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Laboratory Worker Supervisor

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

Summary

As a Laboratory Worker Supervisor you will be responsible for managing the Laboratory Support Services unit which is responsible for glassware processing, laundry services, and containment logistics operations to include; deliveries, transportation of biological materials, and assisting with receipt of Select Agent samples, autoclave operations and housekeeping within the biosafety level (BSL)-2 labs, Biologics Development Module (BDM) of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/12/2025 to 09/18/2025
Salary
$31.60 to - $36.83 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WS 5
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Manhattan, KS
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
5
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
DE-12795714-25-VSNB
Control number
845750000

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Duties

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  • The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Manages a workforce of wage grade personnel to operate laboratory glassware processing, containment/non-containment laundry operations, and containment support operations within the BSL labs and BDM
  • Responsible for developing, planning, and carrying out the Unit’s operations in a high containment facility.
  • Responsible for ensuring delivery confirmation of all items on behalf of the warehouse.
  • Assists with the receipt of Select Agent Samples within containment.
  • Responsible for ensuring an adequate supply level is maintained for facility operations within laundry, glassware and laboratory operations.
  • Plans, organizes, and conducts specific studies and investigations in order to identify and define improvements to processes.
  • Assigns and reviews the work of staff to ensure timely performance, soundness, and value.
  • Identifies training and developmental needs of the staff, locating sources of training that will meet those needs.

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.
  • Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
  • 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/
  • Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
  • Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
  • All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
  • Your work may require being exposed to contagious diseases, pathogens, and other environmental hazards within the laboratory as well as dust, dirt, grease, solvents, and high noise levels.
  • You will need to comply with safety rules and regulations to comply with wearing appropriate safety equipment such as; safety glasses/goggles, laboratory scrubs, coveralls, rubber boots, etc.
  • Subject to a Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) investigation

Qualifications

To qualify, you must show you have had training and experience of sufficient scope and quality to provide you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Your answers to the vacancy specific questions must be supported by the work experience in your resume. For example, if you respond in the affirmative when questioned whether you have experience using and disposing of disinfectants and/or other hazardous chemicals according to established procedures and applicable regulation your resume must include this experience, mindful that experience may not be inferred by job title.

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

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

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 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.
  • 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.
  • Most of the work is accomplished in an office setting, sitting at a desk or sitting or standing in conference room in meetings. However, the incumbent may be asked to perform work on hard surfaces and in work areas that require continuous walking, standing, stooping, bending, and working in tiring and uncomfortable positions.
  • Due to the contagious nature to livestock of Foot-and-Mouth disease, and other diseases under study at NBAF, Biological Safety Regulations specify a personal quarantine for employees working in BSL-3, 3 enhanced, 3 Ag and 4 biocontainment. As a condition for employment, all personnel entering the BSL-3 or higher biocontainment facilities at NBAF shall not be in contact with specific susceptible animals and their premises away from NBAF for a period of five (5) days after leaving bio-containment.
  • Currently, restricted species are cattle, sheep, goats, deer, other ruminants, and swine. Contact with horses, birds (agricultural and pet birds) and rabbits are normally permitted, but restrictions may be placed on staff working with or near contagious agents affecting these species. Restricted livestock or other restricted animals may not be housed on the premises where the employee lives and where quarantine cannot be enforced. Employees who violate this requirement may be removed from employment or subject to other disciplinary action.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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 and USDA policy using category rating. 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 veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

  • Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
  • Ability to lead or Supervise
  • Work practices (includes keeping things neat, clean, and in order)


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 score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or 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/12795714

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