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MICROBIOLOGIST

Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCE, MICROBIOLOGY BRANCH

Summary

Serves as a microbiologist in the Microbiology Branch of the Laboratory Regulatory Operations (LRO), Office of Public Health Science. Performs microbiological analyses on regulatory samples, as well as various tasks associated with the adaptation and validation of methods and test systems used in field laboratories in the analysis of meat, poultry, and egg products. The samples are submitted by various Food Safety and Inspection Service field personnel located throughout the United States.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$40,736 - $97,087 per year

Salary determined by duty location of the selectee. Pay shown is based on Rest of US Locality Pay.

Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 11
Promotion potential
12
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
No
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
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
FSIS-26-MCE-13061757-MJM
Control number
884510500

Duties

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  • Performs microbial analyses on a variety of samples of meat, poultry and egg products.
  • Performs microbial examinations of meat or poultry products and their ingredients to determine presence, numbers, and species of bacteria, Salmonella, Listeria, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Campylobacter.
  • Prepares and maintains reagents.
  • Performs lot acceptance on commercially acquired test kits and reagents.
  • Operates and maintains a variety of analytical instruments.
  • Maintains quality control on instrumentation necessary to perform assigned analyses.
  • Maintains quality assurance records to serve as documentation for ISO 17025 accreditation, the Microbiological Laboratory Guidebook, and the Quality Assurance Plan of the laboratory.
  • Interprets and evaluates the results of the analyses according to FSIS and OPHS laboratory policy.
  • Develops and writes laboratory and section work instructions, spreadsheets, and forms for adoption into the laboratory quality system.
  • Accurately reflects work performed daily by recording on prescribed documents and within the electronic Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
  • Maintains quality assurance records in such a manner that they serve as documentation for ISO criteria for the USDA Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook and the Quality Assurance Plan of the Laboratory Guidebook.
  • Presents findings in a transparent and accurate manner.

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.
  • 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/.
  • 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 specialized experience and/or education, as defined below:

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Microbiologist (0403):This position has an individual occupational requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the position.

Individual Occupational Requirements, IOR

Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent.

OR
Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Additional information regarding Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) can be found here under 4f. Educational and Training Provisions or
Requirements
.

Qualifications: Applicants can qualify for the different grades based on specialized experience, education or a combination of specialized experience and education as outlined below.

To qualify at the GS-5: Fully meet the basic education requirements described in the individual occupational requirements (IOR).

To qualify at the GS-7: An applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade or its equivalent OR one year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement. To qualify based on specialized experience at the GS-7 grade, an applicant's experience must have met the following:

  • Performing microbiological analyses with guidance in a laboratory setting.
  • Reviewing microbiological data and preparing reports or documentation with guidance.
  • Assisting in quality assurance or quality control activities under supervision.
To qualify at the GS-9 grade: An applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-7 grade or its equivalent OR two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. To qualify based on specialized experience at the GS-9 grade, an applicant's experience must have met the following:
  • Independently working with microbiological samples, media, or assays in a laboratory setting.
  • Independently performing electronic record keeping, preparing detailed reports on microbiological analyses and making preliminary evaluations.
  • Implementing quality assurance or quality control procedures, performing equipment maintenance, and troubleshooting basic issues.
To qualify at the GS-11 grade: An applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade or its equivalent OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. To qualify based on specialized experience at the GS-11 grade, an applicant's experience must have met the following:
  • Independently performing high-throughput microbiological analyses on a variety of matrices and interpreting results in a regulatory or research laboratory setting.
  • Independently performing electronic record keeping, preparing advanced reports and presenting findings to internal or external stakeholders.
  • Implementing quality assurance or quality control procedures, performing equipment maintenance, and providing training to junior staff.
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

If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. Do not simply submit your highest degree earned as many of the required courses MAY be on an undergraduate transcript. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university.

If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

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.

Selectees may be eligible for Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA).

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.

This announcement may be used to fill additional like vacancies should any occur in the announced duty location(s).

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. To see more information visit CHCO Council.

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.

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.

More information on applying under special hiring authorities such as 30 percent disabled veterans appointing authority may be found on the USAJOBS - Special Authorities.

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 two or three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Preference eligible applicants who apply at the GS-05 and GS-07 grade levels are listed ahead of non-preference eligible within each quality category, qualified preference eligible who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more must be listed in the highest quality category. Veterans' preference is absolute within each quality category. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent to which they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Manages and Organizes Information
  • Quality Assurance
  • Technical Competence
  • Written Communication
  • Computer Skills
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) your 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 and 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 view the application form, visit:

Food Safety and Inspection Service

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry and processed eggs. USDA is a great place to start or continue your career.

The Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) brings public health leadership to the FSIS of USDA to assure the establishment and support of scientifically sound food safety programs. OPHS develops (i.e. collects, analyzes, and reports) scientific information from conception to consumption for meat, poultry, eggs and related products, and uses that information to assess potential for human health risks at different points throughout the farm-to-table continuum.

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

A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits. FSIS offers various recruitment incentives to newly hired eligible employees. You may be eligible for one or more of the following:

  • Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual: Calculated to determine the annual leave accrual rate.
For more information on incentives, see Additional Information.

Agency contact information

Malory Mallery
Phone
612-852-7623
Email
malory.mallery@usda.gov
Address
Food Safety and Inspection Service
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
US

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