours and occasional Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, to be determined by a supervisory authority.
  • Work is performed in an outdoor setting where conditions may be hazardous, including exposure to pathogens, riding horseback, extreme weather conditions, and uneven surfaces. Personal protective equipment is required in performing some of the duties.
  • Some work is performed at off-site import quarantine stations, air and sea ports, export livestock facilities, USDA import and export facilities, in an office, or in a government vehicle.
  • The Dunseith, ND position is located at the Dunseith Port of Entry. Work will be performed primarily at this location.
  • Selectees for Dona Ana and Luna Counties are required to establish a home address with a suitable home office near the advertised regions prior to start of employment.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Current veterinary students who will complete their degree by June 30th, 2022, may also apply, however DVM conferral is required before start date.

All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement outlined in the Education section below.

FOR THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants who meet the basic requirements as outlined in the "Education" section qualify for this grade level.

FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

  • Diagnosing and effectively controlling or treating infected or exposed animals, including birds offered for movement in international commerce.
  • Investigating factors of veterinary diseases such as etiology, management, diagnostics, microbiology, basic epidemiology and environmental factors.
  • Gaining compliance, exchanging information, applying regulations, and resolving problematic issues with industry representatives relative to import and export requirements
OR

Successful completion of a Master's degree in an area of specialization including, but not limited to: animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or other sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position.

OR

RESIDENCY/POST GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE GS-12 GRADE LEVEL: Successful completion of two years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position. Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting the completion of this program.

TRANSCRIPTS are required. This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. this education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college or university.

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

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA website has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools. AVMA website: https://www.avma.org

OR Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must meet one of the following requirements:
a) Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG);
b) Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT); OR
c) Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. An AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college must have accepted the final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g., residency or graduate program).

In addition, graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below:
a) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE.
b) Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing;
OR
c) Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing.

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must submit test results with their application. Results of more than one test or testing session cannot be combined to meet the standard.

Waiver Provision: English language proficiency assessments may be waived for qualified job applicants whose native language is English (i.e., the official or common language of an individuals country of birth is English) who submit a diploma or other official documentation as proof of graduation from a high (secondary) school where the entire curriculum and educational programs were taught in the English language for the entire 3 or 4 years of full-time attendance.

Additional information

  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. 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 well qualified, which means having knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies that exceed the minimum qualification requirements for this position.
  • First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
  • Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
  • This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
  • Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
  • Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
  • The vacancy in the Dunseith Port of Entry requires reporting to this site for work regularly.

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 for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all tentatively eligible applicants will be referred to the selecting official. The selecting official will review the applications and make determinations of who to interview and consider further. Applications will be reviewed at the request of the Hiring Manager to ensure that all qualification requirements have been met prior to tentative offers being extended. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible. 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.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11475593

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