We will be collecting applications for this position at an on-site event. Please see "How to Apply".
As an Agricultural Marketing Specialist (Regulatory) you will be responsible for carrying out the enforcement of jurisdictional, competition, financial, and trade practice provisions of the Act. This is done primarily by conducting investigative work, direct surveillance and related work pertaining to the Packers and Stockyards Division (PSD) within the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Summary
We will be collecting applications for this position at an on-site event. Please see "How to Apply".
As an Agricultural Marketing Specialist (Regulatory) you will be responsible for carrying out the enforcement of jurisdictional, competition, financial, and trade practice provisions of the Act. This is done primarily by conducting investigative work, direct surveillance and related work pertaining to the Packers and Stockyards Division (PSD) within the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Recent graduate who has, within the previous two years, completed a qualifying Associate's, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, professional, vocational, or technical degree or certificate program. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation have up to six years after degree completion to apply. Current students who will complete their degree by 6/15/2024, may also apply.
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.
Observes to determine whether conditions detrimental to the interests of livestock producers and poultry growers exist and obtains evidence and compiles related data for formal actions.
Documents investigative findings in an agency approved format and prepare detailed investigative reports documenting violations found when corrective administrative action is warranted.
Independently performs on-site trade practice, payment and custodial account investigations of registrants, packers and live poultry dealers that are subject to the Act
Advises registrants, live poultry dealers and packers of the records they must maintain and when inadequacies are found, specifies the necessary adjustments to affect compliance.
Prepares confidential reports or segments of reports and recommends practical methods for improving conditions found to be questionable or unsatisfactory.
Conducts investigations with lower grade investigators to inform and instruct in the policy and procedures used by the Division. The incumbent serves as a mentor to less experienced investigators.
Recommends the development of appropriate measures for handling on day-to-day basis complaints received from livestock and poultry producers and other members .
Maintaining a constant flow of information to their supervisor and the regional office on the state-of-the-art advances and marketing conditions in the industry.
Works with other government agencies in designing and conducting surveillance and investigations.
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/
A valid driver's license.
There is some carrying of equipment, walking over rough terrain, working with livestock, lifting of 50 pounds or less, and some night observations.
Considerable driving is required on mostly paved 2 and 4 lane roads. Local and overnight travel 25-50% of the time is required.
Qualifications
To qualify, you MUST meet all program and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Candidates that are graduating by June 15, 2024 and qualify on the basis of their education will be given consideration. Human Resource will be required to confirm program and qualification requirements as listed in this announcement during the onboarding process and prior to establishing a start date.
To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements;
Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years. Current students who will complete their degree requirements by 6/15/2023 will be considered. or
Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met.
IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE:Applicants must meet the following specialized experience and/or education requirements listed below:
FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-05. This experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. Examples of qualifying experience include, but are not limited to:
Knowledge of the livestock, meat or poultry industries operations and practices.
Utilizing verbal communications for presenting facts, findings, and recommendations on technical information.
Utilizing written documentation and computer databases to prepare reports and case file information.
OR
1 full year of graduate level education in the fields of: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management;
OR
Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9).
FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-07. This experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. Examples of qualifying experience include, but are not limited to:
Experience in financial or trade practices in livestock, meat, or poultry industries.
Collecting evidence and developing findings of investigations and technical research.
Experience researching, interpreting, and applying Local, State, and Federal regulations and standard operating procedures.
OR
Master's or equivalent graduate degree
OR
2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree
OR
LL.B. or J.D., if related
TRANSCRIPTS are required.
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-7/9 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 an applicant for that grade level. Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that 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
Please see above for education qualification requirement information.
Transcripts are required. Applications will not be considered without this documentation. For those graduating this semester or prior to 6/15/2024 you will have to provide proof of conferment prior to entrance on duty.
Applicants confirm that they will meet all qualifications as listed in the job opportunity announcement prior to Entrance on Duty. If not able to meet qualifications, the applicant will be removed from consideration.
Additional information
Recent Graduate appointments are intended to last for 1 year. Recent Graduates who satisfactorily complete all the USDA Recent Graduates Program requirements may be non-competitively converted to a Term or Permanent appointment in the competitive service. Conversion is not guaranteed. Recent Graduates converted to Term appointments may later be non-competitively converted to a Permanent competitive service position.
If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entrance on duty.
A Pathways Participant Agreement will be required if you are selected for a position. The agreement must be signed by all applicable parties prior to entrance on duty.
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.
Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
This position is represented by a collective bargaining unit (union).
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.
Selection will be at GS-7/9 with the possibility of conversion to a term or permanent GS-1146-7/9/11, with promotion potential to the GS-12 level. Conversion eligibility and position is not guaranteed and depends upon the program unit's needs.
CONVERSION REQUIREMENTS Recent Graduates may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service. To be eligible for conversion the Recent Graduate must meet all of the following:
Successfully complete at least 1-year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the Program as outlined in the Participant Agreement.
Demonstrate successful job performance.
Meet the qualifications for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.
Worksite Information: 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. Additional information regarding ad hoc, occasional, or reoccurring telework may be obtained at a later time from the hiring manager or program during the hiring process.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Before you submit an application for this vacancy, please carefully review the position requirements. Please apply only if you meet the required minimum qualifications AND Recent Graduates program eligibility requirements described in the announcement. Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Students who expected to complete qualifying education by 6/15/2024 will be considered for this position. Human Resource will verify the program and qualification requirements before prior to the appointment start date.
