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SUPERVISORY PROGRAM MANAGER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCE, MICROBIOLOGICAL & CHEMICAL HAZARDS STAFF (MCHS).

Summary

As a Supervisory Program Manager you will direct all phases of microbiological, chemical, and toxicological hazard programs. Responsibilities include managing agency resources, overseeing contracts, and providing high-level technical guidance to federal and international stakeholders. You will lead strategic planning and serve as a senior expert to ensure food safety and protect public health.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 06/02/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 2, 2026
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Salary
$133,007 - $172,915 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
FSIS-26-MMP-12970569-GM
Control number
870690000

Duties

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  • Directs program functions: Manages, supervises, coordinates, and evaluates all microbiological and chemical hazard operations.
  • Serves as senior expert: Functions as the lead authority on microbiological, chemical, or toxicological policies, systems, and procedures.
  • Designs complex activities: Plans, develops, and maintains varied and highly technical scientific programs.
  • Evaluates work efficiency: Reviews staff operations, makes daily work assignments, and assesses overall productivity.
  • Defends agency proposals: Presents, explains, and defends technical testing positions to domestic and international stakeholders.
  • Selects staff members: Interviews candidates and makes final selections for non-supervisory, and team leader or staff scientist roles.
  • Appraises employee performance: Establishes performance standards and evaluates immediate employees.
  • Approves workplace expenses: Recommends within-grade salary increases, extensive overtime, and staff travel expenses.
  • Recommends personnel awards: Proposes employee performance bonuses and structural changes in personnel management.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary or trial period, 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.
  • If you are newly hired, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" system.
  • 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/.
  • False statements or responses on a resume or application can jeopardize employment and may be grounds for disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
  • If you are selected, you may need to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) prior to being appointed to determine suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

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 the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position, you must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 or its equivalent in the federal service. Applicants are required to meet 4 out of 5 requirements listed below by the closing date of this announcement. (Note: This experience must be detailed in your resume by the announcement's closing date.)

  • Experience managing, directing, or evaluating multi-faceted public health or regulatory programs focused on microbiological, chemical, or toxicological hazards.
  • Experience monitoring, administering, or assessing compliance metrics for large-scale technical or scientific baseline data or exploratory study contracts or interagency agreements.
  • Experience managing or advising on workload distribution, defining project milestones, or executing day-to-day operations for an administrative or scientific program segment.
  • Experience coordinating collaborative, joint scientific or regulatory initiatives with external federal agencies, public health partners, or research organizations (such as the FDA, CDC, or DOD).
  • Experience preparing technical briefings and handling negotiations with government officials, executive boards, leadership, or political entities.
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.

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.

If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Strategic Thinking
  • Developing Others
  • Accountability
  • Conflict Management
  • Partnering
  • Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Technical Credibility
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Non-Competitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need to meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

NOTE: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. 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.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12970569

Food Safety and Inspection Service

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health regulatory agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, Siluriformes, and processed eggs. Within FSIS, the Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) provides public health leadership to establish and support scientifically sound safety programs. OPHS collects, analyzes, and reports vital scientific information to assess and mitigate human health risks across the entire farm-to-table continuum.

By joining the OPHS management team as a Deputy Director, you become part of a mission-driven team dedicated to protecting consumers and advancing global food safety. We bridge the gap between rigorous science and regulatory policy by collaborating closely with research partners, domestic stakeholders, and international entities. Our staff uncovers emerging hazards, shapes testing methodologies, and integrates real-time, cutting-edge technologies into the regulatory framework. We also provide critical scientific advice and balanced recommendations to key federal partners, including the FDA, CDC, and DOD.

For more information on USDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service, visit FSIS.

Agency contact information

Gary McCann
Phone
(612) 852-7706
Fax
(833) 840-9219
Email
Gary.Mccann@usda.gov
Address
Food Safety and Inspection Service
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
US

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