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Agriculturist (New World Screwworm Program Manager)

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

Summary

This Veterinary Services (VS) position is responsible for providing leadership to agency, interagency, and international coordination in support of New World Screwworm (NWS) eradication in Mexico and Central America. This is a key senior position that participates in the efforts to protect U.S. livestock from this devastating pest as well as other animal health emergencies as appropriate.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/16/2026 to 03/20/2026
Salary
$147,945 to - $192,331 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
College Station, TX
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
75% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - 13 Months may be extended up to 2 years
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CP-12911182-26-VS
Control number
861154500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is open to Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployed Priority List (RPL), and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) eligible candidates who meet the eligibility requirements for priority consideration.

Duties

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  • The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Leads VS’ NWS strategy and coordination efforts to ensure that the NWS sterile-insect technology (SIT) program and related operational activities align with animal health and trade policy.
  • Develops NWS policy and makes policy recommendations to the VS Deputy Administrator and Office of the Administrator in order to advance NWS eradication objectives.
  • Partners with APHIS senior leaders to achieve buy in and address potential challenges that could affect the success of the NWS program.
  • Performs in-depth analysis of NWS operational activities to support policy development and implements approved policies and strategies to advance the NWS program.
  • Oversees the development, implementation, and maintenance of budgets, operational plans, strategic plans, action plans, regulations, and guidelines for the NWS program.
  • Develops and maintains relationships with international counterparts in Mexico and Central America to advance NWS eradication and maximize the availability of limited resources.
  • Ensures effective coordination with the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (COPEG) to manage and distribute sterile flies at the edge of the outbreak.
  • Provides leadership in developing and monitoring Mexican and Central American screwworm surveillance and livestock movement controls.

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. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • May be required to obtain an Official Government Passport in order to perform work.

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: 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 (which is defined as 24 semester/36 quarter hours) as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

FOR THE GS-15 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-14 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

  • Influencing/negotiating the coordination of animal health goals, objectives, and resource allocations with foreign counterparts including Mexico or Central America.
  • Providing expertise in strategic planning and executing long-range national and international pest management programs, specifically New World Screwworm (NWS).
  • Convincingly and professionally presenting NWS results, long- and short-range plans, and solutions to problems of a unique or novel nature in the form of written reports and oral presentations.

Note: There is no education substitution for 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), 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. CTAP/ICTAP applicants may be required to take a manual assessment and must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
  • 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 is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months (Appointment may be extended up to 2 years without reannouncing). For more details click: Term Appointments
  • This position involves Mobile Work: Mobile work is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite. Examples of mobile work include site audits, site inspections, investigations, property management, and work performed while commuting, traveling between worksites, or on Temporary Duty (TDY).

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.

For CTAP & ICTAP, well-qualified means that the applicant meets the qualification standard and eligibility requirements for the position, meets basic qualification requirements, meets all selective factors where applicable is able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry, and is rated at 85 or above on an applicant assessment. Applications and required documentation (see below) will be reviewed to determine if applicants meet eligibility and job requirements. CTAP/ICTAP applicants may be required to take a manual assessment and must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100 to receive selection priority.


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/12911182

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