If you have reviewed the announcement and believe that you meet both the minimum qualifications and the program requirements, you should document your experience and education in your resume. Since traditional resumes do not always provide all the information needed to determine your status, you should create a more detailed resume to use when applying to Federal positions. Your resume should include:
Type of degree and date it was received or is expected to be received
Statement of U.S. citizenship
Job announcement number
Work and/or volunteer experience including employment dates, hours worked per week, salary and supervisor information
References
Please ensure that your resume contains your full name, permanent address, contact phone number and email address.
Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements of the Recent Graduates program and the basic qualification requirements established for the position may be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Qualified applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference.
Note: 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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume that includes:1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications; and 5) supervisors name and phone number for each work period listed and whether or not they may be contacted for reference checks.
College Transcripts: You must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. For further information, visit the following: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
If claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions within 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. The certification must be on the letterhead of the appropriate military branch and include the dates of military service. Veterans' preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
If claiming 10-point veterans' preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on veterans' preference visit FEDSHIREVETS
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. The following instructions outline our application process for this announcement.
The Agricultural Marketing Service will be at Sheraton Crown Center, 2345 McGee, Kansas City, MO 64108 accepting applications for this position. This is a vacancy announcement for one of several positions that will be available during the event which are in various locations across the organization.
If you cannot apply in person, you may submit your complete application online. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on an as-needed basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
AMS conducts hiring events such as this one throughout the year as part of our overall recruitment strategy. We will announce additional Pathways job opportunities in the future. You are encouraged to monitor USAJOBS for future vacancy announcements.
What to expect next: After the conclusion of the event and deadline for alternative submission, your application package will be reviewed to verify that you meet the qualification and eligibility requirements for the position. Qualified veterans' preference eligibles will receive selection priority over non-veterans. You will be notified if you are referred to the selecting official for consideration, and then if you were selected or not selected. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
If applying in person or online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.
Step 1: Create a USAJOBS account (if you do not already have one) at www.usajobs.gov. It is recommended that as part of your profile you set up automatic email notification to be informed when the status of your application changes. If you choose not to set up this automatic notification, then you will have to log into your USAJOBS account to check on the status of your application.
Step 2: Create a Resume with USAJOBS or upload a Resume into your USAJOBS account. You may want to customize your resume to ensure it documents duties and accomplishments you have gained that are directly related to this position in order to verify that qualifications are met. In addition, your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire (you may preview the online questionnaire by clicking on the link at the end of the How You Will Be Evaluated section of the job announcement).
Step 3: Click "Apply Online" and follow the prompts to complete the Occupational Questionnaire and attach any additional documents that may be required. You can update your application or documents anytime while the announcement is open. Simply log into your USAJOBS account and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application" to continue.
NOTE: Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX). Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable.
Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA APHIS MRPBS
250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410
Minneapolis, MN 55401
US
Next steps
Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume that includes:1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications; and 5) supervisors name and phone number for each work period listed and whether or not they may be contacted for reference checks.
College Transcripts: You must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. For further information, visit the following: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
If claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions within 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. The certification must be on the letterhead of the appropriate military branch and include the dates of military service. Veterans' preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
If claiming 10-point veterans' preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on veterans' preference visit FEDSHIREVETS
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. The following instructions outline our application process for this announcement.
The Agricultural Marketing Service will be at Sheraton Crown Center, 2345 McGee, Kansas City, MO 64108 accepting applications for this position. This is a vacancy announcement for one of several positions that will be available during the event which are in various locations across the organization.
If you cannot apply in person, you may submit your complete application online. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on an as-needed basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
AMS conducts hiring events such as this one throughout the year as part of our overall recruitment strategy. We will announce additional Pathways job opportunities in the future. You are encouraged to monitor USAJOBS for future vacancy announcements.
What to expect next: After the conclusion of the event and deadline for alternative submission, your application package will be reviewed to verify that you meet the qualification and eligibility requirements for the position. Qualified veterans' preference eligibles will receive selection priority over non-veterans. You will be notified if you are referred to the selecting official for consideration, and then if you were selected or not selected. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
If applying in person or online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.
Step 1: Create a USAJOBS account (if you do not already have one) at www.usajobs.gov. It is recommended that as part of your profile you set up automatic email notification to be informed when the status of your application changes. If you choose not to set up this automatic notification, then you will have to log into your USAJOBS account to check on the status of your application.
Step 2: Create a Resume with USAJOBS or upload a Resume into your USAJOBS account. You may want to customize your resume to ensure it documents duties and accomplishments you have gained that are directly related to this position in order to verify that qualifications are met. In addition, your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire (you may preview the online questionnaire by clicking on the link at the end of the How You Will Be Evaluated section of the job announcement).
Step 3: Click "Apply Online" and follow the prompts to complete the Occupational Questionnaire and attach any additional documents that may be required. You can update your application or documents anytime while the announcement is open. Simply log into your USAJOBS account and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application" to continue.
NOTE: Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded documents must be less than 5MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, TXT or Word (DOC or DOCX). Do not upload Adobe Portfolio documents because they are not viewable.
Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA APHIS MRPBS
250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410
Minneapolis, MN 55401
US
Next steps
Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
