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Supervisory Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer

Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Summary

The Supervisory Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer provides technical and administrative supervision to subordinate supervisors responsible for overseeing a substantial work force of officer and technician positions. Has oversight of special projects, logistical planning, large-scale resource management, and multiple funding sources across several organizational units in a large geographic area.

There is ONE vacancy in EITHER Amityville OR Albany, NY, all other locations have one vacancy.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/20/2026 to 02/26/2026
Salary
$89,508 to - $130,786 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Locations
Phoenix, AZ
1 vacancy
Miami, FL
1 vacancy
Hilo, HI
1 vacancy
Lihue, HI
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
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
MP-12887604-26-PQ
Control number
858284100

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:
  • Responsible for managing Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) and/or Domestic programs as follows:
  • Designing regulatory, survey, control, and/or eradication efforts.
  • Representing Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) in cooperative programs.
  • Developing survey, treatment, and/or inspection initiative in order to facilitate exports of agricultural products.
  • Overseeing the planning and management of inspections, treatments, and survey/eradication programs as well as the enforcement of quarantines.
  • Providing guidance to the first-level supervisors who initiate and modify techniques and procedures to meet changing program requirements.
  • Developing and maintaining cooperative relations with customers, stakeholders, regulated entities, and other Federal and local governmental agencies.

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 may be required, unless previously served. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
  • 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/.
  • Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
  • In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the incumbent will be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter.
  • May be required to maintain certification for the wearing of personal protective equipment, including respirators such as Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and maintain a valid pesticide certification.

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.

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must meet the following qualification requirement:

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:

  • Planning and managing the technical approach for inspections, treatments, survey/eradication programs, and quarantine applications in support of a plant health or plant pest disease program.
  • Analyzing data using plant pest program databases, and research tools to develop recommendations regarding solutions to technical problems or initiating and modifying procedures.
  • Assisting with management of plant pest and disease program administration, involving resources, logistical planning, vehicle fleet management, establishing and reviewing work schedules, approving travel authorizations and purchase vouchers.
  • Reviewing and managing workload of lower graded employees, to ensure full mission coverage, address staffing needs and to promptly address problematic situations.
  • Coordinating efforts and working with managers of other federal agencies, and state and local agencies in reaching Plant pest and disease program goals.
Note: There is no education substitution for specialized experience at this grade level.

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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

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.
  • Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.
  • 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.

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 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 you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. 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/12875171

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