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Supervisory Agricultural Commodity Grader (Grain)

Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service
Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Summary

You will serve as a supervisor located in the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and will be responsible for supervising inspection and weighing activities for assigned shifts at an export elevator. Work assignments are rotated among shifts and elevators within the commuting area.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/29/2026 to 02/04/2026
Salary
$74,678 to - $97,560 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Locations
Destrehan, LA
7 vacancies
Corpus Christi, TX
1 vacancy
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
11
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
MP-12873625-26-FG
Control number
855759700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted only from current permanent AMS employees with competitive and noncompetitive status, and CTAP/RPL eligibles.

Duties

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  • The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Plans, directs and coordinates day-to-day assignments of Federal personnel engaged in weighing, grading, testing, sampling, and certifying agricultural commodities.
  • Coordinates the day-to-day supervision of FGIS inspectors, weighers and samplers; provides technical on-the-job instructions in weighing, grading and sampling methods, and techniques.
  • Recommends changes and revisions in weighing procedures, official standards, and specifications.
  • Assists in planning, directing, and coordinating the day-to-day operations to assure that Federal Standards and specifications are uniformly interpreted and applied.
  • Directs and supervises the handling of appeals under the U.S. Grain Standards Act of 1916, and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.
  • Deals directly with industry representatives to resolve problems that occur in inspection, weighing, safety, billing, personnel, staffing, workloads and other areas where problems may develop.

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.
  • May need to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • Selectee will be subject to a pre-employment medical statement and/or exam.
  • Prior to an official offer, selectee will be required to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) acknowledging/accepting that geographic mobility is a condition of employment. Failure to sign the MOU will result in withdrawal of the job offer.
  • 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.

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.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

  • Assisting in service delivery of the day-to-day operations to assure timely and efficient service is provided and that Federal Standards and specifications are uniformly interpreted and applied throughout the assigned geographical area.
  • Dealing with industry representatives to resolve problems that occur in inspection, weighing, safety, billing, personnel, staffing, workloads and other areas where problems may develop.
  • Establishing, maintaining, and developing effective interpersonal relationships with management, employees, operating supervisors, and managers and staff of the rice mills, rice handling facilities, and the rice industry.
OR

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Agriculture, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Business, Economics, or in a field of study directly related to the work of this position as described in the vacancy announcement.

OR

3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree

OR

LL.M., if directly related to the work of this position as described in the vacancy announcement.

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-11 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.

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

There is no education requirement.

Additional information

  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP 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 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.
  • Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
  • Requires periods of physical exertion to obtain samples involving climbing onto trucks, barges, hopper cars, man lifts, etc., using probes, pelicans, and similar sampling devices; and moving and lifting grain bags or sacks weighing up to 55 pounds.
  • Requires prolonged periods of standing, walking, stooping, bending, and climbing.
  • Requires ability to detect abnormalities in the grain/commodity through normal or corrected vision in at least one eye for distance and depth perception.
  • Requires the ability to assure safety in a highly mechanized noisy environment through adequate or correctable hearing; and the ability to determine product qualities through smell.
  • The work involves regular and recurring work in grain elevators in rice mills, processed product plants, rail yards, dock loading and unloading facilities, and various warehouses.
  • Grain elevators are subject to explosive dust, vibration, excessive/constant noise, and slippery and uneven walking surfaces. Some work is performed outdoors under varying weather conditions.
  • The work is often conducted around moving equipment such as moving conveyor belts. The work environment further requires working in close proximity to others and/or alone.
  • Requires working on weekends, nights, holidays and overtime; travel; and changing/rotating shifts.

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.

Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements. Your resume must address experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification will be referred to the hiring manager 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/12873625

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